My name is Mitchell. When my son was 14, he started slamming his bedroom door during arguments, and it became unbearable. So I took the door off. I told him, “You want privacy? Earn my trust.” Now he’s 16 and still doorless. When he recently asked for it back, I said no. As a teenager, that’s exactly when discipline matters most.
Then came today. I was at work when my wife called me in a panic—our son was missing. His teacher had called because he never showed up. I rushed to the school, and my wife found a note in his room: “I’m leaving.” My heart dropped as I searched our circle. Hours later, we discovered he was at a friend’s house.
Now, he won’t speak to us. He won’t even look at me. I replay the moment: did I go too far by removing his door? Was it harsh, or necessary discipline? That empty doorway feels like the line between protecting him and pushing him away.
