Tomorrow my youngest stepson turns 19 (the age of majority in this state). So the CS has finished and DH is no longer tied to ANY decision mentioned in the decree.

And SSSTB19 is getting a little talking to from me. DH and I had some errands to run today and while we were out of the house YSS came over. He collected his mothers Christmas present he had forgotten yesterday, ate some dessert, watched a little TV, left the TV changed to DVD and had the volume at a window shattering level. He was gone before we got home. I felt like the mother bear in Goldilocks. dirty plate (not even RINSED!) in the sink and when we turned on the TV to another application and volume was deafening.

My talk will got something like this ..."SS, no longer is your father legally responsible for you and the consequences of your actions. If you wanted to you could move out, sign a lease contract, buy a car and pay it off all under your own name. So in future in respect of your 'adult' status in future we need to know if you will be around for dinner on any given night. Without forward advance notice we will not be expecting you. No calling by to get a meal unless you are laready here and we invite you. Same with staying the night. You have a room here (he is paying $20 a week rent now he is working which he willingly pays) but this is not an alternative arrangment if you get sick and tired of staying where you are staying. We do not need to know where you are staying on nights you aren't here but we need to know when you will be here, for how long and for how many meals.Also you may not come over just to use the new sound bar to watch a movie. This is a gift you gave your father and me for Christmas.Buy your own freaking TV and sound bar!"

See, these kids get something kids in intact families DON'T get. The option of a better offer at their other parent's home if one parent pisses them off. Now we know their mother allows them to stay whenever their little wittle heads need a place to lay. Not in my place. I see it as if my daughter had an apartment. She would not be able to just call by and expect a meal or for us to hold a place for her to sleep forever.

Actually, him finding an apartment would be AWESOME! I have plans for his little room. Can anyone say "guestroom" with the bigger room becoming my sewing room?