My 22-Year-Old Son Threatens to Leave the House and Go Live With My Ex-Husband Unless I Buy Him a Car
“Why not? Dad would be happy to have me. He always spoils me,” he retorted, his tone defiant.
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts, “This isn’t about your dad. It’s about responsibility. You’re an adult now, and part of being an adult is making responsible decisions.”
He rolled his eyes, “Yeah, responsible decisions like being the only one among my friends without a car.”
Our conversation ended there, but the tension lingered in the air. I couldn’t shake off the feeling of disappointment and worry.
The following days were filled with silent treatments and tension between Michael and me. Every time I tried to bring up the topic, it ended in arguments.
One evening, as we sat down for dinner, I decided to try again.
“Michael, can we talk about the car situation again?” I asked, cautiously.
He sighed, poking at his food, “What’s there to talk about, Mom? You still won’t buy me one.”
“It’s not just about buying you a car, Michael. It’s about the way you’re handling this whole situation,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He looked up, his expression defensive, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, threatening to leave if you don’t get what you want is not how adults handle things. It’s not fair to manipulate me like that,” I explained, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness.