I FOUND ALMOST $3,500 IN MY 13-YEAR-OLD SON’S PIGGY BANK AND DECIDED TO FOLLOW HIM AFTER SCHOOL. As a widowed mom doing my best to raise my son alone, I was genuinely shocked when I opened his piggy bank while cleaning his room and discovered the large amount of money. For years, I’ve juggled two jobs to ensure he has a stable life, so seeing that much cash hidden away made my heart race with concern.
My first thought was whether he might be involved in something unsafe or stressful for a child his age. That night, when he mentioned going to a classmate’s birthday party—one I later found out wasn’t actually happening—I felt a wave of worry wash over me. I knew I needed to understand what was going on, not to punish him, but to protect him.Continue reading…
