Reddit Stories - PARTNER'S child who was kicked out for HARASSMENT RELOCATED to my residence with

Episode Date: July 24, 2025

#redditstories #askreddit #aita #relationships #family #parenting #harassment #relocationSummary: My partner's child, who was kicked out for harassment, relocated to my residence. Adjusting to this new dynamic has been challenging, but we are working through it together with open communication and mutual respect.Tags: redditstories, askreddit, reddit, aita, tifu, relationships, family, parenting, harassment, relocation, blendedfamily, communication, respect, adjustment, challenges, stepfamily, support, understanding, boundaries, conflictresolutionBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reddit-stories--6237355/support.

I hope you enjoy this story. Partner's child who was kicked out for harassment relocated to my residence with my two small children, began intimidating them and taking money, then I discovered him selling drugs from my house, and finally decided to kick them out. I've been with my partner Rody for two years now and we moved in together about eight months ago. Rody has a 15-year-old son Tyler from his previous relationship, and Tyler's mom, Rosie, has primary custody but Rody gets him every other weekend and during school breaks.

The thing is, Rody lost his job about six months ago when his company downsized, and since then I've been covering pretty much all the bills including the child support he pays to Rosie every month because he couldn't afford to stop paying it without going to court. I work as a project manager and make decent money, but supporting two households has been stretching my budget pretty thin, especially since I also have my own two kids Janice who's 8 and Alan who's 12 from my previous marriage. My ex-husband pays child support but it's not much, and my kids live with me full time, so most of their expenses fall on me anyway. Last week Rosie called Rody and told him that Tyler got expelled from school for bullying

other students. Apparently this wasn't just name-calling or typical teenage drama, but Tyler was targeting younger kids and making their lives miserable to the point where parents were calling the school and threatening to involve the police if something wasn't done. The final incident that got him expelled involved Tyler cornering a seventh grader in the bathroom and demanding money while blocking the exit, and when the kids started crying Tyler beat him up and filmed it on his phone and sent the video to other students. Rosie told Rody that she's done dealing with Tyler's behavior and wants Rody to take full custody, which would mean Tyler moving in with us permanently and transferring to the

local high school here. Rody immediately said yes without even discussing it with me first, and when I found out I told him we needed to talk about this before making any decisions because it affects everyone in the house. Rody got defensive and said Tyler is his son and is not going to abandon him when Rosie is giving up on him. I explained that I'm not asking him to abandon Tyler, but I'm concerned about bringing someone who was expelled for bullying into a house with my two kids, especially Janice

who's only eight and small for her age. I also pointed out that we're already struggling financially and adding another teenager to the household means more expenses for food, clothes, school supplies, and everything else. Rody said I'm being selfish and that Tyler just needs structure and male guidance, and that his behavior will improve once he's living with his dad full-time instead of being shuttled between houses. He said Tyler acts out because he feels rejected and unstable, and having a permanent home will fix the problems. When I asked what happens if Tyler starts bullying Janice or Alan, Rodi said that won't happen because Tyler only picks on random kids at school, not family members. I told Rodi that I need time to think about this and research the local school's policies for students transferring after expulsion, and I want to have a conversation with Tyler

about expectations and consequences before he moves in. Rodi said there's no time because Rosie wants Tyler out of her house by the end of this week, and if we don't take him then Tyler will have to go live with Rodi's parents who are in their 70s and not equipped to handle a troubled teenager. The situation got more complicated when I talked to my kids about it. Alan said he remembers Tyler being mean to him during previous visits, like hiding Alan's video games and telling him he's stupid for liking certain TV shows, but Alan never said anything because he didn't want to cause problems between me and Rodi. Janice said Tyler makes her nervous because he stares at her and once told her that her drawings look like garbage when she was proudly showing them to Rody.

I feel terrible because I know Rody loves his son and wants to help him, but I also have to protect my own children and maintain stability in our home. Tyler has never lived with us for more than a few days at a time, and those visits have always had a definite end date, but this would be permanent. I'm also worried about the financial aspect because Rody still doesn't have a job and I'm already maxed out supporting everyone. When I tried to explain my concerns to Rody again, he said I'm looking for excuses to reject Tyler because I don't want to deal with someone else's problem child. He said if I really loved him then I would welcome his son into our home without hesitation and that my conditions and research requirements prove that I don't consider Tyler family. Rody also said that Tyler's problems are partly Rosie's fault for being too permissive, and that having a stepmother figure who sets boundaries will actually be good for Tyler. I suggested maybe Tyler could stay with us temporarily while Rody looks for his own place

where he and Tyler could live together, but Rody said that's ridiculous because we're supposed to be building a life together as a family. He said splitting up our household would be a step backward in our relationship, and besides he can't afford his own place without a job. So now I'm stuck because I don't want to break up with Rody over this, but I also can't ignore my instincts about protecting my children and maintaining our household stability. Rody says I have until Friday to decide, and if I say no, then he'll have to choose between letting Tyler go to his elderly grandparents or ending our relationship to find some where he and Tyler can live together. Ida for not wanting to take in Tyler given

everything that's happened, or should I trust Rodi that Tyler's behavior will improve with better structure and give this arrangement a chance? Update 1, well, things went from bad to worse pretty quickly after my last post. I ended up agreeing to let Tyler move in because Rody basically forced my hand by saying his parents couldn't take Tyler after all because his dad had a heart attack scare and the stress of dealing with Tyler's problems would be too much for them. Rody said it was either Tyler moves in with us or Tyler goes into foster care, and I couldn't live with knowing I was responsible for a kid ending up in the system. Tyler moved in that Friday with five bags of clothes and a gaming setup that Rody somehow

scraped together money to buy for him. Probably from the emergency credit card I stupidly gave Rody access to for groceries and household expenses. I sat Tyler down the first day and explained the house rules about chores, homework time, curfew, and treating everyone in the family with respect. And Tyler just stared at me the whole time without saying anything except whatever when I asked if he understood. The problem started immediately. Tyler refused to help with any household chores and told Janice to get out of the living room when she wanted to watch her shows because he was using the TV for gaming. When I told him the TV schedule we worked out so everyone gets fair time, Tyler said he doesn't have to follow rules made by someone who's not his real

mom. Rody was working a temporary job, think something like manual labor, that week so he wasn't home to deal with Tyler's attitude. And when I told Rody about it that evening he said Tyler is just adjusting and I need to be more patient. By the second week, Tyler was leaving messes everywhere and taking food from the kitchen without asking, including eating the lunch I packed for Janice and taking the last of Alan's favorite cereal without checking if anyone else wanted it. When I talked to him about being considerate of other people in the house, Tyler said he's hungry and shouldn't have to ask permission to eat food in his own home. I explained that it's not about permission but about making sure there's enough for everyone,

especially when a meal planning and grocery shopping on a tight budget. Tyler also started going through other people's belongings when they weren't home. I caught him in Janice's room looking through her desk drawers, and when I asked what he was doing, he said he was looking for a pencil sharpener. I told him to ask before going into other people's rooms and he said he shouldn't have to announce every little thing he needs. Alan found Tyler using his laptop without permission and when Alan asked for it back, Tyler said he was just checking something and Alan was being selfish by not sharing. The worst incident happened during Tyler's third week here when I came home from work and found Tyler. had punched a hole in the hallway wall after getting angry about losing an online game. Janice was crying in her room because Tyler had yelled at her for walking past the living room

while he was playing, and Alan was hiding in the garage because Tyler had thrown his controller and it hit Alan in the shoulder when he was trying to go to the kitchen for a snack. When I confronted Tyler about the wall and asked him to explain what the F did he do to Jake, he said the game was lagging and he got frustrated, and that it wasn't his fault Janice and Jake were being annoying by walking around the house during his gaming time. I told him that punching walls and hitting or yelling at my children is never acceptable and that everyone has the right to move freely through the house, and Tyler said I don't understand how important his games are

