My 21-year-old son threatened to move out and live with his father unless I got him a new car. It all started when I refused to co-sign a loan for a brand-new Audi. He stormed upstairs, saying I “never do anything for him.” Hours later, I was online, desperate for advice.
Milan is my only child. I raised him mostly alone after divorcing his father, Anwar, when he was six. Anwar was always the “fun parent” with money for trips and gifts, while I worked as a nurse and covered the basics. Still, Milan and I had been close—until recently. Seeing his friends get Teslas and luxury vacations made him resentful of the beat-up Corolla I’d saved years to give him.
When he threatened to leave, I was crushed but also tired of feeling like a second-tier parent. The forum replies were blunt: “Don’t confuse love with enabling.”
Soon after, Anwar confirmed Milan had asked to move in, claiming I’d “kicked him out.” Instead, Anwar set boundaries: Milan could stay but had to work and contribute. Reality hit hard—he burned through savings, took the bus, and eventually found a steady job.
Months later, Milan returned—not for money, but with homemade food and an apology. Eventually, he bought a used Civic with his own savings. Now, at nearly 23, he’s thriving.
