It felt like the floor had been pulled out from under us.
Why Would He Lie?
That became the question that consumed us.
Was he ashamed?
Overwhelmed?
Afraid of disappointing us?
Had he fallen behind and didn’t know how to admit it?
What we eventually discovered was a tangled mix of fear, anxiety, and pressure. He hadn’t enrolled because he wasn’t sure what he wanted. He hadn’t told us because he didn’t know how to say the words:
“I’m lost.”
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Cookbook
salad
Soup
Cheese
Cheesy
Chicken Tenders
Ham
Groceries
Salad
Beef
And once the lie started, he didn’t know how to stop.
The Hard Lessons
This wasn’t just about money—though thousands of dollars had vanished into rent, food, and who-knows-what.
This was about trust, communication, and the silent struggles many young adults carry.Groceries
We learned that:
Kids sometimes hide the truth not out of malice, but out of fear.
Parents often assume their children are following the same roadmap they would have chosen.
A lie can grow roots if no one stops to gently ask deeper questions.
Moving Forward
It took time—long, emotional conversations—to rebuild trust. There were tears, apologies, anger, forgiveness, and an uncomfortable amount of honesty. But eventually, we got to a place of understanding.
He’s now figuring out what he wants to do with his life—not what he thought we wanted.
And as parents, we’re learning to separate his path from our expectations.
The Truth Behind the Story
This story isn’t unique. More young adults than ever feel pressured into college, scared to admit they’re struggling, and overwhelmed by decisions about their future.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this:
Talk to your kids. Really talk.
Ask questions that go beyond grades and majors.
Create a space where they can admit fear without feeling like a failure.
Because sometimes the strongest, smartest thing a young person can say is,
“I’m not okay.”
And the most loving thing a parent can do is listen.