and that I'm trying to ruin his life by making him live in a house with little kids who don't respect his space. I called Rodi and told him he needed to come home immediately to deal with the situation. When Rodie got home, Tyler told him a completely different story about how I was picking on him and trying to make him follow unfair rules that don't apply to my own kids. Tyler said I yelled at him for eating food and going to the bathroom during his gaming sessions, and that I threatened to take away his gaming setup if he didn't clean Janice's room for her.

Rody didn't even ask me for my side of the story before telling Tyler that he understands Tyler is having a hard time adjusting and that will work together to make things better. Rody said maybe we need to set up a separate space for Tyler where he can have privacy and won't be interrupted by the younger kids, and that he'll talk to me about being more flexible with the house rules since Tyler is older and needs different boundaries than school kids. When I tried to explain what actually happened with the wall and Tyler scaring my children, Rody said kids Tyler's age get frustrated easily and that punching a wall isn't that serious

compared to the kind of trouble Tyler could be getting into if he was still living with Rosie or if we had sent him to foster care. Rody said I need to pick my battles and focus on the important things instead of nitpicking every little mistake Tyler makes while he's trying to settle in. I took pictures of the hole in the wall, and I asked Rody how we're supposed to afford to fix the damage when we're already struggling financially. Rody said we can patch the wall ourselves, and that I'm making a bigger deal out of this than necessary. He also said Tyler's behavior will improve once he starts at the new school next week and has something productive to focus on instead of of being stuck in the house all day. But Tyler didn't start school the next week because the district needed more paperwork from his previous school about the expulsion, and the process

is taking longer than expected because Tyler's old school is being difficult about releasing his records. So Tyler has been home alone all day while Rodie is trying to do some temporary jobs and I'm at the office, and my kids are afraid to be in the house with him after school. I arranged for Janice and Allen to go to my neighbor's house after school until I get home, but I shouldn't have to make alternative child care arrangements because I'm afraid to leave my own children alone with someone who lives in our house. Tyler complains that having my kids around all evening cramps his style and makes it hard for him to relax, and Rody says maybe my kids could spend more time at their dad's house to give Tyler some space to adjust. I'm starting to realize

that Rody cares more about not dealing with Tyler's problems than he does about how Tyler's behavior affects the rest of us, and I don't know how much longer I can handle this situation before it damages my relationship with my own children or ruins the stability of our home. Update 2. Tyler finally started school two months ago, but instead of improving his behavior like Rody predicted, things have gotten significantly worse at home. Tyler comes home angry almost every day complaining about teachers who don't understand him and classmates who already have friend groups that he can't break into. He says the school is stupid and the work is too easy, but when I checked the online grade portal I can see that

Tyler is struggling with most of his classes because he's not studying and didn't learn a thing from his previous school. When I tried to talk to Tyler about it and offered to help him get organized with his homework, he said I'm not his mother and he doesn't need help from someone who doesn't understand what he's going through. Rody says Tyler's academic struggles are normal for a kid who's been through so much upheaval and that his grades will improve once he feels more settled, but Tyler has been here for almost three months now and nothing is getting better. The situation with my kids has gotten much worse too. Last week I came home and found Janice crying in her room because Tyler had told her that

her real dad probably left because she's annoying and that's why he doesn't visit more often. Janice asked me if that was true and whether I was going to send her away too if she made me mad and I had to explain that Tyler was being mean and that parents don't abandon their children for being normal kids. When I confronted Tyler about what he said to Janice, he claimed he was just joking around and that Janice is too sensitive if she can't handle basic teasing. I told Tyler that what he said wasn't teasing but was cruel and designed to hurt Janice's feelings, and that he needs to apologize to her and never say anything like that again. Tyler said he's not apologizing for Janice being a crybaby and that if she can't handle living

with teenagers then maybe she should go live with her dad full time. Alan has started avoiding common areas of the house when Tyler is home, and I found him doing homework in his closet because Tyler had taken over the dining room table with his gaming laptop and told Alan to find somewhere else to work. When I told Tyler that the dining room is a shared space and Alan needs access to do homework, Tyler said he was there first and that Alan could use his bedroom desk. I pointed out that Alan's desk is too small for his science project materials, but Tyler said that wasn't his problem to solve.

