Mikey
Psycho Gorilla Dad
Talk about pressing your advantage when you have it. wife didn't even wait to start working out the details....
She just called to tell me about her "talk" with difficult child. She informed him of a new contingency in our family: should he end up in the hospital or ER again from something he could have prevented (like drinking, or another asthma attack from smoking pot), then he will be responsible for the bill. Same for any damage he causes us or others under similar circumstances.
And if he doesn't have the money? Then we sell his car and use the proceeds to pay the bill. I financed the car on my CC, and the title is in my name. He put 600 down, and has paid another 100 off. That's about what he's cost us in "avoidable" medical bills over the last four months. We could probably sell the car for enough to pay the balance, plus one more stupid, unncessary trip to the ER.
:rolleyes:
She followed it up with the fact that it isn't fair to go out and abuse himself, then expect us to pick up the pieces (financially) because of his bad choices. On top of that, we spend 100/month on asthma medications to keep him from having an attack, and he's gone back to smoking the crap (not cigs though, just pot).
She couldn't read his expression, and he didn't verbally reply. But she's right. And I guess this sets the stage for a broader discussion down the road. If he wants to act like an adult, and have the benefits of an adult, he can shoulder some of the responsibility as well.
But I'll see how this plays out first. Who knows? Maybe, since he was responsive to wife earlier in the week, this will get his attention in a way we haven't had since the nightmare started.
The only thing I hate is that this is starting to feel like a war - plotting, executing strategic maneuvers, striking vulnerable targets....
I feel like I'm at war with my own child. And I don't like it a bit. But, I guess they're his rules, and we can't be faulted for playing by them.
Mikey
She just called to tell me about her "talk" with difficult child. She informed him of a new contingency in our family: should he end up in the hospital or ER again from something he could have prevented (like drinking, or another asthma attack from smoking pot), then he will be responsible for the bill. Same for any damage he causes us or others under similar circumstances.
And if he doesn't have the money? Then we sell his car and use the proceeds to pay the bill. I financed the car on my CC, and the title is in my name. He put 600 down, and has paid another 100 off. That's about what he's cost us in "avoidable" medical bills over the last four months. We could probably sell the car for enough to pay the balance, plus one more stupid, unncessary trip to the ER.
:rolleyes:
She followed it up with the fact that it isn't fair to go out and abuse himself, then expect us to pick up the pieces (financially) because of his bad choices. On top of that, we spend 100/month on asthma medications to keep him from having an attack, and he's gone back to smoking the crap (not cigs though, just pot).
She couldn't read his expression, and he didn't verbally reply. But she's right. And I guess this sets the stage for a broader discussion down the road. If he wants to act like an adult, and have the benefits of an adult, he can shoulder some of the responsibility as well.
But I'll see how this plays out first. Who knows? Maybe, since he was responsive to wife earlier in the week, this will get his attention in a way we haven't had since the nightmare started.
The only thing I hate is that this is starting to feel like a war - plotting, executing strategic maneuvers, striking vulnerable targets....
I feel like I'm at war with my own child. And I don't like it a bit. But, I guess they're his rules, and we can't be faulted for playing by them.
Mikey