Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - How do you punish a 25-year-old?

pook · 02-21-2006, 01:21 PM

Because of a learning disability and a lack of basic survival skills, our son (age 25) is still living with us. He's not mentally disabled -- he has his own car and bank account (we manage that for him) and a part time job. But he has no concept of basic stuff, like calling a person, leaving a message and then waiting for a reply. He'll call 10 times over the course of a day till they call back. Or give him $50 for the week and it vanishes in two days -- with no idea where it went.

The question is, how do you punish a 25-year-old? In our home he is not allowed to use the phone unless we're home, and even then he must ask for permission. Today I had to run out, left a note on the phone that read "No calls", and placed the note in such a way that the phone couldn't be used without moving it. Sure enough, when I got home, he'd used it. When asked he admitted he used it (to call the same person he's called every day for a week -- that has yet to call back). He said "sorry" but after that it was over.

How do you punish a 25-year-old?

He pays a very small amount of 'rent', but barely enough to cover his food.

Ideas?

P.S. Overall he's a good 'kid'. He's just lacking some of the smarts the rest of us were given by God. But I never let that be used an excuse for things he knows he shouldn't have done.

02-21-2006, 01:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
pook Registered User	How do you punish a 25-year-old? Because of a learning disability and a lack of basic survival skills, our son (age 25) is still living with us. He's not mentally disabled -- he has his own car and bank account (we manage that for him) and a part time job. But he has no concept of basic stuff, like calling a person, leaving a message and then waiting for a reply. He'll call 10 times over the course of a day till they call back. Or give him $50 for the week and it vanishes in two days -- with no idea where it went. The question is, how do you punish a 25-year-old? In our home he is not allowed to use the phone unless we're home, and even then he must ask for permission. Today I had to run out, left a note on the phone that read "No calls", and placed the note in such a way that the phone couldn't be used without moving it. Sure enough, when I got home, he'd used it. When asked he admitted he used it (to call the same person he's called every day for a week -- that has yet to call back). He said "sorry" but after that it was over. How do you punish a 25-year-old? He pays a very small amount of 'rent', but barely enough to cover his food. Ideas? P.S. Overall he's a good 'kid'. He's just lacking some of the smarts the rest of us were given by God. But I never let that be used an excuse for things he knows he shouldn't have done.