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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Not coping with adult child being back home

164 replies

movienights · 10/05/2024 10:51

Ds has moved back home after 3 years living with his ex.
He's 25 and he does absolutely nothing around the house or garden, if he's asked to do something he'll do such a poor job that it will need doing again, he can't wash up properly and leaves frying pans and pots grease stained and dirty so dh or I have now said leave the washing up so we can do it properly, the washing up he accumulates is only his packed lunch he cooks salmon or chops to take and rice or potatoes late at night so we have to wake up and clean up.
I cook his main meal with the family which I'm happy to do as I would anyway and one more portion is nothing.
He has all his washing done for him because he's so heavy handed with the buttons and broke the last machine, he peels his clothes off and puts them in the laundry basket inside out, even socks, he treads down so hard on the pedal bin we're on about our 3rd this year, he's broken the front and back door and his bedroom door just by being heavy handed yanking the handle, he leaves the bathroom soaked through every day and his towel on the floor because no amount of asking him to open window sinks in, he leaves black marks all over the house from his dirty hands, (he works in a filthy factory) it cleans off but is extra work, he makes so much mess and work for me and does nothing, or puts such little effort into reluctantly doing what's asked that I have to do it again anyway.
He has no life outside of work, no friends and no hobbies never leaves the house which he seems happy with, he works the same hours as us so is in his room all night every night a thin wall away so our sex life has nose dived.

He's now informed us he's going to go back to college and then do an apprenticeship after, which I admire anyone who wants to better themselves but this just screams I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.
He lies to us constantly, he's also very unsociable and keeps his life very private so even having a conversation or exchanging pleasantries is awkward because he doesn't like questions so even how was your day is a one word answer so not to give anything away.
I make allowances for him because he is possibly autistic or has ADHD but refuses to get assessed as he feels he's just the way he is and doesn't want a diagnosis or medication.

I am I constantly arguing with dh about something else he's done because dh moans to me as ds won't be spoken to about anything, it's like living with a teenager who just storms off at the first sign of criticism or he'll shout and argue back and then nothing changes except the atmosphere.

I feel completely snowed under with the situation, our marriage is at breaking point and there's nothing I can do about it because he's likely going to be here for the foreseeable future if not forever.

OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 10/05/2024 10:57

I can see why his relationship broke up just from how he is living with you.

As he is currently working he needs to move out and be an adult, not Mummy's little boy that does everything for him as if he is 5 years old - he is 25 !!!

He can find a bedsit or a room in a flat/house share.

Once he has moved out and got used to looking after himself he will discover if he can afford to go to college, he may well find he has to work evenings / overnight to support himself - if so that's fine it's all part of growing up and being an adult...

drusth · 10/05/2024 11:14

Yep, you sound defeated, like you have accepted this.

He needs to move out and make friends.

Fraaahnces · 10/05/2024 11:23

Firstly, he’s an adult. He CAN wash the fucking dishes properly. He chooses not to. Send him back again and again like Supernanny did with toddlers in bed - Until they’re clean.
He needs to earn his keep. He needs to contribute an equal share to food and bills. If you are doing the cooking, etc, his share is HALF of what you are spending, not 1/3rd.
He needs to learn that your time is valuable and that he is not ENTITLED to live with you. That is a very generous choice you and DH have allowed and he is taking the piss.

sl0th · 10/05/2024 12:30

Weaponised incompetence!

Tell him if he can't start mucking in properly and respecting your house/property, then he needs to find somewhere else to live, give him a time limit.

SoftPuppyBlanket · 10/05/2024 12:42

Off to a house share/bedsit he goes....
Unfortunately he can't afford to go back to college because mummy and daddy are not funding him at 25 years old, especially since he pissed on his chips by being a terrible house guest.
Send him out into the big wide world and see how long his room mates put up with his slovenly attitude.

flipflopsalready · 10/05/2024 12:42

sl0th · 10/05/2024 12:30

Weaponised incompetence!

Tell him if he can't start mucking in properly and respecting your house/property, then he needs to find somewhere else to live, give him a time limit.

Yup this, there's lots of jobs I don't like but it doesn't get me out of it.
Who will wash up when he lives alone? He can buy paper plates but not paper frying pans.

Codlingmoths · 10/05/2024 12:46

short term. He pulls his weight. He doesn’t go to bed until his dishes are cleaned. He can’t cook after 10 until he can demonstrates cleaning up. He deposits £200 or something reasonable which you use to cover breakages and has to top it up at £100. He turns up for weekly washing sessions where he does his own washing supervised because he’s pathetic. You and Dh alternate the supervising because it’s not a woman’s job. And tell him you have a bag waiting to stuff some clothes in and he leaves on the spot if he doesn’t want to do this, as he’s 25 and will behave like a capable adult. You need to man up here in your final opportunity to produce a functioning adult. Nice and supportive is overrated.

Scintella · 10/05/2024 12:47

Is he capable of doing the college work and apprenticeship.?

BallaiLuimni · 10/05/2024 12:47

The question I'd ask is - and I don't mean this an accusatory way - how did your DS get to 25 with so few life skills?

