In the letter, Estella reprimanded her son, named Aaron, for attempting to act like an adult prematurely. She was fed up with her 13-year-old’s attempt to establish his own rules and warned him that if he continued, she would start assigning him responsibilities more suitable for his desired status.
The exasperated mom stated that he would be required to contribute to the food bill, pay rent for the house, and cover any ‘maid service’ she provided, presumably including meal preparation and laundry.
The letter reads: “I believe you need a lesson in independence. Additionally, since you boasted about making money now, it will be easier to reimburse me for all the items I bought for you in the past. If you wish to keep your lamp/light bulbs or access to the internet, you will need to contribute your share of the expenses.”
“Moreover, you will need to take out the trash on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, as well as sweep and vacuum on those days. You must keep your bathroom clean weekly, prepare your own meals, and clean up after yourself. If you fail to do so, I will charge you a $30 maid fee for each day I have to do it. If you decide that you’d rather be MY CHILD again instead of a roommate, we can discuss the terms.”
Many online commenters praised her parenting approach, while others felt she was too strict. Soon, Estella’s letter had been shared 160,000 times and received 85,000 likes on Facebook. In response to criticism of “shaming” her son online, she defended herself by saying:
