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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:
JogOn123 · 28/07/2023 12:48

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JogOn123 · 28/07/2023 12:51

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JustDanceAddict · 28/07/2023 12:58

@Taylorswiftly23 no-one says it’s OK, but he needs help that’s beyond the remit of his mother. You can leave a relationship, but not a child, unless he was seriously harming other family members or himself (then police can be called).

Stravaig · 28/07/2023 13:14

Abusive partners and husbands are not tolerated on MN. But the abusive sons who go on to become those abusive partners and husbands are excused and mollycoddled and it becomes the mothers fault to fix them.

It's the great disconnect on Mumsnet. On the one hand, thread after thread about irresponsible and unpleasant and abusive men and women, and how their behaviour harms others and drags all of us down. On the other hand, a parenting forum where no-one ever takes responsibility for having raised these people, for how it happens, for what could and should be done differently.

user1478172746 · 28/07/2023 13:15

Yes, you are unreasonable for demanding full time work. Maybe he feels like hell inside, have sensory issues, problems with concentration and planning, can barely manage to go to work at all and need to have a lot of downtime to calm himself down. And that could happen to anyone - male or female. I felt that part time job or freelancing suited me best, helped my mental health and confidence. Not everyone is cut out for full time job, part time job is better than relaying completely on others.

Shitegeist · 28/07/2023 13:17

Can you rent him a flat or room in a house share, pay the first two months in advance and then tell him it’s up to him from then on?

AgathaSpencerGregson · 28/07/2023 14:11

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Thank you. You have said much more articulately what I was thinking. People should stop using threads from people in trouble to vent their own spleen.

AgathaSpencerGregson · 28/07/2023 14:12

Taylorswiftly23 · 28/07/2023 11:00

😂You’re VERY angry Jogon. I assume you’re raising one of these fine specimens yourself. You must be vair proud 😉

Like this one. WTAF is wrong with this person. Just stop it.

Hibiscrubbed · 28/07/2023 14:16

AgathaSpencerGregson · 28/07/2023 14:12

Like this one. WTAF is wrong with this person. Just stop it.

I think it’s just that not everyone agrees with continually smoothing the way for their children, especially when they’ve continually shown rudeness and disrespect, when they’ve failed to match any efforts made for them, when they’ve thrown away chances they’ve been given, and when they’re an adult…

There has to be a point you accept that they need to care for themselves.

I don’t think people are really suggesting setting his bed on fire and kicking him out there and then, but giving him a deadline to shape up or ship out (be that seeing a doctor, accepting that gaming all night is not ok, or getting a damn job) is a good plan.

This is a 20 year old man. Not a 15 year old boy.

AgathaSpencerGregson · 28/07/2023 14:18

Hibiscrubbed · 28/07/2023 14:16

I think it’s just that not everyone agrees with continually smoothing the way for their children, especially when they’ve continually shown rudeness and disrespect, when they’ve failed to match any efforts made for them, when they’ve thrown away chances they’ve been given, and when they’re an adult…

There has to be a point you accept that they need to care for themselves.

I don’t think people are really suggesting setting his bed on fire and kicking him out there and then, but giving him a deadline to shape up or ship out (be that seeing a doctor, accepting that gaming all night is not ok, or getting a damn job) is a good plan.

This is a 20 year old man. Not a 15 year old boy.

None of that excuses viciousness.

Dearly89 · 28/07/2023 14:24

Get him out asap and teach him independence but be there to catch him if he does really fall. Give him a date he needs to move out by, that will teach him he needs to go to work to pay bills and feed himself. My brother was and still is exactly the same, he is 28 now and still at home and it's much worse. Read my recent threat 'adult brother still at home'. My mum now doesn't stay in her own home to get away from him.
DO NOT LET IT CONTINUE

Dotcheck · 28/07/2023 14:28

It sounds like he has lost his sense of direction, and might be grieving / ashamed.

Have you thought about a careers appointment with the National Careers Service?

If his uni course wasn’t right and he didn’t like independent learning, he may want to look at Higher Technical Qualifications- they are offered through some universities/ FE colleges and the new Institute of Technologies.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 28/07/2023 14:35

Stravaig · 28/07/2023 13:14

Abusive partners and husbands are not tolerated on MN. But the abusive sons who go on to become those abusive partners and husbands are excused and mollycoddled and it becomes the mothers fault to fix them.

It's the great disconnect on Mumsnet. On the one hand, thread after thread about irresponsible and unpleasant and abusive men and women, and how their behaviour harms others and drags all of us down. On the other hand, a parenting forum where no-one ever takes responsibility for having raised these people, for how it happens, for what could and should be done differently.

Exactly!

Hibiscrubbed · 28/07/2023 14:37

AgathaSpencerGregson · 28/07/2023 14:18

None of that excuses viciousness.

Viciousness?!

Dacadactyl · 28/07/2023 14:58

Taylorswiftly23 · 28/07/2023 11:00

😂You’re VERY angry Jogon. I assume you’re raising one of these fine specimens yourself. You must be vair proud 😉

You took the words from my mouth

readbooksdrinktea · 28/07/2023 15:09

Stravaig · 28/07/2023 13:14

Abusive partners and husbands are not tolerated on MN. But the abusive sons who go on to become those abusive partners and husbands are excused and mollycoddled and it becomes the mothers fault to fix them.

It's the great disconnect on Mumsnet. On the one hand, thread after thread about irresponsible and unpleasant and abusive men and women, and how their behaviour harms others and drags all of us down. On the other hand, a parenting forum where no-one ever takes responsibility for having raised these people, for how it happens, for what could and should be done differently.

This is so on point. PP is right. Had this been a romantic partner everyone would be telling OP not to stand for it.

pillsthrillsandbellyache · 28/07/2023 15:12

Practical advice here @PissedOff2020 , cos the uni thing has been brought up alot. Is uni even for him? What did he want to do? There are some amazing apprenticeships out there, even better if he can get one with your local authority. Does he fancy a trade? Maybe he felt some pressure regarding what happened with uni and this is all him acting defensively? Can you or your DH sit down with him to see what it is, if anything he wants to do? My kids are younger and if they want to go to uni fine but it's not the be all and end all in our house. I would prefer them to get a trade under their belts tbh. This country is crying out for good, reliable tradespeople.

QueenMegan · 28/07/2023 15:16

Is he depressed?
Does he say he needs help.

If not suggest he leaves
If he won't go insist you aren't helping him and he needs to grow up away from home

AgathaSpencerGregson · 28/07/2023 15:21

Hibiscrubbed · 28/07/2023 14:37

Viciousness?!

I’m sorry the behaviour seems normal to you. Glad we haven’t met.

Onelifeonly · 28/07/2023 15:27

FuppingEll · 28/07/2023 11:54

As someone not from the UK this is a part of UK culture I find shocking. The throw them out if the going gets tough attitude. Where I am from this thread would have gone very differently. There would have been lots of talk of getting him private therapy/the different types of therapy, recommendations of therapists if needed, recommendations of various charities that help young people who are overwhelmed with life, talk of different courses etc he could do instead of uni, basically all the different things you can do to support him.

The callousness shown by parents if their children don't live up to their expectations and thrive straight away is mindblowing. Especially towards young men. Here people are very attuned to young men's mental health, vary aware of the suicide rates in young men(its the number 1 cause of death in men under 25).

I just find this thread really sad, the glee people are showing at being as rotten as they can towards a 20yr old. It's a sign of a society that is falling apart with no compassion left.

Totally agree.

JogOn123 · 28/07/2023 15:29

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Dacadactyl · 28/07/2023 15:43

@JogOn123 what a relief!

EarthlyNightshade · 28/07/2023 17:03

Has anyone here kicked out their 20 year old son for something like this?
How did it go?

Taylorswiftly23 · 28/07/2023 17:09

Stravaig · 28/07/2023 13:14

Abusive partners and husbands are not tolerated on MN. But the abusive sons who go on to become those abusive partners and husbands are excused and mollycoddled and it becomes the mothers fault to fix them.

It's the great disconnect on Mumsnet. On the one hand, thread after thread about irresponsible and unpleasant and abusive men and women, and how their behaviour harms others and drags all of us down. On the other hand, a parenting forum where no-one ever takes responsibility for having raised these people, for how it happens, for what could and should be done differently.

Yep and when the behaviours that the OP and the rest of the family are enduring are labelled as ‘petulance’ you can see why we have significant and worsening issues in relationships.

EarthlyNightshade · 28/07/2023 17:20

FuppingEll · 28/07/2023 11:54

As someone not from the UK this is a part of UK culture I find shocking. The throw them out if the going gets tough attitude. Where I am from this thread would have gone very differently. There would have been lots of talk of getting him private therapy/the different types of therapy, recommendations of therapists if needed, recommendations of various charities that help young people who are overwhelmed with life, talk of different courses etc he could do instead of uni, basically all the different things you can do to support him.

The callousness shown by parents if their children don't live up to their expectations and thrive straight away is mindblowing. Especially towards young men. Here people are very attuned to young men's mental health, vary aware of the suicide rates in young men(its the number 1 cause of death in men under 25).

I just find this thread really sad, the glee people are showing at being as rotten as they can towards a 20yr old. It's a sign of a society that is falling apart with no compassion left.

I agree with this and wish people were more caring.

However, I don't think people are kicking their own children out so much, they are more suggesting that other people do it.

I'd be interested in hearing advice from people who did turn around a situation like this rather than hearing from people who just think they wouldn't put up with it themselves and don't really care how it turns out for the family involved.

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