The most serious incident happened two weeks ago when I was working late and Rody was at his evening shift job, he has got a job since my last post. Tyler was supposed to be watching Janice and Alan for a couple hours until I got home, which I now realize was a mistake because Tyler has never shown any interest in being responsible for other people. When I came home, I found Janice hiding in the bathroom with the door locked and Alan standing guard outside the bathroom door. Janice told me that Tyler had gotten angry because she changed the TV channel during his gaming

break, and when she tried to change it back, Tyler had grabbed her arm and squeezed it hard enough to leave bruises while telling her that if she ever touched his stuff again, he would make sure she regretted it. Alan tried to help Janice get away from Tyler, so Tyler shoved Alan into the coffee table and told both of them that they better learn their place in this house because he's bigger and stronger than they are. I was furious and took photos of the bruises on Janice's arm before calling Rodi and demanding that he come home immediately. When Rodi arrived, Tyler again told a different story about how Janice was being disrespectful

and not listening when he told her to wait her turn for the TV, and that he barely touched her arm to guide her away from the remote. Tyler said Alan was exaggerating about being pushed and that he only put his hand on Alan's shoulder to move him out of the way. Rodi looked at the bruises on Janice's arm and said they didn't look that serious, and that Tyler probably doesn't know his own strength since he's going through a growth spurt and isn't used to being around smaller kids. I told Rody that Tyler's size doesn't excuse him from threatening and hurting my children, and that this behavior is exactly what I was worried about

when Tyler first moved in. Rody said I'm overreacting because Tyler didn't actually hurt Alan and Janice's bruises will fade in a couple days, and that sibling conflicts are normal in blended families. I told Rody that Tyler isn't Janice and Alan's sibling and that threatening children is not normal sibling behavior, and that I won't tolerate anyone in my house putting their hands on my kids in anger. Rody said Tyler is still learning how to interact with younger children and that I need to give him time to figure out the family dynamics. But the final straw came last weekend when I discovered that money was missing from my drawer.

I keep cash for emergencies and small purchases, and I noticed that $40 was gone after Tyler had been the only other person home while I was at the grocery store. When I asked Tyler if he knew anything about the missing money, he said he didn't touch it and suggested that maybe Janice or Alan took it to buy something at school. I told Tyler that my children have never taken money without asking and that I find it suspicious the money disappeared when he was the only one home. Tyler got defensive and said I was accusing him of being a thief just because I don't like him, and that he shouldn't have to prove his innocence when there's no evidence he did anything wrong. I pointed out that the money was definitely there before I left and definitely gone when I returned, and that Tyler was the only person with access during that time. When I told Rody about the missing money, he said there could be other explanations and

that I shouldn't jump to conclusions about Tyler stealing from us. Rody suggested that maybe I miscounted the money or spent it and forgot about it, and that accusing Tyler of theft without proof would damage his trust and self-esteem. I told Rody that I'm not going crazy and I know how much money was in my drawer, but Rody said Tyler's been through enough trauma without being falsely accused of crimes. I started keeping my things locked in my bedroom after that, but then I noticed that my phone charger went missing from the kitchen counter, and Alan couldn't find his good headphones that he had left on his desk.

