Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Horrible row with 21 year old son

3 replies

Fedup48 · 29/12/2022 20:13

Where to start with this! I brought my son up myself - his father was abusive and ended up in prison for abuse towards me and several other women. I worked hard, got a degree, bought a house and gave my son everything I could. His father was never in his life. When my son was in his teens it was clear that he had issues with temper etc but he also started taking drugs at this point. Not long after, both my parents died within 5 weeks of each other and my relationship with my then partner fell apart. I will admit that I took my eye off the ball with my son. My son is now 21 and the last few years have been horrendous- he ran up thousands of pounds worth of drug debt ( which I stupidly paid) , he’s smashed my house up several times, ran amok with a knife last Xmas ( I had to call the police). His father got out of prison a few years ago and befriended him - they did lots of drugs together and had a bit of a bromance before falling out… his father fed him lies for a while and I was called the most horrendous names. The icing on the cake was this year , when my son stole and crashed my car whilst high. He is being prosecuted but this has also cost me thousands of pounds in hire cars and repairs. The last few months have been a lot better - he’s stopped drinking/ taking drugs, he’s been working and he’s been living with a friend. We are waiting on a massive list to see a psychiatrist as I believe he has underlying ADHD which I didn’t see as he was on drugs. We had a huge row tonight - he stayed over last night. He demanded that I take him out for cigarettes or he would throw my dinner in the bin. He then threw the bottle of water I was drinking out the back door and grabbed my Xmas garland off the wall… I’ve thrown him out. I just can’t take any more stress - every time we row it’s awful. I lost it and grabbed the Xmas garland and threatened him tonight as I feel so helpless when he bullies me. AIBU?

OP posts:
ThePoshUns · 29/12/2022 20:19

Sending a virtual hug to you. You've been more than patient and understanding. Time for some tough love I think. He needs to stand on his own two feet.

Untitledsquatboulder · 29/12/2022 20:28

YANBU

If you want any chance of maintaining a decent relationship with your ds at any point in the future your need to put your foot down now before he damages the relationship so badly that it will never recover. So yes, stand firm. He can live elsewhere and you can offer support (emotional not financial) but only if he starts treating you with respect.

Cuppasoupmonster · 29/12/2022 20:31

Gosh you are NOT being unreasonable and you must not blame yourself for how he is, no parent is perfect but it sounds like you tried very very hard. As tough as it is, I wouldn’t let him come back - he sounds like a threat to your safety, and essentially he’s a grown man who won’t change until he wants to change (I have experience of addiction in my family). Sending hugs as it must be so heartbreaking xx

New posts on this thread. Refresh page