Am I Too Strict for Banning R-Rated Movies for My Teen Son?

AITA for not allowing my teen son to watch R-rated movies like his friends? He feels left out, but I'm firm on my rules. What do you think?

Davy

Published in Interesting
August 9, 2025

Am I Too Strict for Banning R-Rated Movies for My Teen Son?

Are you the asshole for refusing to let your teenage son watch R-rated movies? This question sparks a heated debate on parenting styles and boundaries.

A single dad (41M) is facing a dilemma with his 15-year-old son who wants to watch R-rated movies against his rules. The dad believes in age-appropriate content and values, which has led to conflicts with his son who feels left out compared to his friends.

The dad stands firm on his rules, while the son argues that his friends have more freedom in this aspect. The Reddit community is divided on the issue.

Some support the dad (NTA), emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and sticking to them for the child's upbringing. Others criticize the dad's strictness, suggesting that finding a middle ground or having open discussions could be more effective in maintaining a healthy parent-child relationship.

The post raises essential questions about parenting, discipline, and understanding between parents and teenagers. It's a topic that resonates with many, as it touches on the delicate balance between rules and flexibility in guiding children through their formative years.

What are your thoughts on this parenting dilemma?

Original Post

So I'm (41M) a single dad to my teenage son (15M). I've always been strict about what he watches, especially when it comes to movies.

I believe in age-appropriate content and want him to grow up with values I find important. For background, my son has been asking to watch R-rated movies with his friends lately.

They've watched a few at their friends' houses, and my son keeps telling me he's mature enough to handle them. I've always said no, explaining that I have rules for a reason and he needs to respect them.

The issue arose when I found out he watched an R-rated movie at his friend's place that I specifically told him not to. I was disappointed and upset that he went against my wishes.

I had a talk with him, explaining why I have these rules and how he needs to understand and follow them. Now, my son keeps pushing back, saying all his friends watch these movies and he's the only one left out.

He says I'm being too strict and that I'm embarrassing him in front of his friends. But I stood my ground, telling him that my rules stand and he needs to respect that.

Recently, I found out that he went to his friend's house and watched another R-rated movie behind my back. I was furious and grounded him, taking away his privileges for a while.

He's been upset and keeps arguing that I'm not being fair. I want to stick to my rules and principles, but I can see he's really unhappy about this.

So, Reddit, am I the a*****e for refusing to let my teenage son watch R-rated movies, even if all his friends do and he feels left out?