Being a single mom is hard work, I don’t have to harp on about that fact. But being a single mom to a rebellious, stubborn 16-year-old boy is another level of challenging.

My son, Jason, has been giving me grief lately, especially when it comes to his schoolwork.

As a mom who works two jobs to make ends meet, I expected him to, at the very least, try to keep his grades up.

Instead, I discovered a side to my son that I didn’t know existed.

“Jason, we need to talk about your grades,” I said to him while making dinner. “You can’t keep ignoring your studies like this.”

I didn’t have much time, my night shift at the laundromat awaited me, but I always tried to have a hurried dinner with my son before leaving.

“I’m trying, Mom,” he sighed. “You just don’t understand me. That’s your problem. Leave me alone to figure it out. And anyway, I’m doing just fine.”

“No, you’re not,” I insisted.

And it was true, the school had taken to emailing students’ results, highlighting the particularly bad ones. It was their way of trying to ensure that the parents had some sort of say in their children’s lives.

“And until you show me some improvement, you’re not going out. That means no date with Kelsey tonight. I’m serious.”

Jason glared at me, his jaw clenched in a way that reminded me of his father just before he lost his temper.

“That’s so unfair! You can’t control my life like this. Go find something else for you to do.”

“I am your mother,” I replied firmly. “I can control your life. And I will.”

He stomped off to his room, slamming the door behind him.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. This wasn’t how I envisioned spending my evening before work. I had wanted to make dinner with my son and hopefully eat it together.

I wanted to take a hot shower and then get dressed for work, making a cup of coffee as I went on my way.

I didn’t want to fight with my son over something he should have been doing already.

“He needs to fix his attitude,” I muttered to myself as I grated some cheese.

A few minutes later, Jason reappeared, looking somewhat contrite. I turned the stove off and faced him, wondering what was going on now.

“Mom, I think the faucet in the basement is leaking again. Can you check it out?” he asked simply.

I was surprised by his sudden change in attitude. Where was the angry teenager from earlier?

But also, since we had changed the basement to be more of a hangout for Jason, he did spend a lot of time there.

“Sure, honey,” I said. “I’ll check it out now. I’m sure the washer just needs a tighten.”

As soon as I stepped inside, I heard the door slam shut behind me. I rushed back up the steps, but it was too late.

The door was locked.

“Jason!” I shouted, pounding on the door. “Open this door right now!”

“Sorry, Mom,” he called back from the other side, sounding anything but sorry. “I’m going on my date. Kelsey is looking forward to it, and so am I. I’ll be back later!”

I couldn’t believe it.

My own son had tricked me and locked me in the basement!

I felt my pockets for my phone, but there was nothing. I knew that it was on the countertop in the kitchen, from when I had been making sure that I still had enough time before work.

“This is not the boy I raised,” I said out loud. “And he will not get away with this.”

Looking around, I noticed a stool in the corner of the room. It wasn’t going to be easy, but I knew that if I stood on it and reached high enough, I would be able to slip through the window near the ceiling.

“This boy will be grounded for life,” I said through gritted teeth as I sucked in my stomach and tried to squeeze myself out.

Once outside, I dusted myself off and made a beeline for my phone.

There was only one person who could help me teach Jason a lesson he’d never forget. And that was my mother, the one woman whom he feared more than anything in the world.

“Mom, you won’t believe what Jason just did,” I said, recounting the whole ordeal while trying to stop my hands from shaking in anger.

“Don’t worry, Callie,” she said, her voice steely. “I know exactly how to handle this. Come pick me up and take me to his date.”

With my mother by my side, we headed to the café. As we walked in, I spotted Jason at a table with his date, laughing and completely oblivious to the storm about to hit him.

My mother, her face unreadable, strode directly to my son. The moment he saw her, his eyes widened in terror.

“Grandma? What are you doing here?” he stammered, starting to get up.

But my mother didn’t say a word. I could pinpoint the moment when panic set in, and Jason bolted from the table, trying to escape her wrath.

I quickly moved to the door and locked it, effectively trapping him inside just as he had done to me.

“Not so fast, buddy,” I said, folding my arms.

His date, meanwhile, was watching the whole scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

“What’s going on? Jason? What’s happening?” she asked, holding a laugh in as she looked from my mother to my son.

“Jason is a horrible boy who couldn’t handle the truth from his mother. Do you really want to be dating someone who doesn’t care about their grades, dear? Or someone who left his mother in the basement?”

Kelsey’s eyes widened as she realized that Jason had a not-so-nice side to him, too.

“It seems like you have some family issues to sort out,” she said. “And maybe you should focus on school more.”

With that, she picked up her handbag and left.

Jason, now a cornered animal, tried to plead with my mother.

“Grandma, please,” he said slowly. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. Mom, I didn’t mean it.”

“Sorry isn’t good enough,” she said, her voice cold. “I’m coming home with you. And we’re going to improve your grades.”

Back at home, my mother kept a close eye on Jason, making sure that he studied for his upcoming tests.

She wasn’t just strict; she was relentless.

The next morning, I stood in the kitchen making myself a cup of tea when he walked in.

Jason hesitated at the doorway, then slowly made his way to the table and sat down across from me.

“Mom,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper. “I need to talk to you.”

“What is it, Jason?” I asked.

My son took a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

“I’m really sorry for what I did. Locking you in the basement was… it was stupid and wrong.”

I felt a mix of relief and anger, but I let him continue.

“I just… I just wanted to go on that date with Kelsey,” he said, his voice breaking slightly. “I wanted her to see me for who I really am, not just some guy with bad grades and a bad attitude. I thought if I could just have one evening with her, it would make everything better.”

I sighed, setting my tea down.

“Jason, I understand wanting to be seen differently. But locking me in the basement? That was dangerous and disrespectful.”

“I’m so sorry, Mom,” he said.

I didn’t know what else to say or do. So I just hugged him.