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Parent Asks The Internet To Help Them Identify The Things They Found In Son’s Room, And They Know Right Away
An angry parent scolding their son who looks downcast. A serious talk about a weird object in son's room.

Parent Asks The Internet To Help Them Identify The Things They Found In Son’s Room, And They Know Right Away

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Raising children in this day and age can be challenging. With instant access to information, kids are more likely to explore things that raise questions, even concerns, for their mother and father. 

This was a quandary a parent found themselves in after stumbling upon a “little plastic thing” in their teenage son’s bedroom. With absolutely no clue what it could be, they turned to the internet for answers. 

Fortunately, the online community they asked had no shortage of possible theories, which only prompted more prodding. 

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    africaimages / Envato (not the actual photo)

    This parent asked the internet to help identify something they’d found in their son’s room

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    AmoebaSuccessful3393 / Reddit

    The bedroom becomes a child’s sanctuary once they reach adolescence

    Everyone who went through teenhood has made their bedroom a sanctuary. They’ve kept this space sacred exclusively for themselves. 

    According to psychologist Carl Pickhardt, this is one of the “surer signs” that the child has entered adolescence. 

    “The young person’s bedroom becomes increasingly emblematic of youthful determination to live more on her or his own terms,” Pickhardt wrote, noting that parental presence in the room is less welcome. 

    Of course, parents have the authority over their children, at least until adulthood. However, they must also respect privacy boundaries. 

    In the story’s case, one could argue that the author may have snooped in their son’s room and found the mysterious plastic object, which would be a breach of privacy. 

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    Huy Phan / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

    That is why Pickhardt advises establishing reasonable, healthy family expectations in these situations. 

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    “It’s best to clarify parental expectations about adolescent room use sooner rather than later,” he wrote. “About expectations for managing the growing power of the bedroom in your adolescent’s personal life and your family life.”

    However, every parent will likely grow concerned when they see something unfamiliar and mysterious in their child’s possession, as the author did. And they did the right thing by anonymously asking the internet first, instead of confronting the teen straight up. 

    The post drew traction, and people began debating what it could be

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    However, most readers already had a clue on what it could be

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    The teen seems to be in serious trouble thanks to the internet

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

    Danielė Šidiškytė

    Danielė Šidiškytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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    Danielė Šidiškytė

    Danielė Šidiškytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Arabiata Arabiata
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why don’t the parents ask their kid what that plastic thing is? If they get an honest reply, the connection between the parents and the child is good. If the child beats around the bush, there are underlying problems in the relationship.

    Balseraph
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because it's a teen. Getting a straight answer out of a rebellious teen is harder than pulling teeth. Also they need to know what it IS before they can know if the answer is honest...

    Load More Replies...
    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can't wait to see what he leaves for them to find next. My (now recovered, but at the time( very homophobic parents used to go through my stuff and I would leave all kinds of things that I knew they would interpret as "gay" to see how long they would pretend they weren't snooping trying to catch me at something. 3.5 years. They were so upset, it was beautiful. Crying and praying etc. Stop going out of your way to find the bad things your kid is doing and just deal with it if there's a problem. It'll save your relationship.

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a teen in the 80s/early 90s, it was more: Be home by the time the streetlights come on, don't do d***s, and don't get anybody pregnant unless you can stand to be with her for the rest of your life, and don't *EVER* be brought home in the back of a police car. She'd been saying that since I was old enough to walk myself home from school, so I was quite aware of the rules by the time I was a teenager.

    Load More Comments
    Arabiata Arabiata
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why don’t the parents ask their kid what that plastic thing is? If they get an honest reply, the connection between the parents and the child is good. If the child beats around the bush, there are underlying problems in the relationship.

    Balseraph
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because it's a teen. Getting a straight answer out of a rebellious teen is harder than pulling teeth. Also they need to know what it IS before they can know if the answer is honest...

    Load More Replies...
    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can't wait to see what he leaves for them to find next. My (now recovered, but at the time( very homophobic parents used to go through my stuff and I would leave all kinds of things that I knew they would interpret as "gay" to see how long they would pretend they weren't snooping trying to catch me at something. 3.5 years. They were so upset, it was beautiful. Crying and praying etc. Stop going out of your way to find the bad things your kid is doing and just deal with it if there's a problem. It'll save your relationship.

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    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a teen in the 80s/early 90s, it was more: Be home by the time the streetlights come on, don't do d***s, and don't get anybody pregnant unless you can stand to be with her for the rest of your life, and don't *EVER* be brought home in the back of a police car. She'd been saying that since I was old enough to walk myself home from school, so I was quite aware of the rules by the time I was a teenager.

    Load More Comments
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