Single Mom Sparks Concern Online After Revealing Her Teen Has Been Lying
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A single mom has turned to the internet for advice after finding out her teen daughter has been lying to her for months.
The Reddit post shared by u/National_Teach402 on July 24 has gained over 3,900 upvotes and sparked a broader conversation about teenage deception, trust, and parental guilt.
The mother began her story by describing her 16-year-old daughter, Sarah, as a model teen: "Straight A's, never in trouble, responsible. Or so I thought."
The mom explained she recently received a call from Sarah's school to state she had been absent for the past three days—news that directly contradicted what her daughter had told her. When she checked the school's online portal, she found something even more troubling: Sarah had missed 23 days of school that semester.
A stock image of a mother scolding teenage daughter.
A stock image of a mother scolding teenage daughter.
fizkes/iStock / Getty Images Plus
Chronic absenteeism affected approximately 31 percent of students during the 2021–2022 school year, with a slight improvement to 28 percent in 2022–2023, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
According to Newport Academy, absenteeism is often linked to:
Anxiety, stress, and depression (which affect 87 percent of Gen Z youth),
Academic boredom or disengagement,
Bullying and violence,
Social dramas or peer conflict.
However, the teen referred to as Sarah isn't skipping school for any of the above reasons.
"I had no idea," the mother wrote. In a moment of desperation, she went through her daughter's phone. "I know [it's an] invasion of privacy, but I was desperate.
"[I] found out she's been spending her days at her boyfriend's house. This boy I've never met, never heard her mention. She's been lying to me every single morning, leaving for 'school' and going straight to his place."
What disturbed the mother most wasn't just the skipping—it was the elaborate cover-up. "She comes home at normal times, talks about her day, even complains about homework. She's been forging parent signatures on absence notes," the mom wrote.
When confronted, Sarah broke down and apologized for disappointing her mother but offered no explanation. "She just keeps saying 'you wouldn't understand,'" she said.
"I'm a single mom and I thought we had a good relationship," the woman confessed. "I feel like such a failure as a parent. How did I miss this?"
Expert Insight: 'This Is Normal'
Newsweek spoke to Jenn Brown, a Certified Life Coach for parents, teens, and young adults, based in Dallas, Texas.
"It's normal for teens to lie to their parents," Brown said. "That doesn't mean you've failed. Teens hide things not because they're bad kids, but because they're in the messy middle of figuring out who they are."
She explained that teens often deal with identity struggles, social pressure, and fear of judgment, all while trying to maintain a sense of safety.
"If they sense that opening up will only bring shame or punishment, they'll just keep more to themselves," Brown said. "This is where we come in as parents—not to control, but to stay connected."
She advocates for setting firm boundaries with compassion.
She said: "You can absolutely hold expectations and follow through with consequences. But how you deliver those expectations determines whether your teen leans in or locks you out."
Brown suggested a few phrases that can help reestablish trust:
"I'm here to listen, not just react."
"I don't love the choice, but I love you."
"You'll still be held accountable, but I'm not leaving you alone in it."
"When connection leads, correction follows," she said.
Reddit Reacts
So far, the post has almost 300 comments—many from users who are concerned about the daughter's safety.
"The 'you wouldn't understand' is a clear indication that he is someone you would not want your daughter to date," said one comment with over 7,000 likes.
"Yeah that's a huge red flag, honestly. She knows she's doing something wrong, and potentially dangerous, but no one else 'understands.' No, we do, which is exactly why you knew you should hide it if you wanted to get away with it," said another user.
"Does the school provide notification for when she's absent? You might want to look into that. Don't be too hard on yourself. You're a good mom. You were lied to," praised a third user.
Newsweek reached out to u/National_Teach402 for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
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