What to do with this scenario 2 and to update my married life:

[Cassius2]

hey BN3,

In an understatement of 2009, sounds like it has been a mega year!

I have watched friends negotiate step kid stuff and have had the chance to see it evolve as the kids go from being children into adolescents and young adults. and it really can throw curve-balls galore. kids going through those changes into adulthood and parents watching it happen is a big shift in understanding where your role lies IMO.
On the one hand, it would be ideal to be able to let DS18 'go'. In that he has the independence of age to do what he wills, but at the same time while he is living under your roof there needs to be certain expectations met.

by the sounds of it (ie being able to sit down and chat with him) it does sound as though he is clued in enough to be able to discuss the bigger picture (ie what he would like to see happen for himself for the next year, for the next 5 and so on). but from memory, it is also a highly volatile and vulnerable moment, where the chasm of realising that you are no longer protected by the school and your teachers/friends and community. it can be paralysing.
In my case, my mum had to really hold my hand as i made that transition. i felt so overwhelmed that although i wanted to go to uni, the paperwork and deciding on courses etc was too much to bear. so, mum really had to sit with me 24/7 and go through the forms with me, and go through the lists of courses etc. i remember that it took days and LOADS of tears as i was just scared.

Is there anyway that either you or DH can kinda take him by the hand and help him to think about the jobs he would like to apply for and where to ask etc? Maybe keep it simple for now and just get him into basic employment, like a woolies or coles job (it is amazing how much it boosts self-esteem and provides opportunity for responsibility etc by learning that if you mess up, there are no warnings...you just lose your job...i know that i found it very grounding and rewarding). (oh and BTW, it was, yet again, my mum that did all the running around to get the forms and ask the questions for that job LOL! but at that time in my emotional development it was needed.

Big to you babe xx it aint an easy road to travel, and i am sure that you can all work it out in the end.

[Inertia]

A little random insight on men I have discovered. They will only accuse their partner of cheating under one of three circumstances.

1) You talk about your good friend incessantly. Become cheerier at the mention of their name or are much happier when you run into them than you are when he gets home
2) You tell him you are going out shopping with the girls and either he or a mate of his drives by a cafe and sees you sat down to lunch with a guy (or similar. Caught out in a lie basically).
3) If they do not believe they are worthy of you. They have their own massive self esteem issue that leads them to believe you simply have to be having an affair.

[bubno.3]

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