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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

I need Custy's tough advice asap [sad]

61 replies

stickyj · 23/03/2009 14:12

Just wondered if Custy was around, need to talk

OP posts:
VinegarTitsCoveredinChocolate · 24/03/2009 15:01

Hes needs proof of why before he will leave?

Tell him you have had enough, you cant afford to feed him, he is old enough to stand on his own two feet, he is not a child anymore, you have no obligation to let him live with you rent free and treat you the way he does

In fact, dont even get into an argument about it, just pack his bags and tell him 'out'

Really, stickyj you have to get tough with him, i do know how you feel as my ds1 is 19 and still living with me, it would break my heart to make him leave, but i would know i would have to do it for his own good, and my own sanity

stickyj · 24/03/2009 15:02

So how would you put it and how can I do it without upsetting all the other kids with a major row. Should I give him until the weekend to find somewhere else or what? Thank you for being honest, I know he's bringing me down but when I signed up for being a mum, it was suposed to be for life. No-one tells you how hard it is do they? At least the others are fine, so it proves I'm not such a crap mum after all

OP posts:
stickyj · 24/03/2009 15:02

x posted with you.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 24/03/2009 15:13

sticky, you are in such a state you are not really listening

you need to speak to someone in RL, I think

help him to find somewhere to live, even if it is on a mates floor

tell him you are available for emotional advice and support only

give him no money

stay out of his messes, stop trying to help him put them right

you contributed to getting a dealer put back inside? You are waaaaay too involved and going to get hurt yourself. How will that help anybody?

he can come back after a period of time when he is proving by his actions he is getting work (legit)/volunteering/staying off drugs/can show you some respect

now calm down and go sit down with your dp and write a list of the things you want to happen, go to a neutral place with your son and discuss it

if he won't do that calmly without stomping off/flinging it back in your face, go home, pack his bags and put them outside the door

even if he is living at your house, you cannot protect him from consequences, all that will happen is you/the rest of the family will get dragged down by it too

VinegarTitsCoveredinChocolate · 24/03/2009 15:15

Well if it were me i would do this:

When the other dc are at school and when he is out, pack his bags and put them outside the door, ring him and tell him to come and get them, if he demands to know why tell him, this is my home and i do not want you living here any more, just keep repeating this, dont let him back into the house, get your dh/dp to stand behind you for back up.

He will be shell shocked, but it will give him a great big kick up the arse. A short sharp, unexpected shock is what he needs.

Dont spend your time worrying about where he is sleeping, he will probably go to his gf or a friend, i doubt he will sleep on the street. Get him the address/number of a youth hostel or shelter if it makes you feel better.

Honestly, you have done your best, he is making you miserable, he is an adult and responsible for himself, you need to think of you and your little ones now. Make sure he knows you still love him, but you are not letting him walk over you anymore

VinegarTitsCoveredinChocolate · 24/03/2009 15:24

Gosh i sound like a hard ass muther dont i

Seriously though, that is good advice from anyfucker, my way is of course, the very very last resort

I feel sorry for my ds1 now, when he tried to get out of paying me 'keep' on his aprentice wages i told him 'no keep, no room at the inn' i now realise how lucky i am that he has never bought any trouble to my door

PenelopePitstops · 24/03/2009 15:58

I agree with AF and Vinegar tits

serious short sharp shock needed

you are sticking up for him allowing him to stay, and now you are defending him on here.
Let him make his own mistakes and deal with the consequences

monkeylaine · 24/03/2009 18:14

Hi there, Sorry to interrupt - I'm new here! But, i just want you to know that my two brothers, 2 yrs either side of my age were like this. They both sorted themselves out in their mid to late 20's. They didn't do the drugs, but they were in and out of prison for alsorts of things for years and I always thought they had no morals. They'd steal cars and motobikes, break into superstores, get involved in fights, mix with the wrong types, etc. I remember lecturing them quite a bit and they'd tell me what they knew I wanted to hear, then do the same things again. I always kept in contact with them though and they remember me doing that. In fact no-one gave up on them. We just kept out of their lives as much as possible.

