It’s hard to let go, or is it?
The anger wells up inside of me as I scrub the piles of moldy, peanut butter and protein powder encrusted dishes while contemplating the filthy blender in which they were created by the hands of my 25-year-old son, a young man who has spent the last seven years looking for himself at everyone’s expense but his—me, the army, relatives, friends, acquaintances. To no avail, I and others (namely his grandparents) have turned ourselves inside out both physically and financially to help him find his way, learn responsibility, and get on the right track. Futile wasted efforts and dollars that could have been spent on worthier causes, all in the name of love. Countless times we have picked him up out of the rubble, dusted him off, and given him a fresh start, each time telling ourselves that this would be the last, that surely he would get his act together this time, that we would give him just this one final hand up, only to be slapped across the face again and again.
For the past year and a half, he has lived with me—in and out as he pleases—and taken advantage at every turn. Today, after being missing for two days, I learn that he has borrowed a tent from his aunt and uncle and is claiming to live in it for a week while working out of town selling vacuum cleaners. What? *Screeeeeeeeeeeeam!* I can’t take it anymore!
At the end of the month, I am moving to a place of my own. Ah, sweet serenity. If he does not get his belongings packed up and out of here on time, the dumpster divers will have a heyday. I will not be packing it or storing it again. Whether he lives in his car (if it doesn’t get repossessed) or a tent or under a bridge, that will be his problem and his choice. I’m done! Enough!
I pray for you my son. This is my best and final gift.
Good for you.
There comes a time in life when we have to let our children go and live their own lives as they see fit. Our parental responsibilities don’t last forever and as I see it, your MO is just taking…and really taking advantage of you and your parents. The fact that he went camping without even texting or calling you shows a blatant disrespect for all the warmth and love you’ve been bestowing on him. Enough is enough, I say.
Sometimes we have to be cruel in order to be kind. It’s time to cut the ropes from him, Crystal. It might seem unkind, but it’s really the only way to let him learn life’s lessons by himself.