Super Senior Social

My 48 (going on 14) year old recently had an accident on his scooter, broke his ankle, subsequently lost his job through the temp service and the room he was renting weekly. After a harrowing stint barely surviving in a ‘tent city’, he asked to come home. Another in a seemingly unending long road of meandering mistakes, missteps, mishaps and misfortune.

Aren’t adult children supposed to take care of their aging parents… and not the other way around? I left home after high school, a couple years in college and NEVER looked back. Should I point the finger at myself for poor upbringing? I thought I’d taught him good morals, basic common sense and survival skills. But he decided to take the path less traveled turning down every dark fork in the road. Do some people just seek misery or just relish in being saved? …Over and over and over again?

At what point do I stop rewarding bad behavior under the guise of helpful, loving parenting? Would I be an awful parent (or person for that matter) to FINALLY just say No…? Could I live with that decision knowing I have the resources to help? The image of him alone, lifeless in a gutter somewhere keeps me coming back for more. But does the punishment fit the crime? I know… I brought him into this world. Am I obligated to keep supporting him financially, keep propping him up whenever he falls down, keep forgiving him as he continues to make bad life choices?

Is this what they call unconditional love? Well… it sucks rocks.