Albatross
Well-Known Member
difficult child has been living in our home for 2 months with the caveat that he not drink or use drugs and work full-time.
Found out he lost his job and didn't tell us, has been sneaking out at night to drink and timing it to clear a breathalyzer, writing bad checks, etc.
We tried to do the decent thing and give him a few days to make arrangements for lodging and apply for some jobs but told him he definitely needs to leave Tuesday (tomorrow).
Of course he hasn't done either.
Tonight I asked him where he was headed tomorrow and he said, "Biking to California. And I know you don't think I'll make it. And I'm sorry for what I did to you and Dad. And I don't care if I die doing it, but I'm doing it."
On the bike that's been rusting under the deck for 3 years, the one with no gears and tires with dry rot. And he has no $. And he has no racks to carry his stuff, just a large backpack. And he can't find half of his camping equipment, including his water filter and his cookstove. Oh, and he has no winter clothing.
Wouldn't it be great if he could just...not drink today and get a freakin' job?! But no! It has to be a big production. A life-changing experience. And a certain failure. He will get 2 miles down the road and find out it's REALLY HARD to pedal a rusty bike with no gears when you have 60 pounds of stuff on your back, and he'll show up at the door again with more excuses and promises, expecting us to change our minds because he REALLY TRIED.
And the end result is exactly what it would have been if I just kicked him out immediately.
Sigh...
Found out he lost his job and didn't tell us, has been sneaking out at night to drink and timing it to clear a breathalyzer, writing bad checks, etc.
We tried to do the decent thing and give him a few days to make arrangements for lodging and apply for some jobs but told him he definitely needs to leave Tuesday (tomorrow).
Of course he hasn't done either.
Tonight I asked him where he was headed tomorrow and he said, "Biking to California. And I know you don't think I'll make it. And I'm sorry for what I did to you and Dad. And I don't care if I die doing it, but I'm doing it."
On the bike that's been rusting under the deck for 3 years, the one with no gears and tires with dry rot. And he has no $. And he has no racks to carry his stuff, just a large backpack. And he can't find half of his camping equipment, including his water filter and his cookstove. Oh, and he has no winter clothing.
Wouldn't it be great if he could just...not drink today and get a freakin' job?! But no! It has to be a big production. A life-changing experience. And a certain failure. He will get 2 miles down the road and find out it's REALLY HARD to pedal a rusty bike with no gears when you have 60 pounds of stuff on your back, and he'll show up at the door again with more excuses and promises, expecting us to change our minds because he REALLY TRIED.
And the end result is exactly what it would have been if I just kicked him out immediately.
Sigh...