When a teenage boy told his mom he didn’t want people to think they came together, asking to be dropped off a block away, she was hurt — but not surprised. Like many parents of teens, she’d been feeling the sting of his growing independence and attitude. So, she decided to teach him a gentle lesson by giving him a taste of his own behavior. Adolescence is a rollercoaster — full of emotional highs and lows, a deep need for autonomy, and a tendency to push parents away. It’s not personal,

but that doesn’t make it easy. This mom’s story is a relatable reminder that even the most patient parents can hit a breaking point. Instead of yelling or punishing,