Key facts
- A father is seeking advice on Reddit about his 21-year-old son who does not work.
- The son reportedly spends his time playing video games and with his girlfriend.
- The father is concerned about his son's lack of financial independence and future support.
- Attempts at gentle encouragement and anger have not motivated the son to find work.
- The son allegedly skipped a pre-arranged job interview.
- The father plans to cut off his son's cellphone service to encourage responsibility.
- Reddit users suggested that the son's mother and girlfriend may be enabling his behavior.
- Commenters stressed the importance of parental unity in setting and enforcing boundaries.
A frustrated father has turned to Reddit for advice regarding his 21-year-old son, who he states "doesn't work" and spends his days playing video games and with his girlfriend. The father expressed concern about his son's lack of financial independence and the implications for his future, especially as the parents will not always be around to provide support. He detailed that both gentle encouragement and anger have failed to motivate his son, who even skipped a job interview that had been arranged for him. As a new measure, the father plans to discontinue paying for his son's cellphone service to foster responsibility.
The Reddit post ignited a discussion, with many commenters suggesting the problem extends beyond the son. Several users pointed out that the son's mother and girlfriend might be enabling his behavior, with one user noting, "When I try to get tough with him, his mom and girlfriend defend him." The consensus among many was that the father needs his wife's full support and that both parents must agree on a clear, unified plan and consistent boundaries to see any progress.
The father's dilemma highlights a growing challenge for families as economic factors lead more young adults to live at home longer. The situation raises questions about the balance between providing parental support and enabling dependency, with many emphasizing that boundaries must be firm and consistently enforced by all involved parties.