[bella1]

I have a 22 year old son who understands that living with mommy and daddy is not an option. I will relate a story that opened my eyes:

My sister-in-law is a teacher. One of her students (male, high school), was getting into trouble, unmotivated, uncooperative etc, etc. The parents and teacher (sister in law) called a meeting with the school social worker and the student. The social worker (who by the way was an African-American male) after listening to the parents and teacher looked at the parents and asked "does your son know the date?", upon which they collective said "huh?". Again he asked "does your son know the date"?. Again, "huh" and he said "the date in which you will no longer be supporting him, feeding him, doing his laundry, letting him use your car and living at home". He went on to say "my children all knew their "dates" by the time they were done with high school and have gone on to be educated productive members of society". And to that I said "amen". Our son has since learned of his "date" at age 21 when he thought he could perpetually come and go from our house depending upon whether he could support himself. After he quit his third job because it was "white trash work", we gave him his date. He has since moved to Colorado and worked and now is in Mississippi working construction after the hurricane. He is moving back to Michigan this May and has a job lined up and a place to live. It works.

[bondjamesbond]

The social worker (who by the way was an African-American male) after listening to the parents and teacher looked at the parents and asked "does your son know the date?"

I was the youngest child in my family. As long as I could remember, on my birthday, Dad would announce "Only X more years, and you're outta here!", with X = 18 - My Age. On my eighteenth birthday, my bag was packed, and I was outta there!

I would not be surprised if he said that at my first birthday party. He certainly said it at every one from three to seventeen!