When I asked Tyler about these items, he said he doesn't keep track of everyone else's belongings and maybe we should all be more careful about putting our stuff away. Rody continues to make excuses for Tyler's behavior and says I'm being too hard on a kid who's been rejected by his mother and is trying to find his place in a new family. Rody said Tyler's acting out because he feels unwelcome and criticized, and that if I would show more patience and understanding then Tyler would start behaving better. But I'm tired of being told that Tyler's bad behavior is somehow my fault for not being supportive enough, especially when Tyler is hurting my children and stealing from our family.

I'm starting to think that Rody will never hold Tyler accountable for his actions because he feels guilty about not being more involved in Tyler's life when he was living with Rosie, and now he's overcompensating by refusing to set any boundaries or consequences. But I can't continue to sacrifice my children's safety and well-being to enable Tyler's destructive behavior, and I don't know how much longer I can handle this situation. Update 3, I caught Tyler trying to sell drugs from my house last Thursday, and everything has completely fallen apart since then. I came home early from work because I was feeling sick, and when I pulled into the driveway I

saw Tyler talking to two older teenagers I didn't recognize near the side gate that leads to our backyard. When Tyler saw my car, he quickly walked the other teenagers toward the street and told them he would text them later. I waited until the teenagers left before approaching Tyler and asking who they were and what they wanted. Tyler said they were friends from school who stopped by to hang out, but I thought it was strange that Tyler would meet friends outside instead of inviting them in. Especially since Tyler usually complains about not having any friends at his new school. I asked Tyler why he didn't bring his friends inside, and he said they were just leaving anyway and that I worried too much about every little thing.

Something felt off about the whole interaction, so I started paying closer attention to Tyler's activities and noticed that he had been getting text messages throughout the evening from numbers I didn't recognize. Tyler was also being secretive with his phone, taking it with him to the bathroom and keeping it face down during dinner, which wasn't his usual behavior. When Rody got home from work, I mentioned that Tyler had friends over earlier and that I was glad he was starting to make connections at school. Rody seemed surprised and said Tyler had been complaining just the day before about how hard it was to meet people and how different the kids at this school were from his old friends.

Rody asked Tyler about his new friends at dinner, and Tyler gave vague answers about meeting them in his math class and how they like the same video games he plays. But when Rody asked their names, Tyler hesitated before making up names that sounded clearly fake. The next day I was working from home and noticed Tyler seemed anxious about. something, checking his phone constantly and looking out the front window every few minutes. Around lunchtime, Tyler asked if he could walk to the convenience store for snacks, which seemed normal enough except that Tyler usually just takes food from our kitchen without asking. I said that was fine but asked him to be back within an hour since Rodie would be home soon and we were planning to go grocery shopping as a family.

Tyler was gone for almost two hours, and when he came back he didn't have any snacks with him. When I asked what happened to the food he went to buy, Tyler said they didn't have what he wanted and that he ended up just walking around the neighborhood to get some fresh air. I thought it was odd that Tyler would walk around for two hours instead of coming home, especially since Tyler usually complains about being bored and having nothing to do. That evening I was doing laundry and found a small plastic bag with white powder residue in Tyler's jeans pocket. I immediately knew what it was because my brother had struggled with drug addiction in his 20s, and I recognized the type of tiny Ziploc bags that are used for selling small amounts of drugs. I took pictures of the bag and then sat down to figure out how to handle the situation. I decided to wait until Rody got home so we could confront Tyler together,

but when I showed Rody the bag he said it could be anything and that I was jumping to conclusions again. Rody suggested that maybe the bag contained vitamin powder or protein supplement, and that Tyler probably found it somewhere and forgot it was in his pocket. I told Rody that I know what drug baggies look like and that combined with Tyler's suspicious behavior and the older teenagers visiting our house, it was obvious what was happening. Rody got defensive and said I was looking for reasons to get Tyler in trouble because I never wanted him living with us in the first place. Rody said even if the bag did contain drugs, that doesn't mean Tyler was selling them,

