What to do when my 18 year old son leaves home?

I honestly feel that the best thing you can do is first have a honest discussion with him, then let him decide what he is going to do. Know that you can never force him to do something. Just let him know that he may not see it right now, but you're just trying to help him become a productive man. Tell him that there are many teens and adults out there who would love to even be able to get a higher education in the first place, but can't afford it. And also a lot of them would love to be able to work full time and go to school. So getting a good education, and making money is not a bad thing. So what he gets a part time job. Then he's going to be complaining about how he never has enough money to do the things he wants to do. So I propose this suggestion... You make it clear to him that he has a couple of choices he can make under your roof. And those are to go to school, and work a part or full time job. Or go to a trade school if college is not for him, and still work a part or full time job. School is very important and being that he has already started, it would be very unwise to stop. And let him know that if he cannot be happy with either of those decisions, then he can get off track on his own way and not under your roof. So I guess with this said, I believe I am going with the "tough love" option. Hope it helps, and I really hope it works out for the best.

maybe his being on his own will make him grow up, cause sleeping on someones couch and not contributing to that household won't go for long, i would talk to him and let your wife reassure herself that he is fine and you too, and tell him you love him but he has to support himself if he isn't going to stay at home, no giving him any money, you are right he either needs to work full time or go to school but to just drop out and work only part time is crazy, remember tell him you love and will always love him but he has to grow up and pull his own weight, i am a mom and boy is this hard but if you supply them with money then they have no incentive to do the right thing, and tell him he can play all the video games he wants when he can support himself with his own money, he can buy all his own games to unless it is a Christmas present or birthday present, but no giving him money

Let your son go. Don't coddle him anymore. He's 18 and legally an adult. Your wife has to stop being co-dependant. She, along with yourself have been enablers. Your son's not going to grow up until he learns to stand on his own 2 feet. Right now is the perfect opportunity to let him grow up. Wherever he's at, they're only going to tolerate a loafer for so long. As a step parent who loves both of her kids, I say, LET GO. He's not a child anymore. He wants to make his own decisions? Let him. Outside of your home. If you give in once he gets tired of what he's doing, and tries to come back home, you and your wife should make it perfectly clear. He's not to come home unless he's willing to go back to college. And, he's not going to freeload off you and his mom anymore. He's got to abide by your rules and pay his way as the adult he now is. As in Room & Board. 30% of his take home pay. No matter how tough that may seem, he won't want to stay home for long. And, he'll grow up that much faster.

It's called Tough Love. More parents need to use it. Ours did and did it hurt? Nope. We grew up. Try it. He won't like it, but, too bad.

I would try to do anything to talk with him and guide him . It is really tough for you to go through this but in several years you will no longer have any leverage so just do what it takes to get him to a place of compromise so you can still be in his life before it is totally ruined. Sorry

in my time at 18 we were in the service or working and even some of us with wife and baby .

it is time you let him decide if he wants to grow up or not .

This generation best wake up ,If they dint when we are gone then they wont know how to carry on in life .

Be strong but still love

Stick it out for a little while longer. His friends will see that he is just mooching and agree. You are right in this situation. Just invite him to have lunch with you guys somewhere so that you can talk rationally...about the situation.