I can still remember the day like it was yesterday. I had just returned home after a long day at work and was looking forward to a quiet evening.
My son had other plans.
My son had been dating his girlfriend for a few months and had become increasingly obsessed with her. He would spend hours texting and talking to her, and it was starting to take up all his time. I had warned him multiple times to be careful with his finances, but he always brushed me off.
That evening, I noticed something strange. My wallet, which I usually keep in my bedroom, was missing. But reappeared after a few hours.
I received a transaction SMS on my phone and found out that some one had used my credit card to buy an expensive item.
It did not take long to find out that my son had stolen my credit card and had used it to buy an iPhone for his girlfriend.
I was livid. I immediately called him and confronted him about the theft. He had no intention of apologizing and instead tried to blame me for not providing him with the money he needed to buy the phone. I was so angry that I told him to leave the house and never come back.
The next couple of weeks were a blur. I was so embarrassed and ashamed that my son had done something so irresponsible. I felt like I had failed him as a parent and had let him down.
I tried to contact him multiple times, but he never responded. I eventually learned that he had moved in with his girlfriend and was living off of my credit card. I was devastated.
My son’s actions had consequences beyond just my wallet. He had been kicked out of his school and lost all of his friends. He had also let down his girlfriend, who was now living with him in a cramped apartment with no money.