The days following Michael’s car demand were full of silent treatments and escalating tension. Each time I tried to revisit the conversation, it ended in frustration. Michael felt misunderstood, and I felt like I was failing as a parent. What made matters worse was his constant comparison to his friends, each of whom already had a car. Michael insisted that he was the odd one out, the only one still dependent on others for transportation.

I knew that buying him a car would ease the immediate tension, but I also knew it wasn’t the solution. The real issue was Michael’s approach to handling disappointment and setbacks. Threatening to move in with his father was his way of manipulating the situation, but I was determined not to give in. I wasn’t trying to be harsh; I wanted him to learn that part of being an adult was managing wants versus needs—and doing so responsibly.

One evening over dinner, I cautiously brought up the topic again. “Michael, can we talk about the car situation?” I asked.

He sighed heavily, barely looking up from his plate. “What’s there to talk about, Mom? You’re not going to buy me one.”

“It’s not just about buying you a car,” I explained. “It’s about how you’ve handled this whole thing. Threatening to leave to get what you want isn’t how adults solve problems.”

He pushed his plate away, frustration bubbling up again. “You just don’t understand,” he muttered, leaving the table and retreating to his room. The unresolved tension left me questioning whether I was being too hard on him or if this was just a difficult stage of growing up.