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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

dd 22 at home - am on hols aibu concerned

100 replies

mrsfuzzy · 02/09/2016 19:45

this sounds silly but i'm concerned about her being at home whilst we are on holiday, has missed out on college this year, [didn't get her student loan sorted in time] and will be working usual two days a week, [not likely to get extra hours], she will be staying at her nans [she's elderly] but in the past has spent more time at home than at nans whilst we are away. she is bright but very scatterbrain, doesn't lock the front door behind her, leaves windows open when she goes out - you get the picture, her sibs will be a college/ school so are out during the day. have had problems in the past when she has come back and her sibs were out and we were away. a friend came round, they went out locked themselves out and had to climb through the open kitchen window !
in the past she has been at college whilst we've been away so we've pretty much known what has been happening as a sib has usually been at home, so this time is an unknown quantity. nan is housebound and there is noone we can ask to check discreetly on things. it is putting me off going and my dh, although concerned is getting irritated with dd [hasn't told her] and, understandably a bit with me.
i need to get a grip or better still get some advice, feel quite stressed but please tell me if ibu about my concerns, but they are very real. i don't want to go on holiday because of this now.

OP posts:
Orda1 · 02/09/2016 20:40

So I read/hear in the news but it's not my experience.

notgivingin789 · 02/09/2016 20:41

Op regarding the student loan; she can still go to University whilst she's getting her loan sorted. I had this same dilemma, though this was due to Student Finance England's fault.

TrinityForce · 02/09/2016 20:43

Sit her down and have a grown up chat - listen, DD, you're 22 now love, you've got to get your shit together and close WINDOWS AND DOORS before you leave the house. Put your key in your bag, go and get a spare key cut to leave with Nan just in case.Remember to lock the door. See you in a week love.

mrsfuzzy · 02/09/2016 20:43

she has been in college since she left school, other sibs 15, 17, 20 do their own thing, she is not looking after anyone - even herself ! it is so frustrating as she is so laid back and insists on dictating to her 17yo dsis what is what but the 20 yo is running the show. dd1 just does not think, we talk to her about security etc but nothing changes, she will turn up at home and expect her sibs to let her in, will talk to her -again- with dh and remove the key before we go but she probably won't go to nans before we leave as she'll be at work, then will wind her dsis up about she'll go when she's ready and not before. she puts the arguement over 'well i am an adult and can do what i want' my response is 'well leave home then !' but she can't afford to and wants to stay on at college for another year.

OP posts:
skyyequake · 02/09/2016 20:46

The average age for moving out is rising.
Yes because of the economy, not because we all can't be trusted on our own! Plenty of 18 year olds survive at uni on their own, and plenty never return to their parents (some do, but that's usually a money issue)

ilovesooty · 02/09/2016 20:47

What's she doing at college that takes so many years?
At 22 she is being mollycoddled if she thinks it's ok to treat everyone with such disrespect and only work two days a week while dragging college study out like this. Surely you must be subsidising her?

mrsfuzzy · 02/09/2016 20:48

to those who are asking, she is having to stay with nan because nan is house bound and needs someone to keep an eye on her, plus please read opening post for other info.

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 02/09/2016 20:50

Plenty of 22 year olds (and younger) don't live at home and are students. If I didn't trust one of my children at that age with my home and possessions I would ask them to move out.

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 02/09/2016 20:51

Yes because of the economy, not because we all can't be trusted on our own!

I'm not disputing that. Confused

I simply replied to the comment that most 22 year olds have their own place.

skyyequake · 02/09/2016 20:54

Sorry for misunderstanding Very!

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 02/09/2016 20:56

I'm not convinced the ditzy, carefree selfish 22 yr old is the one who should be foisted on house bound granny. Can't the 20 year old stay with granny?

If the 22 year old is too irresponsible to be left in the familial home even with younger sibs, seems to me she shouldn't be going to granny's either.

Do you have a garden shed?

Orda1 · 02/09/2016 20:58

Sorry, I was only speaking anedotally. I can only think of one friend that lived at home at that age.

