{"id":1305,"date":"2024-07-13T11:48:10","date_gmt":"2024-07-13T10:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/?p=1305"},"modified":"2024-07-13T11:53:21","modified_gmt":"2024-07-13T10:53:21","slug":"new-1916","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/?p=1305","title":{"rendered":"New 1915"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My Teenage Son Spent Grandma\u2019s Funeral Savings on a Game \u2014 The Family Taught Him a Lesson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When Judy discovers that her teenage son has been stealing and using his grandmother\u2019s money to satisfy his gaming addiction, she has no choice but to teach him a lesson that he will never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve always heard about there being one child in every family who just goes overboard and does stupid things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t expect my son to be that child in our family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling teenage boy | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My teenage son, Brandon, like most teenage boys his age, had gotten into gaming. And whenever a new game came out, he would get obsessed over it and watch the trailers, begging me to buy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s ridiculous, Brandon,\u201d I would say firmly. \u201cI\u2019m not giving you money for stupid games.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he was as persistent as they came. And when the latest version of his favorite game came out, he would whine and plead daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A teenage boy playing on a computer | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease, Mom,\u201d he would ask at every opportunity. \u201cPlease, just this game and I won\u2019t ask for anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrandon, I\u2019ve already said no,\u201d I would say. \u201cPlease, stop nagging. This discussion is over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, a week ago, the whining stopped. Brandon retreated to his room and was stuck behind his computer again, talk of the game long forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was relieved, thinking that he had finally moved past this phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how else to tell him that we cannot spend money on video games,\u201d I told my husband, Liam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know,\u201d he agreed. \u201cIt\u2019s time that Brandon realizes that there\u2019s more to life than just sitting behind a computer. And if he insists on it, then it\u2019s time to get a part-time job to pay for his games.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything seemed fine as we settled back into our routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until I received a panicked call from my mom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy savings for the funeral! They disappeared!\u201d Her voice trembled with fear and confusion. \u201cJudy, they\u2019re gone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A shocked old woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I should probably explain this part:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My mother is as eccentric as they come. And for the past three years, she has gotten it into her head that she needs to save up for her funeral. She\u2019s healthy as can be, but it\u2019s something that she does as a comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not my fault, Judy,\u201d she would say. \u201cSome of my friends are passing away now, and I have to be prepared, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An urn on a stool | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She would pick up her paintbrushes and splash wet paint all over her studio as she spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s okay if you think I\u2019m crazy, darling,\u201d she would continue. \u201cBut at the end of the day, I have to do what gives me peace of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, my mother had been putting away money each month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A person holding a paintbrush | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhere are you storing it, Mom?\u201d I asked her one day. \u201cPlease tell me that you have a separate bank account.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, Judy,\u201d she replied, her eyes wide. \u201cThen we definitely won\u2019t get it out in time for you to use for my funeral. No, it\u2019s in a little wooden box under my bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not safe, Mom,\u201d I replied. \u201cAnyone could get to it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A little wooden box | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy neighborhood is safe, darling,\u201d she said. \u201cDon\u2019t you worry about that. I just need you to know where it is when you need it. You know, when the time comes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little did I know, my son had heard this entire conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCalm down, Mom. I\u2019m sure that there\u2019s an explanation for this,\u201d I said, trying to soothe her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman on the phone | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took hours to calm her down, and every time I thought she was okay, she would burst into tears all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI should have listened to you, Judy,\u201d she cried. \u201cKeeping the money lying around was a very stupid thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as I hung up, I knew two things: who was at fault and what I was going to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A sad old woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A week earlier, Liam and I had gone away for the weekend to celebrate our anniversary, and we had left Brandon with my mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had been present when my mother and I had the conversation about her savings and the little wooden box that held it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could remember him sitting at her kitchen table, eating the cookies she had made for him, and listening intently to the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cookies<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cookies on a plate | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGran is really worried about dying?\u201d he asked me in the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s normal for her to be worried,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I pieced together the story quickly. Brandon must have thought that my mother wouldn\u2019t notice the missing money. Or maybe he did, but he didn\u2019t care about the consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman driving | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All he had wanted was to satisfy his gaming obsession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrandon, do you know anything about Grandma\u2019s missing money?\u201d I asked him later that evening as we cooked dinner together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My son\u2019s face paled in front of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A shocked teenage boy | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, why would I know anything about that?\u201d he replied, a little too quickly. \u201cGran didn\u2019t tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By that point, I was certain that it was him. His tone was all off, and I had offered him a chance to confess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following weekend, he begged to spend the night at my mother\u2019s house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling teenage boy | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease, Mom,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sure Gran isn\u2019t feeling too safe at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I allowed it, thinking that he\u2019d try to sneak the money back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And sure enough, when I went to pick him up, my mother opened the door beaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll never guess what!\u201d she said, pulling me into a tight hug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d I asked, curiosity taking over me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast night, after Brandon and I had dinner, he asked me about the money and said that he wanted to check my room,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, he said that, huh?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A stack of dollars | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes! And he found it! He said that I must have misplaced it, and I guess that maybe I did. Most of it is there, except for about $100, but I could have used that on my nails last week for all I know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you found it, Mom,\u201d I said earnestly, but inside, I was seething.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan was simple. I texted Liam and told him everything, asking him to call for a family meeting later that evening. We needed to teach Brandon a lesson that he wouldn\u2019t forget any time soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A person using their phone | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After dinner, Liam stood up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to have a family meeting now,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s important. Don\u2019t worry about the dishes, love, we can do it later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon and I followed Liam into the living room and we sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A teenager sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrandon, Gran told me about you finding her money last night. Her memory seems to be going, doesn\u2019t it? Maybe we should consider a nursing home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liam nodded his head slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, Judy, I know that it\u2019s painful to think about. But maybe that will be the best thing, if she\u2019s worried about her memory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of a man | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? No! She\u2019s fine!\u201d Brandon protested, his eyes wide with panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, she\u2019s lost her money once. What if it\u2019s her keys or she forgets to take her medication or put the stove off?\u201d my husband added, playing his part perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My son\u2019s face turned a deep shade of red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of a teenage boy | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t lose the money! It was there all along!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re saying that Grandma\u2019s lying?\u201d I asked, raising an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m saying that maybe she\u2019s just confused,\u201d he said, squirming in his seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf she\u2019s that confused, then maybe a nursing home is best,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An old woman at a nursing home | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make some calls tomorrow,\u201d my husband said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Brandon\u2019s fa\u00e7ade crumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, okay! I took the money! I\u2019m sorry! But I just wanted to buy my game. I didn\u2019t think that it would cause so much trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We let him sit in silence for a moment, the weight of his confession hanging in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An upset teenage boy | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrandon, stealing is wrong. And lying about it makes it worse,\u201d I said softly. \u201cYou\u2019re going to have to make this right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I\u2019ll get a summer job and pay Grandma back. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a start,\u201d I said. \u201cBut you also need to apologize to Grandma. And you\u2019re going to tell her the truth. Not me. And you\u2019re grounded from using your computer until you\u2019ve paid back every cent. Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of a stern woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandon nodded, tears streaming down his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will, I promise. I\u2019ll get a job at the ice cream place and I\u2019ll make everything right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, he had no other choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An ice cream store | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would you have done?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My Teenage Son Spent Grandma\u2019s Funeral Savings on a Game \u2014 The Family Taught Him a Lesson When Judy discovers that her teenage son has […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1305"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1378,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305\/revisions\/1378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}