Every parent is going to make mistakes at times but as long as you try and make every decision with your child's best interests at heart, you are doing a good job. However, one mum has been left questioning whether or not she is the villain after she made the harsh decision to remove her son's bedroom door during a heated argument, the Mirror reports.
The mum took to Reddit to explain that she had heard a loud bang coming from her 16-year-old son's bedroom and she was concerned that he had injured himself when he didn't respond to her while she was 'screaming' his name. In a state of panic, she had barged the door down off its hinges only to discover that her son was perfectly fine and had been ignoring her while he watched the television.
Angered by his reaction, the mother decided to not replace her teenager's door but her controversial decision has left divided opinions as other people remind the woman that her son needs his own 'privacy'. She explained: "I heard a really loud sound, as if the ceiling was falling or a bookshelf had fallen.
"My husband and daughter were out - the only other person in the house was my son. I was pretty sure he was in his room, which is at the opposite side of the house from the kitchen, so while making my way there I checked every room and everything seemed in order.
"I knocked on my son's door and called his name, no answer. I must have knocked and called three times before trying to open the door which was locked.
"At this point I was getting really freaked out, thinking that maybe he tipped his wardrobe or bookshelf and it had fallen over him and he was passed out on the floor. I was basically screaming his name, no answer."
By this point the mother was extremely paranoid that something had happened and she barged the door down with her body weight until it came of its hinges. Thankfully her son was perfectly fine and admitted he had been ignoring her while he watched his fil but he was not pleased about his broken bedroom door.
She added: "He was freaked out about the door but fine. The sound was his TV with the volume at the max, apparently.
"He didn't answer me calling because he didn’t want me bothering his movie. His words were, 'You were screaming like a harpy and it was annoying, I was trying to watch the movie. Fix the door'."
Annoyed by his disrespectful reaction and the concern he put her through, she told him if he wanted a new door he'd have to pay for it himself. She told him: "I said no - I wasn't going to fix it since to 'fix it' I would have to buy a new door and doors are expensive.
"As soon as his dad got home he would remove the door entirely as it was too broken to just stay there. He got really mad. Said it's his 'right' to have a door, he deserves his privacy.
"I said he had a door and while I was the one that broke it and it was a consequence of his actions, so if he wanted a door he would have to buy it. I know he doesn’t have the money for it right now.
"Until then, no door. He can change in the bathroom. He said f*** you, I said he was grounded."
However, now that the mother has calmed down and reflected on the situation, she's been left wondering whether or not she was too harsh on her son and has taken to Reddit to seek some advice.
One user commented: "You should be wrong for not getting him a new door. He needs privacy, he doesn't need a TV.
"Think of different and better ways to discipline that don't remove his privacy and space. Kids typically don't need a TV if he didn't answer because of the TV take that away not his door."
Another person suggested: "Sell the TV to pay for the new door - win-win". A third user agreed she had been too harsh and advised: "Privacy is important for teenagers. Give him a new door, without a lock.
"Take away the TV (for a period, at least). Maybe have him pay for part of the door by working it off (a reasonable amount, not the full price of a new door), and he gets his TV back when he's worked it off."
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