It's certainly not unusual to not live at home is what I was trying to say. The whole thread seems like it's talking about a 16 year old, not 22.

Danglyweed · 02/09/2016 21:02

Jeez mrsfuzzy is she even capable of looking after her nan?

My parents went away travelling Canada when we were 15, 17, 19, all living away from home at the time, we all arranged to go home a week each and look after the house and pets(although we did live in a non door locking area).

The girl needs a new job, 2 days clearly isn't enough to engage her brain, I mean that in a nice way. She needs to grow up

Rachcakes · 02/09/2016 21:03

Are you sure there's no ADHD in there? I only ask because my best friend has recently been diagnosed, age 40 and it explains why she's such a scatterbrain. Hair-brained ideas are her forte too. It presents differently in women, apparently.
I may be way off the mark - it's just on my mind because of my friend.

If you are that worried send her to her nan and leave her key at home, till you are around to supervise her.

BabooshkaKate · 02/09/2016 21:06

i'm concerned for the security of the house ffs, sorry i don't want to be aggressive but this is not a trival matter.

You should have led with this.

This is a perfectly reasonable concern, your property may be at risk.

At uni I lived with twatheads who didn't lock the door and consequently things were stolen (including my cucumber!!!!!!!!)

When is she moving out?

LunaLoveg00d · 02/09/2016 21:14

acts like a 14 year old Probably because you treat her like one.

Atenco · 02/09/2016 21:24

Is there a diagnosis for everything? I was like that for many years, only got cured by motherhood.

mrsfuzzy · 02/09/2016 21:43

iuna hardly treated like a 14 year old, she 's been going to rock concerts in london since she was 16 on her own she's very savvy and street wise, but a air head when it comes to basic common sense sometimes, she's training to be a vet, hence the long time at college, the college is also linked to our local uni.

OP posts:
mrsfuzzy · 02/09/2016 21:45

babooska Grin heck i fancy a cheese and cucumber sandwich now !

OP posts:
charliethebear · 02/09/2016 22:18

I wish most 22 year olds could afford their own place! Grin
But I think you need to be genuinely concerned. Your DD is 22 and seems to be missing basic skills. She only works 2 days a week, and isn't in any education this year.Its all very well to say she just does not think but at 22 she needs to be able to live by herself, shes not 12. Theres no way you should have concerns about leaving a NT 22 year old home alone. I cant think of a single one of my friends who would have these sort of issues.
As a temporary solution, you could stick post it notes on things she has to remember to do before leaving or a list on the front door. To keep your house safe.

Sweetandsour93 · 02/09/2016 23:05

People mature at different ages, there are lots of people on here saying they had kids, mortgages etc at 22 but that's not the case for everyone. Most 22 year olds I know are just finishing uni or still trying to figure out what they are doing with their lives. Leaving her on her own might actually help her along the way a bit as she'll have to manage for herself etc. It's a learning curve, some people are "young" for their age and not always so fast to get used to adult life.

TrinityForce · 02/09/2016 23:22

fucking hell Baboosh not your cucumber!

Can Nan manage to lock the door behind DD if DD can't manage it herself?

MammaTJ · 02/09/2016 23:24

My DD is 21 and married. She has even managed to keep a baby alive for just over 6 months.

I think you need to take a chill pill or a whole bottle.

CafeCremeEtCroissant · 02/09/2016 23:50

I'd be seriously concerned about undiagnosed SN.

For this holiday I'd get Wifi sorted at Grans house. Take her key off her & tell her she is not to go home until you get back. If she desperately needs something she needs to ask the siblings to drop it at Grans, but it had better be bloody important.

Then when you get back you need to really establish whether there are any undiagnosed SN's. Talk to her about it. Talk to professionals. Makes notes of other things that aren't how they should be.

If she doesn't have any SN then tell her she shaped up or ships out. Final warning re doors & windows.

CafeCremeEtCroissant · 02/09/2016 23:51

Oh & I'd be rostering the others to check on Nan . I'd not trust her to look after Nan properly