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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

20 year old lazy, dirty son

532 replies

PissedOff2020 · 27/07/2023 14:10

Really at my wits end. Sorry this is a lengthily one.

We have 4 boys, eldest is 20 & dropped out of Uni after the first term - well over 18 months ago now. He didn’t tell us of course, had 5 weeks off over xmas and made no attempt to look for work. When we eventually found out and asked why the hell he hadn’t been looking for work he said he ‘wanted to chill and have the xmas break’. He was 19 then.

Mu husband eventually found him a job 2 months later, as ds’s effort was non existent. Zero hours contract and all good at first. His room was a dirty,dirty hovel with a smell coming out (think plates, food, rubbish etc all over floor). Carpet ruined, walls filthy.. clothes all over floor - can’t even open door there is that much shit. Anyway, that’s been a constant cause of arguments in house - just clean it ffs! He’s just got worse with that, we are quite house proud and I resent the smell upstairs- it’s a joke. He never contributes to household chores, despite countless conversations about it. Just does the bare minimum to get by.
Faat forward to now, his zero hours is currently working out at 8 hours a week. Been like that for 3 months and he’s not bothered to look for a job. We’ve told him he needs full time job, job hunted for him, sent him linked to apply - he does nothing. He sleeps all the time and games all night, sat in his filth.
Took him abroad last month, in the hope to speak to him away from the augments at home and also let him see life outside his bedroom. He slept all day, total waste of money. When I spoke to him about it he couldn’t see any issue with staying in his hotel room all day.
Over the last 2 months he’s got even worse, doesn’t even speak to us. Literally walks in a room and ignores us - we say hello, he has headphones on and so can’t hear anything, but makes no effort to acknowledge us etc. He eats meals if we cook, otherwise lives off sandwiches and cereal.
I have had enough, it’s intolerable. Constant tension and frustration in the house over it. Spoke to him and said I felt like he was treating us like doormats and he has no gratitude for what he has and enough was enough. Told him, the atmosphere in the house with him ignoring us was awful, just made us feel like he doesn’t give a shit about us. Asked why he wasn’t applying for jobs, he shrugged his shoulders. Told him we are not working our arses off, both working full time, for him to work a day a week and sleep all day. Then do not a thing around the house and blank us in the process.
Eventually it finished in a huge row after he snarled he’d apply for jobs but we shouldn’t speak to him at all anymore. Genuinely like he was angry we expected him to work. To add, even before his hours were really slashed he’s only ever worked around 25-30 hours per week at best. He’s had it so easily but he hasn’t a single bit of appreciation. We’ve spoken to him a year ago when he said he was unhappy at work - suggested all sorts, he was going to look into things but he never did.
I just don’t know what to try next. Explained to him over and over before yesterday this is his chance to build his career, we are supporting him whilst he does that. He’s not though, he is quite happy to do nothing and wait until it’s at breaking point - which is where I am at.
Anyone been here? Any advice from any others?

OP posts:
Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:08

His brain is hardwired to be awake late at night gaming, namely because he doesn't have to support himself financially and therefore work properly. Shutting off the wifi when he's nice and awake will give him plenty of opportunity to use his active hours of the day/night sorting out his pit of a room, once he's achieved that and some normal nights sleep who knows where he could go next! I believe in him!

porridgeisbae · 27/07/2023 21:08

I suspect any form of neurodivergence would have shown up before now, so either he’s been masking it or whatever coping mechanisms he had are no longer working for him.

He hasn't faced the challenge of the world of work etc before now, or uni. For some people that's when their neurodiversity becomes clear. It's not the same challenge as being at school/college.

JudgeRinderonTinder · 27/07/2023 21:09

porridgeisbae · 27/07/2023 21:08

I suspect any form of neurodivergence would have shown up before now, so either he’s been masking it or whatever coping mechanisms he had are no longer working for him.

He hasn't faced the challenge of the world of work etc before now, or uni. For some people that's when their neurodiversity becomes clear. It's not the same challenge as being at school/college.

Correct. I was 28 when I got my diagnosis. The system quite often fails people. I’m surprised this is not common knowledge

Jujubes5 · 27/07/2023 21:09

I don’t get letting kids stay online gaming all night.
if I don’t get exercise I feel yucky, bloated, unhealthy and here these teens and older are allowed to sit around all night and lie in bed all day???
crazy

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:10

porridgeisbae · 27/07/2023 21:08

I suspect any form of neurodivergence would have shown up before now, so either he’s been masking it or whatever coping mechanisms he had are no longer working for him.

He hasn't faced the challenge of the world of work etc before now, or uni. For some people that's when their neurodiversity becomes clear. It's not the same challenge as being at school/college.

Disagree whole heartedly with everything you've just said.

YeahIsaidit · 27/07/2023 21:12

Jujubes5 · 27/07/2023 21:09

I don’t get letting kids stay online gaming all night.
if I don’t get exercise I feel yucky, bloated, unhealthy and here these teens and older are allowed to sit around all night and lie in bed all day???
crazy

You can't really make people sleep, you can't tell an adult that they're not allowed to do something...

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:14

YeahIsaidit · 27/07/2023 21:12

You can't really make people sleep, you can't tell an adult that they're not allowed to do something...

You can remove wifi if you pay for it. Let him use his own data on his phone for his streaming, he'll soon run out and - oh look at that - have to go to work more to pay for it - because that's how it works.

Perfect.

