My 17yr old son has some issues with me. He refuses to do anything in the house to help. All he does is argue with me. Now yesterday he gets himself arrested for Minor In Possession of Alchol (MIP), and furnishing alchol to minors. He stole a bottle of alchol from my house and took it to a friends house where some of his friends got drunk and got busted.

I really don't him living with me anymore. I can't take it. I'm a full time student trying to better myself and missed out on some study time yesterday because of his mess. Is it wrong to feel this way?

you can FEEL any way you like, but you are legfally responsible for him until he is 18 years old unless he becomes an emancipated Minor.

Not really. Sometimes parents just have to say enough is enough. I currently have a 20 year old son on probation for DUI (why they didn't get him for underage I don't know). He cost me quite a bit of money getting him through this and other problems. He hasn't been doing his court ordered community service and I can't get him to realize what this means. He basically has busted our budget as far as any savings. I finally had to reach the point of telling him that it was his responsibility and he would suffer the consequences. Unfortunately, I fully expect him to go to jail in January because he will not have fulfilled his probation requirements. You can only prop them up for so long and then they have to stand on their own two feet.

I looked into the emancipation thing. He doesn't qualify. Here in Oregon, he has to have a job and make at least $700 a month, have good attendance in school and have decent grades, as well as show the courts that he can provide for himself. He has none of the above.

I had an underaged jerk myself OP. I like him now, just didn't like him for quite a few years....always love him, didn't like him.

He's 17....you can always ask the court to bust his butt on this--it's the only way these kids learn. Not by bailing them out, telling them it's gonna be okay, and still give them the keys to the car/house or cell phone.
The court will ask you if you have any comments or anything to add---if the court doesn't--stick your hand up and wave it around.
Say your piece. Tell the court what's going on in your home and that you WANT HELP. Any help they can give you or suggest--take it. Immediately. ---had mine drug right out of the courtroom when he thought he was gonna come home. Off to a locked facility he went for school and counseling.
Tell the court you're at your wits' end and are pleading for help.

Also contact social services for any guidance they can offer. They will know of different programs offered in your area to help you out.



Sgt Mom