We try to raise our children in the best way that we possibly can. We teach them right from wrong and we want to ensure that they are cared for, not only while they are young but for the rest of their lives.

There are times, however, when we need to take things to another level and perhaps even evoke a little bit of tough love. This is especially important when we are dealing with a teenager who is not showing the proper respect.

One mother, Heidi Johnson, was in such a situation. Her son, Aaron, was disrespectful, bratty, and like many other 13-year-olds who wanted to do his own thing.

That is when Heidi decided to write a letter to her son, Aaron, and pin it on his door. She even shared the picture of the letter for others on Facebook, not intending it to go viral but it certainly did.

She was upset because her son was treating her like a roommate so she gave him an itemized bill of everything that he would have to pay. This included rent, food, and even electricity.

In other words, if he was going to treat her like a roommate, he was going to be treated like a roommate. She signed the note: “Love Mom” showing just how much she cared for her son.

After it went viral, there were a lot of misconceptions as to what was actually said and done. She said that she didn’t want Aaron to pay the bill but she just wanted to have an appreciation for the cost of things. She wanted to make sure he understood: “what life would look like if I was not his ‘parent,’ but rather a ‘roommate.’ It was a lesson about gratitude and respect from the very beginning.”

She also said that prior to writing the note her son lied about doing his homework. She said he would have his Internet access restricted, to which he replied that he was making his own money now.

Lessons like this are sometimes needed, and we are happy to see that she did what she could in a loving way to teach her son right from wrong.