Remember when your tween wanted to start a lemonade stand and you melted at the innocence of it? Fast‑forward a few years and that same sweet kid is now raking in YouTube cash and declaring himself above the family chores. It sounds like a sitcom plot, but it happened to a mom in Italy. Her 13‑year‑old son Aaron was busy building his online persona and informed his mother that he was too grown up for house rules. Tired of the attitude, she wrote him a letter outlining the real cost of independence. If he wanted to live like a tenant, he’d have to pay rent ($430), electricity ($116), internet ($21) and food ($150). She listed chores—from taking the trash out three times a week to vacuuming and keeping his bathroom tidy—and added a cheeky “maid fee” of $30 if he failed. She even told him he’d have to cook for himself. Only if he decided to be her child again would they renegotiate the terms.

Parents on the internet cheered. Some called it genius, others remembered their own entitled teens and wished they’d thought of it sooner. The mom later clarified that she wasn’t trying to make money off her son. Aaron is a budding YouTuber; he earns a few dollars here and there—certainly not enough to cover utilities. Her goal was to help him appreciate how much things cost. After crumpling the letter in anger, he realised adulting is expensive and started doing his chores to get his privileges back. Tough love, it turns out, works better than endless nagging.

What can we learn from this viral moment? Teenagers aren’t born entitled; they become that way when we rescue them from every discomfort. It’s tempting to shrug off a messy room because we’re exhausted or to swipe our card when they “need” the latest gadget. But kids need to feel the pinch to understand that time, money and energy are limited resources. Give them a say in family decisions, but also let them pitch in. They might not be paying rent, but they can certainly load a dishwasher or fold laundry. Attach privileges to responsibilities—unlocked Wi‑Fi after chores are done, or screen time only once homework is complete.

Parents often ask whether allowances encourage entitlement. There’s no one‑size‑fits‑all answer, but consider splitting allowance into “chores money” and “practice money.” Pay for tasks that go beyond their ordinary responsibilities and give them a small stipend to manage so they learn budgeting. When they blow their budget on candy, resist the urge to bail them out—natural consequences are the best teacher. Apps like ForChore can help track who does what, assign age‑appropriate tasks and even award bonuses for initiative. It turns chores into a game rather than a battleground.

Above all, keep the conversation open. Explain why chores matter and how they’re part of belonging to a family. Share stories about your first job or the time you washed dishes in exchange for pocket money. Let your teen vent about how unfair it all feels, then calmly remind them that fairness means everyone contributes. A little tough love today could save them from thinking their first apartment comes with free maid service tomorrow.

Sources:

Scoop Upworthy – Mom’s ‘tough love’ letter to ‘entitled’ 13‑year‑old son garners praise from other parents (July 6 2025)