and maybe Tyler was just holding the bag for someone else or found it on the ground somewhere. I told Rody that was exactly the kind of naive thinking that would get Tyler arrested and potentially land all of us in legal trouble if he was dealing drugs from our house. I insisted that we needed to search Tyler's room and confiscate his phone to see who he had been texting, but Rody said that would violate Tyler's privacy and make him feel like we don't trust him. I told Rody that Tyler hasn't done anything to earn our trust and that his recent behavior has been suspicious enough to warrant investigating further. Rody said I was being paranoid and that searching Tyler's belongings would push him away

when he's finally starting to settle in. But I went ahead and searched Tyler's room anyway while Rody was taking a shower, and I found more empty baggies hidden in Tyler's desk drawer along with a digital scale and almost $300 in cash rolled up in a sock. I also found Tyler's old phone that I thought had been broken, but it was actually working and contain text messages about selling product and meeting customers at various locations around our neighborhood. When I confronted Tyler with the evidence, he first tried to deny everything and said I planted

the items in his room to frame him. When I pointed out that the text messages were on his phone with time stamps going back several weeks, Tyler changed his story and said he was just holding the drugs and money for a friend who was going through a hard time with his parents. Tyler said he wasn't actually selling anything and that I misunderstood what the text messages meant. I told Tyler that I wasn't born yesterday and that I could clearly see from his messages that he was arranging drug sales and using our house as a base of operations. Tyler finally admitted that he had been selling pills and marijuana to kids at school and in the neighborhood,

but he said it wasn't a big deal because everyone does it and the amounts were small. Tyler said he needed the money because he was tired of having to ask Rodi for everything when Rodi barely has enough money to pay bills. When Rodi came out of the money, he was tired of the shower and saw me with all the evidence spread out on the kitchen table, he couldn't deny what was happening anymore. But instead of being angry at Tyler for bringing illegal drugs into our house and endangering our family, Rody got angry at me for searching Tyler's room without permission and said I had violated Tyler's trust by going through his private belongings. I told Rody that Tyler lost any right to privacy when he started dealing drugs from our house,

and that I had every right to search my own home when I suspected criminal activity was taking place. Rody said I should have talked to him first instead of taking matters into my own hands, and that now Tyler would never feel safe or welcome in our house because he would always worry about me snooping through his things. I explained to Rody that having Tyler sell drugs from our house could result in police raids, asset forfeiture, and all of us being charged with drug-related crimes, especially since I'm the homeowner and could be held responsible for illegal activities taking place on my property. I also pointed out that Tyler's customers know where we live and that drug dealing often involves dangerous people who might target our house if Tyler gets into disputes with suppliers

or customers. Rody said I was being dramatic and that Tyler was just selling to kids at school, not hardcore criminals, and that the amounts were small enough that police wouldn't care even if they found out. I told Rody that any amount of drug dealing is illegal and that police absolutely do care when drugs are being sold near schools and in residential neighborhoods. I also said that Tyler's customers included older teenagers who might be connected to more serious drug networks. I gave Rody an ultimatum that either Tyler leaves our house immediately or I would call the police and report the drug dealing myself. Rody said I was being extreme and that Tyler deserves a chance to learn from his mistakes

instead of being thrown out on the street. Rody suggested that we could just confiscate Tyler's drugs and phone and monitor his activities more closely to make sure it doesn't happen again. I told Rody that Tyler has already shown he can't be trusted and that his problems are escalating beyond what we can handle. I pointed out that Tyler went from bullying at school to threatening my children to stealing money to dealing drugs, and that each incident was worse than the last. I said I'm not willing to wait around to see what Tyler does next, especially when it could

involve my children or put our family at legal risk. Rody accused me of giving up on Tyler just like his mother did, and said I was destroying Tyler's chance at having a stable home and father figure in his life. But I told Rody that I have to prioritize the safety of my own children and that I won't allow my house to be used for illegal activities regardless of Tyler's difficult circumstances. Update 4. Rody chose Tyler over our relationship and they moved out together six weeks ago. After I gave Rody the ultimatum about Tyler leaving, Rody spent three days trying to convince

