[scratchy]

OK here goes. I'm a alcoholic..been in recovery for about 6 years. Have two sons, one 20 lives with his girlfriend, the other just turned 18 and will graduate h.s. this year then off to technical/vocational school. Anyway my wife's brothers son is 17; will be 18 in March. He was living on the streets and with friends in another town. His dad kicked him out, then moved, because of the kids behavior, not going to school, stealing, dope use, threatening to kill his parents, etc.etc.etc.

Anyway the kid was sleeping in an old abandoned school in this other town with his friends. He lies all the time etc.etc.
Anyway a week before christmas his dad calls my wife and say's the kid is coming by us to stay for a week until he can pick him up. When he picks him up they get in a huge verbal fight and the kid takes off out of the car at a gas station when they stop for gas. Anyway the kid ends up back here. Our local High Schools wont take him (not that he would go anyway), because of his history and the fact that he turns 18 in two months. He finished a total of about two years of high school so he would need two more years to graduate, which would make him 20 years old.

I've instructed him he has to get a job NOW! Course he fills out applications like he was a 10 year old, and nobody that I know will hire him. He refused for about two weeks to apply at fast food restaurants, like he is too good for that. Yesterday I gave him a ride to pick one up from Mcdonalds, and one from burger king. (I should have made him walk to get them-there's my enabling again!)

He has been in and out of counseling when he was younger for about four years. Counselors basically said he is doing best he can for the situation he was in. (His dad attempted suicide, and his step-mom wont have anything to do with him)

He is not using in my house(As far as I can tell yet), and basically just eats, sits on computer, and wont do much of anything. He will offer to help around the house, which is good, but has no drive to improve himself at all.

The reason I post this is to just bring up the fact that I am putting together a list of what he must do to continue to stay here, or I kick him out. Without enabling, my list so far is have a full time job (minimum of 32 hours per week) no later then March 1st, pay his civil fine from the other town (for disorderly conduct) within 90 days of getting his job, and pay some rent, if he continues to stay here, after the job starts. Basically when he is 18, if he doesnt have a job, I say he leaves. My wife on the other hand wants to give him more of a chance (longer time period) What are your thoughts? Thanks Soberbob/scratchy