Some parents teach their kids to share. I teach mine that it’s okay to protect the things that matter most to you. My four-year-old son is autistic, and his bedroom is his safe space — his little world of Monster Jam trucks, superhero action figures, and intricate marble runs he’s spent hours building. But every time certain kids visit our home, they storm into his room like tiny wrecking crews, leaving chaos and broken toys in their wake. After watching my son’s face crumple in heartbreak one too many times, I made a decision that’s now dividing my family and friends: I put a lock on his bedroom door.
My Son’s Room Is His Safe Place
The Problem: Tiny Tornadoes in My House
My Breaking Point
The Backlash
“You’re Teaching Him Not to Share!”
The Fallout
The End of a Friendship
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Maybe in some people’s eyes, I’m overprotective. Maybe to others, I’m teaching my son not to share. But in my eyes, I’m teaching him that his boundaries — and his feelings — matter. If protecting his happiness means losing people who don’t respect our home, then so be it. Friendships can be rebuilt. Broken toys can be replaced. But a child’s sense of security? That’s something I’ll defend every single time, no matter who it upsets.
