A frustrated father recently took to Reddit to ask for opinions on his plans to cut off his son if the boy doesn’t go to school or get a job when he turns 18. Here is the full story.
He’s Raising a Family
OP is a father of three children, ages 17, 15, and 10. The middle child is a daughter, while the bookends are sons.
They Have Money
OP comes from a wealthy family, and both he and his wife have good jobs. They have saved enough money for all three of their children to attend college.
The Boy Has No Ambition
But OP is frustrated with his oldest son, who has shown no intention of pursuing any plans after high school.
He finally gave the boy an ultimatum.
The Ultimatum
When he turns 18, OP’s son has to go to college, get a job, or move out of the house.
He Sailed Around the World
Drawing from his own experience, OP explains how his parents gave him a similar ultimatum, leading him on an adventure.
He had sailed around the world for two years, but he worked hard all along the way to make money for himself.
They Need to Be Responsible
Despite their family’s financial stability, OP believes it’s important for their children to take responsibility for themselves and make their own choices in life.
He’s Too Young
OP’s wife disagrees with his approach, considering it unfair to expect their son to navigate the world at such a young age. She says they have the means to let him take some time.
He’s Not the Only One
But OP argues that they have other children to consider, too.
The middle child is on track for both an academic and golf scholarship, which means she might be able to pocket the college money her parents have saved.
They All Know the Rules
OP’s youngest son is just 10 years old, so it’s too early to tell what his future will look like. But he knows the family’s rules, too.
They Planned for This
OP emphasizes that he and his wife have been open and transparent about their expectations from the beginning.
They even agreed to raise productive members of society before they ever got engaged.
He Has No Interests
But now, their oldest son shows no interest in anything beyond his computer, rejecting multiple opportunities OP has given him to do something else.
His Grandparents Won’t Help
And even though OP’s parents love all their grandchildren, they’re sticking to their guns, too.
They’ve already told the oldest son that they won’t give him any money if he’s not in college working toward a career.
Tensions Are Rising
The situation is causing a lot of tension in the family, and particularly between OP and his wife.
She is angry and scared for her child, because she doesn’t know if he’s ready to handle the world on his own.
She’s Turning Against Him
OP’s wife has threatened to use her salary to support their oldest son, which is frustrating to OP.
He knows he has no say in how his wife spends her money, but her plan would short circuit his parenting.
He Will Follow Through
In the end, OP acknowledges that he probably won’t actually kick his son out of the house.
But he will cut the family food budget and start charging the boy for utilities.
More Trouble Ahead
If OP’s wife uses her salary to pay for those expenses, it will only cause more tension between the couple.
Most Reddit commenters think that OP is right for expecting his son to do something with his life. Many are fine with the ultimatum he presents, too.
But some think OP’s expectations are not clear enough, and that he should help his son better understand all his options.
Others suggest that there will never be a good resolution as long as OP and his wife approach their son’s future from different angles.
So, what do you think of this story? Is OP right for demanding that his son do something productive with his life?
Or is he pushing too hard, too soon? Should he try to work out a compromise with his wife, or should he just let the battle play out?
More From Career Step Up
A Reddit user recently revealed the elaborate means their best friend went to to get her own back on a cheating partner.
He Was Having an Affair But She Found Out, and So She Came Up With a Brilliant Plan For Revenge
He Was Laid Off By His Boss Just Before Christmas, But When He Gets Even, His Boss Has A Melt-Down
A recent thread on Reddit’s Petty Revenge subreddit saw a man get revenge on his employer by exposing his unfair wage practices when he laid him off right before Christmas.
He Was Laid Off By His Boss Just Before Christmas, But When He Gets Even, His Boss Has A Melt-Down
His Boss Lied To Him About A Promotion For Over Two Years, So He Hatched A Brilliant Plan
This guy’s tale of malicious compliance went viral! He posted on Reddit and told how he eventually got revenge on his boss, who had led him on about a promotion for over two years. Buckle up because this is a great tale!
His Boss Lied To Him About A Promotion For Over Two Years, So He Hatched A Brilliant Plan
Office Romance: She’s Definitely Flirting With You If These Things Happen
Office romances can be tricky, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if a colleague is actually interested in you or just being friendly. However, certain signs can indicate if someone is flirting with you.
Office Romance: She’s Definitely Flirting With You If These Things Happen
30 Gaslighting Phrases to Look Out For in The Workplace
Gaslighting is a type of manipulation where someone gives fake or incorrect information to make them doubt their memory, perception, and mental capacity or sanity.
Perpetrators of gaslighting can also use it as a tactic to control or exploit another person. Here are 30 phrases to look out for in the workplace.
30 Gaslighting Phrases to Look Out For in The Workplace
The post He’s Going to Kick His Son Out of the House When He Turns 18 but His Wife Has Other Plans first appeared on Career Step Up.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Roman Samborskyi. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit