A Summer of Chaos
When 16-year-old Jake arrived at our home for the summer, I hoped for a smooth visit. But he was cold from the start. “Fine,” he mumbled when I greeted him, ignoring his younger siblings Emma and Noah. His behavior quickly worsened—disrespectful, lazy, and messy. He hogged the living room, left trash everywhere, and even ordered Emma to clean his room. “She wanted to help,” he claimed smugly.

Crossing the Line
Things escalated during a weekend trip when my husband Mark and I left Jake in charge. We returned to a trashed house—beer bottles, garbage, and a shocking confession from the kids: Jake had locked them in a closet. “They were annoying my friends,” he said without remorse. Mark’s attempt at discipline—“Apologize to your sister, Jake”—was laughably weak. Then I noticed money missing from my purse and decided enough was enough.

The Wake-Up Call
With help from my police officer friend Mike, I staged a lesson. I planted fake money in my purse, which Jake quickly stole. At a café, Mike confronted him. “This money looks fake. Where did you get it?” he asked. Jake froze. “I… I don’t know.” Mike continued, “Counterfeit money is a serious offense. Stand up. You’re coming with me.” Jake trembled with fear, begging, “Please, Lisa, help me!”

Turning Things Around
Back home, I revealed the setup and showed Jake a video of his humiliation. “You need to learn that your actions have consequences,” I told him. From that moment, Jake changed. He apologized to Emma and Noah, helped around the house, and acted respectfully. “Jake’s different lately,” Mark observed. “Just a little tough love,” I replied.