Dacadactyl · 27/07/2023 21:16

How's he paying for his phone? Are you paying for it OP? You must be bonkers.

NeedToChangeName · 27/07/2023 21:18

Could he havd gaming addiction?

I'm not surprised he didn't enjoy university in lockdown. Can see that leaving university might dent his confidence

I'm not convinced tough love is the answer. I suspect it's often suggested by parents of younger children, who are yet to learn how to deal with adolescents / young adults

Stomacharmeleon · 27/07/2023 21:21

I used to take the router to work with me if my eldest was not cooperating.

Of course you can tell someone living in your house not to game all night/ remove their ability too whilst you are paying for it.

I also helped my sons get in a Proper routine (no caffeine late etc) and access melatonin when needed. Encourage them to wind down.

Dacadactyl · 27/07/2023 21:27

NeedToChangeName · 27/07/2023 21:18

Could he havd gaming addiction?

I'm not surprised he didn't enjoy university in lockdown. Can see that leaving university might dent his confidence

I'm not convinced tough love is the answer. I suspect it's often suggested by parents of younger children, who are yet to learn how to deal with adolescents / young adults

Well iv got a 16 year old DD and tough love does the job.

In a million years she wouldn't consider behaving the way OPs son is. She knows we wouldn't stand for it.

And he's only got a "gaming addiction" because he's been pandered to and been allowed to ponce about doing nowt.

OhcantthInkofaname · 27/07/2023 21:29

I'd say the 1st thing he needs to do is to clean his room. It may be his room but it's in your home. If he fails to do that he needs to just be booted out.

porridgeisbae · 27/07/2023 21:49

Disagree whole heartedly with everything you've just said.

Well you're wrong as it's what a consultant said to me about how people's neurodiversity difficulties can become more clear as adults. And he's a consultant psychiatrist with a specialism in it, so he would know.

YeahIsaidit · 27/07/2023 21:52

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:14

You can remove wifi if you pay for it. Let him use his own data on his phone for his streaming, he'll soon run out and - oh look at that - have to go to work more to pay for it - because that's how it works.

Perfect.

How very petty

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:52

porridgeisbae · 27/07/2023 21:49

Disagree whole heartedly with everything you've just said.

Well you're wrong as it's what a consultant said to me about how people's neurodiversity difficulties can become more clear as adults. And he's a consultant psychiatrist with a specialism in it, so he would know.

Objection: Hearsay.

I disagree wholeheartedly with your statement and that's what science and discovery and discovery is all about. No progress would ever be made if we all took the opinion of one person as gospel. And it is an opinion, because science and discovery is ever changing.

I don't expect you to agree with me and that's fine too. Welcome to being an adult.

JudgeRinderonTinder · 27/07/2023 21:53

porridgeisbae · 27/07/2023 21:49

Disagree whole heartedly with everything you've just said.

Well you're wrong as it's what a consultant said to me about how people's neurodiversity difficulties can become more clear as adults. And he's a consultant psychiatrist with a specialism in it, so he would know.

I think she is being deliberately inflammatory myself. It’s well known that some people aren’t diagnosed until well into adulthood, like myself, and that it can affect everybody in slightly different ways from the next person due to a multitude of factors. The level of ignorance on this thread is infuriating.

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:54

YeahIsaidit · 27/07/2023 21:52

How very petty

What's petty about an adult paying their own way hahaha. If a 20 year old has to be shown practically how money works then it is what it is.

You think that's petty though, ok :)

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:56

JudgeRinderonTinder · 27/07/2023 21:53

I think she is being deliberately inflammatory myself. It’s well known that some people aren’t diagnosed until well into adulthood, like myself, and that it can affect everybody in slightly different ways from the next person due to a multitude of factors. The level of ignorance on this thread is infuriating.

Well you would, wouldn't you, because again you seem to like an echo chamber. The thread isn't even about ADHD, but you've decided it is and everything has to be seen through that lens now

shocker

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:57

people who go from 'woe is me' to personal attacks are honestly the worst but SO predictable. The pattern is always the same.

JudgeRinderonTinder · 27/07/2023 21:57

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:56

Well you would, wouldn't you, because again you seem to like an echo chamber. The thread isn't even about ADHD, but you've decided it is and everything has to be seen through that lens now

shocker

Oh, go away you ignorant fool. It doesn’t have to be seen through that lens at all, I’m saying it’s something that should be explored and not dismissed so easily.

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:59

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JudgeRinderonTinder · 27/07/2023 22:00

JudgeRinderonTinder · 27/07/2023 21:57

Oh, go away you ignorant fool. It doesn’t have to be seen through that lens at all, I’m saying it’s something that should be explored and not dismissed so easily.

You can’t completely disagree with a fact that ND’s aren’t always picked up in childhood for various reasons, that’s fact so you can completely disagree all you like, but you’re wrong. Sorry. Do some research if interested before arguing about a topic you clearly are very misinformed about.

JudgeRinderonTinder · 27/07/2023 22:01

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Have you seriously just posted that and then told ME to grow up? Oh my God 😂 You would swear you were 12. Hope you have no kids.

YeahIsaidit · 27/07/2023 22:07

Hearmeout · 27/07/2023 21:54

What's petty about an adult paying their own way hahaha. If a 20 year old has to be shown practically how money works then it is what it is.

You think that's petty though, ok :)

He's paying rent/board so he is paying towards it

YeahIsaidit · 27/07/2023 22:12

This reply has been deleted

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I hope you see the irony in telling someone to grow up by sending cartoons