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Parents Wants To Kick Out Jobless Adult Son For Refusing To Pay Rent Or Help With Chores

Dealing with an adult child who refuses to contribute financially or assist with household responsibilities can introduce significant tension and strain, particularly in families already grappling with financial challenges. The dynamic shifts from parental support to a more complex negotiation of expectations and responsibilities, often testing the limits of parental patience and prompting tough decisions about independence and accountability. In such situations, finding a balance between nurturing support and fostering self-sufficiency becomes a critical yet delicate endeavor, shaping both familial dynamics and individual growth paths.

In today’s story, OP and her husband are struggling financially after his company’s bankruptcy, leaving them without income for weeks. Their 19-year-old son, back home after losing his job, hasn’t paid rent or helped despite agreeing to. He spends days sleeping and nights on Xbox, ordering Uber Eats instead of cooking. This strains their resources, prompting thoughts of asking him to leave. With younger children needing special care and therapy, and OP studying at night for better job prospects, tough love seems necessary for their son’s independence and responsibility.

Continue scrolling down to delve into the full story.

Source: Reddit

1. As a parent, OP wonder if she is wrong for considering eviction due to her son’s refusal to contribute or assist financially.

2. OP lives with her husband and their three children: a 19-year-old son, a 13-year-old daughter, and a 5-year-old son. The youngest child is shared with her husband, while the older two are from a previous relationship.

3. Her 19-year-old son moved out over a year ago but returned within six months. With their lease ending and facing a tough rental market, they discussed his plans, and he decided to stay at home despite earning about $1,000 per week.

4. After moving into a larger house, they agreed with her son that he would pay which he initially accepted. However, after being made redundant and spending most of his payout on Uber Eats, he stopped contributing financially.

5. Recently, OP’s husband’s company was liquidated, leaving them with no income to pay bills or buy food, making the past few weeks extremely challenging as they struggle to feed everyone and keep up with expenses.

6. It’s reached the point where OP skips meals so her children can eat, while her son, after receiving his tax refund, immediately ordered Uber Eats again, showing no concern for the family’s financial struggle.

7. OP’s 13-year-old and 5-year-old are both autistic requiring weekly therapy sessions that occupy most of her day. She’s studying at night to improve her job prospects.

8. They agreed her son would contribute towards the food bill, which was more affordable for him. Since losing his job, they waived his food and rent expenses, asking only for more consideration from him.

9. OP live in Australia, where the legal age is 18, preventing her from making calls on his behalf. Despite their efforts to assist him, he is not willing to change.

10. OP’s son moved out to stay with friends, but was eventually kicked out due to neglecting basic hygiene and household chores, which his mother would typically remind him about.

11. OP’s husband quickly transitioned into a similar role at a different company, effectively only experiencing a 4-hour unemployment period. However, due to the company liquidation, they lost about 3 weeks’ worth of his owed hours.

12. In their area, securing a rental property requires paying a hefty amount in advance, along with expenses for moving and cleaning the old place.

13. OP never asked her son to financially support the household or the family, only to take care of himself by buying his own food and covering his own expenses as he would if living independently.

Now that you have read the story, it’s time for you to see what Redditors had to say about this. Read till the end to see what are other people’s opinions on this. 

14. This is the moment he learns to take responsibility, unless laziness gets in the way. Locking him out might just be the catalyst to spur him into finding a job.

15. Nineteen is a tender age to face the world solo, devoid of essential skills. Parenting, they say, extends well beyond the 18-year mark.

16. Everyone, except the two youngest children, seems to be at fault here with three adults in the household, none of whom are working or actively seeking solutions or communication.

17. Why not join the job hunt too? With the younger kids starting school soon, consider working opposite shifts.

18. OP, my sympathies are with you during this challenging time. May you and your husband soon secure employment and brighter days ahead.

19. Why bring children into the world if you’re unwilling to support and care for them beyond age 18? Parenthood demands lifelong commitment!!

20. Where will your son go? At 19, in this economy, it is not fair to expect him to shoulder the entire family’s financial burden.

Amidst financial hardship and familial responsibilities, the decision to ask their son to leave was a tough but necessary one for this family. It marked a pivotal moment in fostering accountability and independence, not just for their son but for the entire household. While the path forward may be uncertain and emotions raw, it’s a reminder that tough love, though challenging, can be a catalyst for growth and maturity. As they navigate these turbulent waters, they hope their son will eventually find his footing and forge his own path, equipped with the resilience and lessons learned from this difficult but transformative experience. Do share your thoughts on the story in the comments section below.

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