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AIBU?

To ask my son to move out?

135 replies

ConfusedDotty · 06/07/2014 19:43

This is a huge decision for me, wasn't sure whether to put it here or the WWYD board. It's gonna be a long one.

My DP and me live with my DS who is 20 in a rented house. My DS is 20 and does not work, go to college and is not actively seeking a job of any kind. This has been a bone of contention for a while now. DS plays on his PC till early hours of the morning and gets out of bed late afternoon.

I have asked and pleaded with DS to do something with his life, this has never happened. He contributes nothing to the household.

This is the crux. Me and DP have been offered somewhere amazing to live. It's a beautiful place and the rent is £300 cheaper than what we pay now, but it's only a one bedroomed place, so no room for my DS.

Would I be unreasonable to ask him to go and live with either his sister or his father?

I may not have given you enough information to go on, so feel free to ask me anything more.

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ConfusedDotty · 07/07/2014 09:31

Thanks Chundrella, I appreciate that.

I am not looking for push him away tod fend totally for himself, I am more than happy to help him out on the understanding he starts helping himself. If he was working this conversation wouldn't be happening.

He cannot be happy being in the house all day but just seems to lack any ambition of doing anything. I have always worked and moved out and got my 1st mortgage at 19 years old, I appreciate things are a lot more difficult now for people starting off.

I mentioned some of the above just to let you know that he has always been around good role models and just seeems to lack any sort of work ethic.

To answer another question asked before, he does not get any money from me at all, he has zero income and he needs zero income to do what he does.

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Chunderella · 07/07/2014 09:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hamptoncourt · 07/07/2014 09:36

YANBU. He will need income though to continue doing what you are enabling him to do.

I think you will be doing him a huge favour by making your adult son take responsibility for his life.

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Belloc · 07/07/2014 09:46

I wouldn't do it personally. Home is supposed to be yCan you address the reasons he's got no life plans? I think you need to build him up as he sounds broken. He isn't too late to find a college place for September. Poor chap. He needs your love and support. Moving to a one bedroom flat is a weird thing to even consider doing when your kids aren't yet sorted.

As for the turning day into night thing by staying on his PC for half the night. Take the router to bed with you when you go at 10pm. His PC might be much less interesting if it's not connected to the Internet. If his internet use is so heavy so as to be a problem (perhaps it has entirely replaced real life for him) then disconnect the Internet from your house for a while.

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Belloc · 07/07/2014 09:47

Confused dotty - if you got your risk mortgage at 19 how come you've ended up renting?

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Belloc · 07/07/2014 09:49

First not risk.

Your son has presumable endured his parents marriage breaking down. When did that happen?

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Hedgehogsrule · 07/07/2014 09:51

Don't encourage him to sponge off another member of his family. Show him how to look for his own place, however modest it needs to be.

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curiousgeorgie · 07/07/2014 09:53

I have a brother who is 30 and living at home with my parents. He feels absolutely no desire to work, pay housekeeping, get a job or even get out of bed. He has turned into an awful, entitled person who I would literally kick onto the street and slam the door as hard as I could if my parents would let me.

They are doing him no favours. He has never had to try to fend for himself, he has never had to rely on going to work to make money. He is a complete waste of space.

10 years ago my parents could probably have stopped all this in its tracks by forcing him to make his own way, but my mum, like some posters here 'couldn't kick my son out.'

That's a decision that's more for the mother than the child.

It's not like your DS (and my brother) didn't have huge safety nets in place.

I'd do it in a heartbeat...

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TucsonGirl · 07/07/2014 09:59

Really, the minute he quit college or his job or whatever he was last doing, you should have insisted he sign on. You've made a rod for your own back by letting him literally do nothing for a lengthy period of time.

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Tabby1963 · 07/07/2014 10:02

just seems to lack any ambition of doing anything

That sounds like my son, OP. Certainly at school he did the minimum to pass exams; it drove me and his dad crazy because he just wanted to play computer games or do freerunning out of school hours. Aaarrggh!

This changed when his best pal moved away to another city some hours away to work, and he would go up to visit for weekends. He decided at age 17 that he would move in to the flat and live there too. He found a local college course and got a place. He then told us. We were surprised really because it was the first time he'd made a decision, a plan and carried it out. We did suggest he apply for our local college to do the very same course here. He did but it was full (so glad now, because had he lived at home I don't think he would have achieved so much in his life).

He moved up and spent a lot of time looking for work, any work. He had no experience so it was difficult. He had to though because he had to contribute to the rent of the flat (although pal let him off the first month). He got a chance of work at a 24 hour petrol station/shop. He worked a Saturday and Sunday and it meant getting up at 4am for a 6am start (he had to walk there, no buses at that time of the morning). He did it and was never late, did his college course Mon to Fri too; 100% attendance, passed everything. Got a 4 year apprenticeship when he'd finished, with the local council. Has plans to go abroad to work in the future with his trade.

He's a different person now to the "lack ambition to do anything". OP, your son needs a boost, something to work towards, to strive for. But you can't do it for him, it has to come from him. Maybe have a chat with him to find out what he sees in his future, what sparks his interest, a goal he can start planning for. Getting a job, any job at all, is a start. And there are jobs out there, not glamorous jobs albeit, unsocial hours that no one wants, dirty, physical, tiring perhaps.

My son said that he felt a huge boost of pride in himself when he started to earn his own money and pay his way. Sure, he hated the early weekend mornings and losing his weekends, but he saw beyond that, he saw that it was the way to get what he wanted; a flat share with friends. Two years later he has stopped the garage work because he can manage on the apprenticeship pay so he has weekends back Grin.