Was it clear when he was younger that he may be ND? If it was, you probably should have intervened at that point so he could develop fully into an adult.

As it stands it sounds like he's struggling. It's very very annoying but you can't get away from the fact that you and DH are his parents and to some extent this is your failure.

You have two options - kick him out and hope that spurs him into getting his act together, or acknowledging what he needs and doing your best to improve his skills.

SingingSands · 10/05/2024 12:58

Encourage him to move out to a room in a shared house. He can meet new people and hopefully be a bit more responsible for himself.

25 is too old to be living at your parents house and treating the place like a 5 yr old would.

Summerpussy · 10/05/2024 12:58

First of all I am autistic and I have ADHD and I am nothing like that .
Yes I struggle, massively..but I never make other people's lives difficult by my actions..I just would be horrified at the thought..
However my eldest son has autism and learning disabilities and he is exactly like you describe op , except he has never left home or had a girlfriend or an actual friend.
If he has autism,kicking him out won't change him ..but your house will be cleaner .
My son will always live with me ,I've accepted that ,but only recently accepted it ..I was angry for a long time when I realised this was it ,all he could manage

gamerchick · 10/05/2024 13:07

What was he like before he left home? Its the parents job to train them up. Might be a bit late now, he's mastered weaponised incompetence.

He needs to leave. Tell him he needs to move out into his own place as you're not compatible living companions and can't afford all the repairs or cope with the extra work. Or you'll end up divorced and lumbered.

Gettingbysomehow · 10/05/2024 13:12

You've got to amend the job you did bringing him up. My 41 year old DS would not dare to treat me like this. His wife would leave him if he behaved like this.
Your house, your rules. He does exactly what he is told properly, not a half arsed job or else he leaves.
My DS tried this on in his twenties once. I packed up his stuff and put it in the shed and told him he was free to come and get it whenever he wanted.
He spent a week on a park bench sleeping rough then came back and begged forgiveness and has never behaved like that since.

Mamette · 10/05/2024 13:15

The thing that would get to me most is the rudeness. The one word answers etc.

DD is 23, I love it when she is here (she spent a month here recently). She is good company.

I think I would sit him down and explain that he’s an adult now and he doesn’t get to treat you like that. Stark choice- grow up and behave yourself with a civilised attitude, or move out.

JazbayGrapes · 10/05/2024 14:17

yep, weaponised incomptetence. But how come you didn't teach him these skills when he was a child?

OriginalUsername2 · 10/05/2024 14:27

I’m chuckling a bit at you and your husband marvelling at how useless he is when he’s your son and was brought up by you 😆

wombleberry · 10/05/2024 14:28

"he's likely going to be here for the foreseeable future if not forever" ONLY IF YOU LET HIM.

OP, just tell him he has to get out. He cannot be so disrespectful of you, your home and your belongings with no consequences. You are doing him exactly zero favours, all he is doing is learning that he can have a "fuck you" attitude to everyone and everything and someone else will always pick up his slack and fix his messes.

He needs to leave and either he will figure stuff out, or he won't. He'll find some other long-suffering woman to do what you're doing, or he will up his game and get his act together.

You absolutely do not owe him a place in your home when his behaviour is so poor, and you certainly do not have to sacrifice your relationship and personal happiness because your son is opting out of being an adult.

If you really want to parent your adult child, push him out of the nest!

Balloonhearts · 10/05/2024 14:36

For Christ's sake stop being so wet! This is why he is useless!

If he doesn't clean up after himself, send him back to do it again. If he breaks it, he buys another one. Immediately. Same day. Oh he can't afford it? Tough. Be more careful then.

Give him a deadline. Needs to move out by x date. He's working full time so he can afford to.

Straycats · 10/05/2024 14:43

Well am sorry to say you both failed spectacularly as parents, he should have been helping to clean up as a child to also help around the house. I had three daughters then a son, ALL were expected to do their rooms and help in communal areas. Being heavy handed he'd have learnt to not if he had to buy replacements.
My son has a girlfriend who I like and I'd always wanted to be on good terms with girlfriends and potential wife, by not creating a lazy good for nothing layabout!

Commonsenseisnotsocommon · 10/05/2024 14:53

Sorry to say but you and your oh have enabled this pathetic behaviour from him! Why are you tolerating it? And why did you not train him better before he originally left? I'd be putting a rocket under him and a timeframe of when he needs to be out by but fully demanding he steps up in household chores and not being an oaf until then.

peacefull · 10/05/2024 15:14

His ex had a lucky escape for the sounds of it.

Aquamarine1029 · 10/05/2024 15:17

You created this monster but it doesn't mean you have to tolerate it any longer. Tell him he has to move out.

Verv · 10/05/2024 15:41

He needs to move out.

flipflopsalready · 10/05/2024 15:41

Why is he taking pork chops, salmon, potato and rice in his lunchbox? if he can't wash up he takes a cheese roll and a packet of crisps.

Roundandroundthegard3n · 10/05/2024 15:47

He's 25 years old. Stop babying him. He needs to move out. If he can't afford to move out and train then he doesn't get to train.