No child in today's generation will ever have the work ethic and respect for their elders that previous generations have had. Today's generation is nothing but a bunch of spoiled, self-entitled little brats who desperately cling to their precious "safe space".

He asked if it was fair, not if he had it worse than other people... Geez.

I apologize if that's what you interpreted. I meant to illustrate that parents determine what is fair. I believe every kid, regardless of their situation, goes through some crap when they're 16ish. They'll resent their family because of it, get angry, all that normal teen angst stuff. Just because I worked more than he did doesn't necessarily mean I had it worse than him, I'm sure he's just as screwed up inside as I was. I was trying to say that if a parent thinks you need to work 16 hour days for your meals, then that's what's fair. Or, if your parent wants you to do some chores for tv and Xbox privileges, that's fair. There is no universal fairness in life, what's fair for him isn't what was fair for me. The parents decide. Also, I was trying to say he should appreciate his mom more. She's still around, she's still raising him, she's basically dedicated 17 years of her life to him. That deserves some respect and gratitude, and he shouldn't say he hates her just because she gets a little stressed out every now and then.