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What to say to my 19 year old DS when he returns...

5 replies

ThisMustBeMyDream · 12/07/2021 18:43

I am really bloody fed up if my eldest son who is 19. He is not following house rules, and has really let me down in a big way today. He agreed to help me this week as middle DS in isolation, and younger DS needs to go too and from school. On my non work days I have asked him to be home from 8.45am-9am and 3.10pm-3.25pm. I have reminded him, and he was here this morning and had middle DS for 15 mins.
At 3.10 I went upstairs to let him know I was leaving. He wasn't there. He has gone out. He hasn't answered his phone or messages since.
He has form for ignoring me when he has been asked to do something but doesn't want to. He creeps out and then claims he forgot when he returns. Ignores questions as to why he didn't answer his phone or messages. He often stays away for a day or two so that he thinks he won't have to face what I have to say to him.
What would you say to him? I am fed up with his general selfishness already (eating others food, making a noise waking us up on coming in, leaving a big pile of dishes next to the sink, flicking hair dye all over the bathroom and ruining the new floor etc etc). I genuinely think he doesn't care about anything but pleasing his mates.
This week he has broken the house rule of not having people to stay over. He has snuck a girl in, and I found her there one morning. He has done this twice before. Nothing I say seems to get through to him. I have 2 young kids in the house and do not want random people here who I have no idea of their trustworthiness. He has made various excuses as to why they are here, but it is all BS. He is at college, and has a well paid part time job. So his family are surplus to requirements I guess. I feel like this is just his hotel. The easy option is to say just throw him out, let him fend for himself. But it is really important that he doesn't fuck up this next year at college. His first 2 years were wasted, one his fault, the other the fault of college. So now he is half way through a 2 year engineering course that will get him to uni. If I throw him out, he will quit college, and do his job FT. Whilst that pays well now, it has no progression and will leave him in NMW work all his life. I don't want to fuck up his future because he is being a selfish bellend at 19. I'm sure he will realise what a twat he has been in 10 years time. But how do we get through this bit now? These are the years that there seem to be no guidance out there on how to navigate them?!

OP posts:
30degreesandmeltinghere · 12/07/2021 18:56

Pretty much similar position a few weeks ago op.. But ds17 had promised to watch ddog for the day. He didn't come back unbeknown to me. Ddog ate her way through 3 boxes of printer ink... My house was less than presentable shall we say. I was in floods of tears with anger and frustration... I am assured (by ds) he will be more organised in future..
. So let rip op. Get upset. Your ds needs to know he is living in the family home and family (imo) need to be supportive and a bit less selfish at times...

ScrollingLeaves · 12/07/2021 19:05

He sounds horrible and this sounds very difficult for you. Are you a single parent? I ask because you haven’t mentioned his father saying anything to him.

Perhaps he’ll get a bit better as he gets older.

It does not seem there is a way out if you want him to get through college and think he won’t if you ask him to leave. I hope another poster will come on with more pragmatic advice.

Is the book ‘How to listen so Kids will Listen”
for much younger teens? Someone might advise you. I have heard it is good but not read it.

I am so sorry you are in this position.💐

CharlieWorkCharlieSad · 12/07/2021 19:09

What stage of life is he at OP? University/work/unemployed?

Is it time he moved out? Sometimes a right kick up the arse is what they need.

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CharlieWorkCharlieSad · 12/07/2021 19:09

Sorry OP I didn't read the last bit of the post!!!

ThisMustBeMyDream · 12/07/2021 19:33

Yes, single parent (I do have a boyfriend but don't live together fully, although he is here the majority of the time). His dad isn't particularly useful. He doesn't know what the day to day grind is like, so thinks DS is innocent and I'm a monster basically. He has on occasion backed me, but it isn't really worth the discussion anymore. Chances are he won't think any of it is particularly problematic.

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