Parents and children don’t always see eye to eye about what’s important. For example, children might not think that paying attention in school is very important, but parents usually view school as quite important. Quentin Tarantino warns parents to be careful about how they speak to their children about what their children consider important and meaningful.

When Tarantino was in school, he would sometimes work on a screenplay during class instead of doing his schoolwork. On Brian Koppelman’s “The Moment” podcast, he recalled a time when his mother got particularly mad at him for neglecting his schoolwork.

Tarantino’s teachers thought he was being rebellious by working on a screenplay during class instead of focusing on school. In response, the school contacted his mother, Connie Zastoupil. In return, she scolded her son because she had “a hard time about my scholastic non-ability.”

While Zastoupil was complaining about her son’s defiance in class, Tarantino recalled her saying, “Oh, and by the way, this little ‘writing career’ — with the finger quotes and everything — this little ‘writing career’ that you’re doing? That s— is f—ing over.”

That comment didn’t go over well with Tarantino. In fact, after she mocked his passion for screenwiting by using finger quotes to call it “this little ‘writing career,'” he made a promise to himself. He explained, “When she said that to me in that sarcastic way, I was in my head and I go: ‘OK, lady, when I become a successful writer, you will never see penny one from my success. There will be no house for you. There’s no vacation for you, no Elvis Cadillac for mommy. You get nothing. Because you said that.'”

The big question is if Tarantino actually stuck to that vow. Turns out that except for helping his mom out once when she got in “a jam with the IRS,” he has not given her a dime. He never bought her a house or a car or anything that he might have otherwise done.

In response, Koppelman tried to talk Tarantino into buying his mom a house. Koppelman argued that her words motivated him to prove her wrong. Tarantino didn’t bite. Instead, he explained, “There are consequences for your words as you deal with your children. Remember there are consequences for your sarcastic tone about what’s meaningful to them.”

Do you think Tarantino should buy his mom a house? Do you think he would have become as successful as he currently is if he hadn’t been motivated to prove his mother wrong?