I wish you every success, OP, your son is stuck in a rut and by chatting you can hopefully help him begin a plan of action.

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Hedgehogsrule · 07/07/2014 10:04

It will be good for him to get a room in a shared house with other young people.

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mrssnodge · 07/07/2014 10:12

MY DS 21 is moving back in with us next month, after being in his own place for 6 months,- the landlords wants his flat back to sell, and DS has no where to go - he is working, and has a car etc, just cant afford to fund a new place, as he was flat sharing, and the other lad is moving back home to his parents too. We have just got used to peace, quiet, tidyness and food that lasts in the fridge/cupboards etc and not to thrilled, but would never turn him away .
Big difference between a hard working lad, and a non working lad who seems a bit depressed- I dont envy your position OP - good luck with what ever you do

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AgathaF · 07/07/2014 10:23

Socially isolated, gaming addiction (?), never worked and no work experience. He is possibly depressed. I realise that he needs to shape up and get work and stand on his own two feet, but I'm not sure that he sounds like he is mentally in a place to do that just at the moment.

You say that he's only been living in the UK since doing his GCSEs. Did he make friends at school? Does he have anyone in his life apart from you and his dad and his sister to talk to? Does he get on with his dad and his sister. What area of work was he originally interested in? Could he, or would he, do some voluntary work to increase his confidence and give him some work experience? Have you broached him seeing his GP about his isolation, gaming and lack of motivation?

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Tabby1963 · 07/07/2014 10:27

AgathaF, voluntary work is a good idea and it'll get him out of the house and off the computer. Who knows what it might lead to?

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littlemisssarcastic · 07/07/2014 10:32

Dotty, If your daughter has her own house and her latest flatmate has just moved out, your son could move in there, but how would he pay the rent on the room?
I'm assuming that until he gets a job he would only be eligible to receive JSA at the reduced rate. How will he afford to pay for the room at your daughters house?

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Gen35 · 07/07/2014 10:37

I think it is an opportunity, the status quo is too easy. Perhaps he is depressed, but it's not going to change unless he does something to help himself get better. I'd move him out, perhaps he does need to realise that not earning a living will eventually leave him homeless and he needs a plan.

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ArcheryAnnie · 07/07/2014 10:38

I have no problem with adult children living with their parents, if they are pulling their weight. This adult isn't behaving like an adult, and shows no signs of doing so unless something about the current situation changes.

Don't foist him on his sister, and do tell his sister she isn't obliged to take him on - but you may be doing him a favour by downsizing.

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PlentyOfPubeGardens · 07/07/2014 10:42

he has zero income and he needs zero income to do what he does.

He needs to be contributing towards housekeeping. You can't realistically charge him rent because he will not be entitled to HB while living at home, but he should be paying you something towards his keep.

If he's not in work or education he should be signing on. He won't get a lot as aged under 21 but will be able to give you some money and, more importantly, the job centre will give him a kick up the pants to look for work.

Whether he's at a stage where he could realistically move out is another question altogether.

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weatherall · 07/07/2014 10:48

Computer games are the heroin of this generation.

OP given your last post I think it sounds like a good idea for him to move in with his sister. He can claim jsa and he will have to look for work or they will sanction him.

Make it clear that you are not punishing him or abandoning him eg offer to help with moving costs and a bit if new decor/ furniture for his new room.

Did he actually finish his a levels? Could he go to Uni/higher ed college? Maybe get sine prospectuses for him?

If you will be saving £300 PCM plus his food/ electricity then you should have some spare to help him in ither ways. Eg does he have a drivers licence? Would this help him get a job? Could you help him with this? Then if he gets a job he needs to drive to help him with the cost of a car/insurance.

Does he have suits etc for interviews?

There are lots of ways to continue to support and parent adult children other than house sharing with them.

You mentioned he moved from abroad then moved in the UK- is he lacking local friends? Maybe a trip back to see how old friends are getting on with their lives will give him the push to move on. Peer pressure is very powerful-much more than parental nagging.

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Gen35 · 07/07/2014 10:50

Also, if it were me and I thought my son was addicted to games, I'd confront him and turn my internet off permanently and ask him to be out the house in work hours actively searching for work/further education opportunities/coming up with a plan. I'd explain why I thought this was in his best interests. After all, he actually can't afford wifi access.

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noddyholder · 07/07/2014 11:20

I think moving in with his sister is a terrible idea. Moving the issue to someone else's life who should not feel the burden of that responsibility which she will

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ArcheryAnnie · 07/07/2014 11:24

Yup. Don't dump him on his sister.

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glasgowstevenagain · 07/07/2014 12:25

To answer another question asked before, he does not get any money from me at all, he has zero income and he needs zero income to do what he does.



-------

Not true - he is costing you 300 per month (or will be) when comparing this accom to future accom.

He must eat?

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glasgowstevenagain · 07/07/2014 12:27

Confused dotty - if you got your risk mortgage at 19 how come you've ended up renting?


Not really relevant!

Maybe her childs father lives there.

Maybe it doubled in value and they sold it

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ConfusedDotty · 07/07/2014 12:40

So many questions. Sorry it's taken me a while, but I am work at the moment.

I have thought about depression tbh, I have spoken to him about it too, he says he is fine and I can't force him to go to the Doctors.

He did make friends at school and does still keep in touch with them (via internet) he very very ventures out to see them in RL.

Moving in with my daughter is a bad idea, I realise that now as it would put added pressure on her, I will not pursue that one.

Sorry I am just skimming the thread at the moment as I am still at work.

Thanks you all for all your responses, I will read each and every one and take all advice onboard.

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