Why do some parents kick their 17 or 18 year old child out of the house?

Question

....when the child has nowhere to go except for a series of temporarily 'camping out' at their friends homes (if lucky)?

We are currently hosting one.

Answer 1

If the child is not going to school or working, Its time to take a drastic approach on getting their kid to be a responsible adult. Follow the rules or get the hell out, pure and simple.

Answer 2

I'm sure they are doing it to show them that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Once they are out of the house they will see how good they have it. What 17 or 18 year old do you know that actually has a place to go when they're kicked out? It's to show them a lesson. I would hope that it doesn't take too long before the parents let him back in. If you are the one allowing the child to camp, maybe you should take it upon yourself to talk to him or the parents.

Answer 3

Some parents throw a kid out at eighteen because they can't afford to feed and clothe them past that "magic" age.

I knew a couple who moved to a SMALL apartment as soon as their youngest got married at eighteen. Their sons were in the juvenile corrections system as teens and by the time the twins got out at around eighteen or nineteen their parents had moved to the apartment. Those kids were ON THEIR OWN and knew it. The parents were not very well off and knew they couldn't afford boomerang kids. Maybe that's what's happened to your "camper" kid.

Is the "camper" a guy or a girl? If the camper is a guy, sic an Army recruiter on him. If he's a basically good kid, no drug busts or criminal convictions, the Army or any branch of the US military will help him get some focus into his life. Many young guys adrift after high school learn organization, discipline, and motivation after a three or four year stint in the military.

If the camper is a high school drop-out the Job Corps is a great place to get your diploma and learn marketable job skills. This works for both young men and young women.

Do what you can to help this young person get some focus in his/her life.

If the kid is a druggie, gang banger, or has other issues, he should be moved on soon. Druggies can steal from a host family to support their habits.

Good luck.

Answer 4

This question has bothered me also, you're not alone. I believe that this has alot to do with the way the parents were raised. This is really a general question, because there are so many factors that should be addressed to really answer this question.
1. Has the parent prepaired the child in question to be ready for the real world at this age?
2. What is the attitude of this child about leaving his or her parents home.
I think the parents are mean and cruel if they have NOT got the child ready to live on his or her own when they reach this age. The same reason for a child goes to school for twelve years of their childhood, to teach them the basics and general learning of knowing how to advance in the next level of education. The parents should give the child drive to succeed in life, with the responsibility of teaching him or her what to do in daily life, what the parent takes for granted is sometimes never taught to them in highschool.
For example:
1. How to open a bank account
2. How to buy a car
3. How to do laundry
4. How to pay bills
5. How to cook
It's the small things that need to be addressed, as well as the large things. This complex situation that faces the youth today has been ignored.

Answer 5

I loved all my children and would still have them live with me as adults. My son moved out at 18 because his father insisted on certain rules being followed and he chose to leave. We are still the best of friends but he wanted to do his own thing.
I always took motherhood as the greatest and hardest challenge of the world. Some parents should be stopped before having kids. I let kids camp out on my couch[after talking to their parents] rather than see them go to the street.I don't understand how anyone can physically or mentally be mean to their own child.
I hope you know some parents try and try to help their kids before giving up on them..usually drugs are involved. I hope when you grow up and have children you can get a better understanding of how very hard that age is on the parent and the child.

Answer 6

Because parents don't know how to relate to their children. I usually found that the kids i knew that got kicked out had extremely unreasonable and stubborn parents that couldn't accept their kid the way they were. I think parents that kick their kids out lack some serious parenting skills and any "problems" their kid may have are due to the parents utter lack of guidance and understanding. There are better ways to deal with a teen than kicking them out. Some parents just don't want to put forth the effort. It's really nice of you to let a kid crash at your place. Maybe you should try discussing the situation with them like their an adult and see if you can't help them out somehow or at least feel better.

Answer 7

Some parents, show the "tough love" thing. Meaning "I love you, but you have to go", its time to grow up and move on. Alot of times you find parents that does this, was done the same way when they were young adults.

I find it to be an unfortunate situation, It should be some boundaries set in place, so when the time comes you are full a where of the matter, If they where set in place and the time came and you have no where to go, you should have a heart to heart talk.
Also, at this age most teenagers feel grown, so remember you still, have to so respect in your parents home and rules.

Answer 8

I don't think a parent would just kick their child out without having a good reason as to why.

Is there no way you can get in contact with your lodger's family and invite someone over to your house to sit together with their child and mediate? Their mum/dad, even older sibling?

Thats what my friends mum did when she had our other friend in her living room on the sofa for nearly a fortnight. In the end she rang the girls' mum and invited her over for a coffee and a chat, just her and her daughter alone. It was nice because it was on neutral ground and neither one of them had any reason to feel intimidated.

That evening the girl made plans with her mum to go home at the weekend and she did.

I know it totally depends on the reason as to why his/her parent threw the child out, but it's a good way to try to get the ice broken again between parent and child.

Answer 9

I can't say in this specific situation why it would be done because there is not enough detail given.

I can say when I graduated highschool, my parents gave me two options in order to live at home: go to school or get a job.

I'm glad they did. It taught me that the real world gives no free rides. I'm also glad I got to learn that in the comfort of my parents home because the adult world isn't as comfy and supportive as my parents house.

When I finally left the nest, I was very ready to deal with the responsibility of making my own comfy nest, even still, I had to weed out a lot of thorns and briars to make it that way.

Answer 10

its not legal to kick a kid out of the house untill age 18

Answer 11

We have tried to help some of these children and in all cases quickly learned why their parents wanted them out of the house as we wanted them out of our house.

They lied to us, snuck girls, drugs and alcohol into our home, they stole from us, they were belligerant and disrespectful. (This was all after showing good manners and respect up until we let them move in - like little "con-men.")

I wish I knew what the answer is. The children seemed to all lack discipline,
self respect, and respect for others.

They all needed counseling that we could not afford and their parents were not interested in hearing about it.