One mum thought she was about to find out how that felt when her daughter decided to play the cruelest trick.
Lily Sharp tweeted screen grabs of a text message conversation between her and her mum, during which she convinced her that a man had managed to get into their home.
She wrote: "You didn't tell me the decorator man was coming mate! Thought he was tryna trick me into getting into the house [sic]"
Lily's baffled mum responded: "Whaaat? What decorator?!?!! Call me!! There is no decorator"
Starting the prank, Lily sent the chilling reply: "She knows that know."
She then pretended to be a kidnapper named Victor, who wanted £4000 for her safe return.
Lily's mum told 'Victor' that the police were on their way, but Lily couldn't resist telling her the truth.
Unsurprisingly her mum was not impressed. She fumed: "You are a complete fking tw*t. Do not call me back. Fk you you stupid f**king idiot."
Have your children ever played a prank like this on you?