In spring of my daughter’s senior year, we were at a barbecue with a bunch of families. I overheard a friend of hers telling others how she was going to set her mom straight. “I’m 18 and I can do what I want. She can’t tell me what to do.” type stuff.
I went over and told her, “If my daughter said that to me, I would agree with her. Then I’d say you’re legally an adult. You can stay home and pay rent, half the utilities, cell phone, food, etc. and follow the rules. Or you can get your clothes and move out.”
The look on the girl’s face was priceless. It hadn’t dawned on her that parents have options, too.
Some friends are coming close to exercising that option with their recently turned 18 son.