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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:
Feverly · 27/07/2023 15:14

‘Where would he go?’ that is a normal question every adult considers and plans for- what job can fund my lifestyle? Which area can I afford rent in? This man is refusing to function, so OP can either choose to allow him to continue making a mug of her, or make him live like an adult.

WeightInLine · 27/07/2023 15:18

He needs a job with accommodation. The Army would be good and he can get some skills and health benefit.

Maybe others will have suggestions but definitely needs to have a new home.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 27/07/2023 15:22

Feverly · 27/07/2023 15:11

does each individual in a household have their own WiFi @MrTiddlesTheCat? I don’t understand your question.

You can set it up like that. We have 4 wifi connections with different passwords in ours (because our coverage is poor). But if you only have one, it's easy to change the password and only give it to those who follow the house rules.

Livinghappy · 27/07/2023 15:23

How was he during A level studies?

It's easy to say "kick him out" but he d9es sound depressed and addicted to gaming. If he is depressed how will kicking him out help? It will just make him fall further.

Is he smoking weed?

Aliceinunderland · 27/07/2023 15:23

No advice because I'm in exactly the same position, so much so I briefly wondered if you're my partner! I understand all too well how bad the impact is on everyone else in the home. I've given him deadlines, I've tried helping him access all sorts of support, we've got him jobs, ferried him around and still he chooses to stay in bed playing video games. And make no mistake, it is a choice. You just have to keep hoping that he will one day see sense but I do wonder whether I need to ask him to leave because being here clearly isn't helping him either.

OwlBabiesAreCute · 27/07/2023 15:29

It's not setting a great example to his younger brothers either. Agree, he needs a job and to make his own way, the not talking to / acknowledging you is beyond rude.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 27/07/2023 15:34

YANBU but you sound like you're being far too nice. He got a holiday abroad as a result of doing the sum total of nothing at all.

I told my 14 year old a few weeks ago that he's part of a family and I don't like being treat like just some dickhead he has the misfortune to live with. You need to tell your son, either he's a functioning member of your family and behaves like it - by keeping his room clean if not tidy, and contributing to running the household - or he's not and you'll treat him like a tenant. For me, that would start with bagging his entire room up in bin bags and slinging them in the garage.

Tilllly · 27/07/2023 15:35

Find the cheapest bedsit in your local town. Pay six months rent for him. Move him in.

Lonnnngsummerholidays · 27/07/2023 15:38

Feverly · 27/07/2023 15:11

does each individual in a household have their own WiFi @MrTiddlesTheCat? I don’t understand your question.

They can just change the password and not give him a new one.

OP you need to give him your house rules and tell him if he doesn’t follow them
he moves out. And mean it.

blisstwins · 27/07/2023 15:38

My guess is depression and ADHD. I would try to problem solve with him first because I don’t think disciplining him out of this will work.

ThreeLittleDots · 27/07/2023 15:38

You can't force him to work full time, no.

You can however choose to remove him from your home for abusing your good nature.

Baldieheid · 27/07/2023 15:40

I'd pack his crap up in boxes and send him on his merry way. I believe its known as "consequences". He's no longer a child, so why are you babying him? Turf him out

Breezycheesetrees · 27/07/2023 15:43

I was also going to ask what he was like before uni/as a younger teen, and whether this is a change of character.

Either way, although his behaviour and attitude are completely unacceptable I'd be very concerned for him - this is no way to live. He sounds deeply unhappy, and it also doesn't sound like he has any life skills. Do you, hand on heart, believe you sent him off to university 2 years ago equipped with the skills he would need to cope with adult life? If yes, then it sounds like he's had some sort of breakdown since then, and really needs your support. If not, then I think it's on you to work with him to get his life going in a healthier direction before it's too late.

I don't mean you should keep enabling him, but just chucking him out would be a bit brutal since it doesn't sound like he can fend for himself out there.

IncompleteSenten · 27/07/2023 15:43

Give him a choice. Get a job and contribute or find somewhere else to live.

dogsweetdog · 27/07/2023 15:44

Chuck him out. No way would I let a 20 year old live like that in my house.

Breezycheesetrees · 27/07/2023 15:45

Also, I know I'm going to get shot down for this, but for the love of god get your younger children away from the gaming before they end up in the same rut.

TeddyFluff · 27/07/2023 15:45

I haven’t read all of it, but I got to a point where I just thought, I’d he wasn’t your son, would you live with him? No, most likely. So ask him to leave. You’ve been polite and you’ve got angry. Nothing has worked, so it’s time he left. Your house, your rules. If he can’t respect them then he goes.

HarrietJet · 27/07/2023 15:45

dogsweetdog · 27/07/2023 15:44

Chuck him out. No way would I let a 20 year old live like that in my house.

He's her son, who sounds deeply depressed, not any old random 20 year old.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 27/07/2023 15:47

Jeez what a waster.

Clearly you are a pushover. Its obvious you looking for jobs for him will result in more arguments because he doesn't want to work! You can't force him to work! What you Gona do? Drag him out of bed, put his pants on for him, drive him to his work etc etc?

He needs to move out and then he will be forced to fend for himself. You're enabling it all right now.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 27/07/2023 15:47

HarrietJet · 27/07/2023 15:45

He's her son, who sounds deeply depressed, not any old random 20 year old.

No, he sounds like an entitled loser

Wizzbangfizz · 27/07/2023 15:50

So sick of people on here justifying poor behaviour because of being ND and poor mental health. Life is hard but sometimes you have to fucking get on with it.

Wozzzzz · 27/07/2023 15:51

Sorry OP but in the nicest way possible, why would he want to look for a job/tidy his room/be a functioning adult when you are allowing him not to?? Applying for jobs for him is absolutely ridiculous. These are all life skills he needs to learn himself. Was he always like this?

I would set some hard deadlines with consequences for him and see them through. And YY to changing the wifi password.

MNetcurtains · 27/07/2023 15:51

Wizzbangfizz · 27/07/2023 14:20

Honestly I would be putting some hard deadlines in place and act on the consequences if he doesn’t deliver. You are making life to easy for him. Set non negotiables - tidy room, full time job by x date, get him paying some kind of rent. And if he continues on the path he is on set him a deadline to leave. Also I would be turning off the WiFi. Time for some tough love OP.

At the very least, change the WiFi password.

YukoandHiro · 27/07/2023 15:51

Why did he quit uni OP? Was he failing, or did he just never engage in the first place (eg never attended or handed in an assignment)?

Did he choose the wrong course, or was uni actually a bit of a stretch for him in the first place? Or did money worries come into play? Or the failure of a relationship? You need to know a little more to understand where this lack of motivation might be coming from.

Who are his friends and what are they doing now? Does he see them? Has his behaviour around friendships changed in this time?

Was he a hard worker during a levels or a clever lad who managed to get away with decent grades with very little work?

I think I agree with the majority of PPs that you need to set a move out deadline. The month of his 21st is fair - that's full fledged adulthood and when a lot of people are graduating. You might likely have to help him find a shared house and stump up 3-6 months initial rent, but after that he's on his own.

FuckNuggets · 27/07/2023 15:52

MrTiddlesTheCat · 27/07/2023 14:29

Turn the wifi off until his room is tidy. I do this for my DS and he's only 10.

Just change the password and refuse to give it to him until he sorts himself out.