We had theatrics over the weekend

United States
January 30, 2018 6:11pm CST
Not the good kind either. We've been catching rats in the house lately and for that reason I've enforced a rule of making sure the sink is always empty of crumbs and dirty dishes. I asked my nephew, who comes over every weekend, to rinse his dishes thoroughly and load them into the dishwasher. He has never been made to do that while here, and according to him it isn't part of his chores at home. I asked him to do this while he was using his tablet, and so I made a point to repeat myself several times. He did not deal with his dishes when it came time to do so. I had to get him to do so and he made out as if it was a hardship for him to do. I had cooked breakfast for supper, which included biscuits made from scratch, and as such had been cleaning dishes as I went. He did deal with the dish but I made it a point to text his mother and let her know how he had acted. He is seventeen years old by the way. We got into an argument again later and he essentially told me that when people "repeat" things to him he forgets them, it's not something he intentionally does but it is just something his brain does. I am willing to believe him on that score, but I told him I was frustrated with the fact that he doesn't put his tablet down and pay attention to me. He told me his parents do it differently there, that they call for a meeting and when that happens he isn't allowed to use his tablet. I told him I do things differently here, he doesn't seem to understand that it doesn't matter how things are done at his house. I don't know, I get so frustrated with him and have for many years. I love the kids but it is obvious in many ways that he needs counseling for anger issues, stress and anxiety issues, as well as some of the things he says. His mother won't hear anything of counseling for him though. I just keep thinking to myself "when I was his age.." because he seems to have no respect, atleast none for me.
6 people like this
7 responses
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
31 Jan 18
Sit him down for a meeting. No electronics. Give him a written list of what is required of him....then let him know what the consequences of not following instuctions are. You may give one warning and then follow through. If he wants to be treated as an adult he must also accept that responsibility.
2 people like this
• United States
31 Jan 18
No can do. Simply put. Love my granny, and may she rest in peace, but she did a lot to undermine me every time I tried to discipline him. He seems to have a lot of issues that need to be resolved via counseling as well. He gets upset very easily if his electronics stop working. He threated to kill himself the last time they did.
@kevin1877uk (36988)
31 Jan 18
Oh, rats in the house, not good. Maybe he's got so much going on, times have changed since I was 17 that is for sure.
@kevin1877uk (36988)
31 Jan 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum I was thinking that he's got so much going on inside his head with one thing or another and hard to focus on things then again maybe you are right, not enough. I hope you sort out your rat problem.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jan 18
@kevin1877uk Oh I intend to get the rat problem all sorted out. It could be a bit of both, not enough to occupy his mind, and too much occupying his mind that he shouldn't be worried about...
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jan 18
I think it's the opposite actually. He does not have enough to challenge him. Yes, rats and not good at all. Not sure how they are getting in but assume somewhere near the laundry as we've got many there lately.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157462)
• United States
31 Jan 18
Kids these days really are a puzzlement. I actually was thinking of a discussion about a parent enabler myself.
• United States
31 Jan 18
My sister - love her - does not like to face her own problems so facing her sons, or having her son face his? Out of the question. I have been through counseling in the past and know how awful it is to have to go but how beneficial it can be once it's over.
@dfollin (24167)
• United States
31 Jan 18
I am sorry that you have to deal with rats As far as your nephew that is how I know people in their 30's act! Sad
• United States
31 Jan 18
I am in my 30s and I don't act like that. Well we are getting the rat problem under control for sure.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (24167)
• United States
31 Jan 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum I did not say that you acted that way. But I do know people your age that do......sadly! I am glad that you are getting that under control.
• United States
31 Jan 18
@dfollin Ah, no I didn't think you had meant me. I have people around my age, or a little younger, who seem to act as if they are back in high school. It's sad! One such girl seems to prefer to air her dirty laundry on facebook, and so I just scroll by her if I see posts like that.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71655)
• United States
31 Jan 18
I don't think what you have asked of him is too much he should just do it. At 17 he's not a little kid he can help out to keep the filthy pests from your sink.
@shaggin (71655)
• United States
1 Feb 18
Unfortunatly that probably isn't lucky he will get himself help. My sister would never get her kids into therapy either even though they needed it and one still does.
• United States
1 Feb 18
He did finally do it. I don't know, the more I think on it, the more I get irritated by it. The boy has issues that could be resolved or atleast attended to with therapy, but it's not something he will ever get. Not unless he seeks it out for himself when he turns 18.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
31 Jan 18
Just out of interest, why does he spend so much time at your house and not at his house? I think more and more seventeen year olds are like that these days. They can't bear to be without some sort of electronic device attached to them. I see it daily at work.
• United States
1 Feb 18
He spends every weekend, and any extended school break here to get away from his 12 (or is she 11?) year old sister. He actually told me that last weekend, that he is only ever over here to get away from his sister. This isn't my house, I stay here to take care of the occupants (famly).
1 person likes this
1 Feb 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum So, find out what his sister does that irks him so and be sure to do it too! That will give him a dilemma!
@snowy22315 (169552)
• United States
31 Jan 18
You could try a big sign posted on the sink...please wash dishes..and put away. Something he can not ignore. If he refuses to do that, maybe he doesn't need to be over there until he can learn to follow the rules.
• United States
31 Jan 18
No real place to put the sign. The sink has a window above it and the window is surrounded by the cupboard's. I couldn't hang it from the bottom of the sink as he would most likely not see it. He told me he wasn't coming back, I told him that if he didn't want to be here he didn't have to be. It isn't my house, so it isn't my rules. I live with my grandfather. My grandmother just passed way, so even if I had the means to do so, leaving now isn't something I could do. As it is, I have to ensure my uncle takes his medication, and I cook, clean and do laundry...
1 person likes this