It sounds like you're way too involved in your son's life, and I guess that's because he lives with you. You have to accept he simply doesn't have the same moral code and compassion for others that you have. Accept that your son's the way he is now, and that you're worlds apart in these respects. I don't think any amount of talking to him will get him to be the person you want him to be deep down right now. But, it's good to do it now and then, as one day it will hopefully sink in. He has to want to change his ways, and to feel it inside. It could take time. As his mother, who loves him, I'd be there for him to come to for support and love, but let your duties as mother to a now 19yr old end there. I'd find a way so you're not so absorbed in his world and so you can focus on the younger ones. If it means your son stays with you less or moves out completely that might be what's required. But you being so worried, so involved, so upset, will not make him stop doing what he's doing, not now. He's living in a different 'world' and is surrounded by very different people to you. I really think you need to let him go and live his life. It might be shameful and embarrassing to you, but there's little you can do about it right now. What you can do though, is make life at home happier for you, your partner and the other kids. Fix what you can fix, improve some things that you have control of, and just give support to your older son when it's asked for. I'd make it clear to your 19 year old son what you see your role as (emotional/moral support, love, etc.), make sure you have a response so you know he's taken it in and then relinquish yourself of the rest of what you do - like someone who has to give up smoking -use pure will power to stick to it and give up the stuff that's bad for you and the rest of the family. You might fail once or twice along the way, but remind yourself of what your role in your son's life is. It's not to make him be you!

Sorry, if this is not very helpful and certainly wont fix your son now. But, I just wanted you to know that a lot of kids living this life do fix themselves in the end, especially when they have a family who've not given up on them and when they gain responsibilities for themselves -just let them fly the nest and live their life as they feel they need to, let them make mistakes and learn from them. And I know his actions affect others, but, I don't think it's all down to your son and you can't protect all these people. They each need to take responsibility for their own decisions and not be influenced. They will learn from this hopefully, and some do learn the hard way! But at least they're learning these huge lessons while they're young. Also, your son will be vulnerable to dodgy characters no matter where he lives (at present). It's not something you can protect him from - not at all, but you can protect the rest of the family from it. Make better what you have control of.
Best wishes with what you decide to do.

AnyFucker · 24/03/2009 19:00

monkeylaine, that is a bloody brilliant post

and welcome to MN !!

stickyj · 24/03/2009 19:12

have old laptop with key missi g. will get my o e back to talk. tha k u all

OP posts:
mulranno · 10/04/2009 11:37

Anyone who goes to college or uni moves out at 18... so whats the big deal?...what age do you plan for hime to stay at home til?

Why not try and frame it positively...?..moving out will give him freedom independence etc. I would ask him to leave...give him a notice period with count down actions ...consequences...eg you need to see that he has x view rooms in a house share by x...with tenancy to start by y. Room to be cleared by z date...if it doesnt happen just make sure in the countdown period he knows that his bags will be packed.

I read some where that you need to give children anchors and wings...so now is the time to let him fly. I also spent some time at Al Anon for relatives... they advocate "detached love"...do not enable, get involved...be indifferent...you need to do this to stop yourself and the rest of the family going under...you will have accept that anything you do will not change his path. You will just exhaust yourself and your lives will be shattered by this as well as his. Hi might well come round....but you might well be in for the long haul...the gf might be a positive experience for him,,,?another anchor?...dont look at it as kicking him out...but moving on...as I said if he was at college he would go this route also. I have a difficult brother who is into drugs I find it easier to keep out of his life...what I dont know doesnt bother me...he has ripped off all of my sisters but not me...as I just see him in controlled environments...I recognise that he has no moral compass...I think that he lives in some altered drug state where his moral compass is "normal"...I have spoken to my aunt about him...and she has a difficult relationship with an alcoholic brother...they just did the detached love thing..dont get involved in their dramas...now at 67 he is opening up ...so she says to me that there will be a point in his life when he will need you....as all of their "mates" with their defective moral compasses will have pissed each other off.
Try and loose the anger and use the energy somewhere else (with yourself)...he will do nothing that you want him to.

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