me to change my mind and give Tyler another chance. Rody said Tyler had promised to stop selling drugs and that he would find a way to get Tyler counseling to address his behavioral problems. He also suggested that maybe Tyler could stay with friends for a while until things cooled down, and then gradually transitioned back to living with us under stricter supervision. I told Rody that Tyler had already broken too many promises and crossed too many lines for me to believe that counseling or supervision would fix the underlying problems. I explained that Tyler's behavior had been escalating since the day he moved in, and that each time Rody made excuses for Tyler instead of holding him accountable,

Tyler learned that he could get away with worse behavior. I said I wasn't willing to risk my children's safety or my home security on the hope that Tyler might change. Rody said I was being unreasonable and that families are supposed to work through difficult times together instead of giving up when things get challenging. He said Tyler had been abandoned by too many people already and that kicking him out would confirm Tyler's belief that nobody actually cares about him. Rody also said that if I really loved him then I would understand that he couldn't choose between his son and our relationship. I told Rody that he had already made his choice by consistently prioritizing Tyler's once over everyone else's needs and safety.

I pointed out that Rody had never once disciplined Tyler or set meaningful consequences for his behavior and that Rody always found ways to blame other people for Tyler's actions instead of teaching Tyler to take responsibility. I said that wasn't love but was enabling, and that it was actually harmful to Tyler in the long run. Rody said I didn't understand what it was like to have a child who was struggling and that I would do the same thing if Janice or Alan were in Tyler's situation. I told Rody that if Janice or Alan ever threatened other children,

stole money, or brought drugs into someone's house, I would absolutely hold them accountable and get them help instead of making excuses for their behavior. I said that protecting children from consequences doesn't help them learn better choices. When Rody realized I wasn't going to change my mind, he started making plans to move out with Tyler. Rodi found a small apartment that he could afford with his income, and he arranged to transfer Tyler to a different school district so Tyler could have a fresh start. Rody said he hoped Tyler would do better in a new environment where people didn't already have negative opinions about him. I felt bad about the way things ended because I did care about

Rody and wanted our relationship to work, but I couldn't compromise on protecting my children and maintaining a safe home. Rody said maybe we could try dating again in the future once Tyler was more stable and mature, but I told him that I didn't see how anything would change since Rody refuses to acknowledge that Tyler's problems require professional intervention and consistent boundaries. Rody and Tyler moved out on a Saturday morning, and Rody took most of the furniture he had contributed to our household along with the gaming equipment he had bought for Tyler. Tyler didn't say goodbye to Janice or Alan, but he did leave a mess in his former bedroom with food wrappers and dirty clothes scattered around. I spent the weekend cleaning

and repairing the damage Tyler had caused, including patching the hole in the hallway wall and replacing items that had gone missing during Tyler's stay. Janice and Alan were relieved that Tyler was gone, but they were also sad about Rodi leaving because they were had grown attached to him during the time we were together. For about a month after Rodi and Tyler moved out, things were quiet and I assumed they were adjusting to their new living situation. Rody texted me occasionally with updates about how Tyler was doing in his new school and how their apartment was working out.

Rody said Tyler seemed happier in the new environment and was making friends with kids who shared his interests in gaming and music. But three weeks ago Rody called me late at night sounding upset and stressed. Rody told me that Tyler had been arrested for possession of drugs with intent to distribute, and that police had found a significant amount of marijuana and prescription pills in Tyler's backpack during a search at school. Apparently someone had reported seeing Tyler selling drugs in the school parking lot, and when security investigated they found enough evidence to involve police. Rody said Tyler claimed the drugs belonged to someone else and that he was just holding them temporarily,

but the amount was large enough that police didn't believe Tyler's story about personal use. Tyler was charged as a juvenile but could face serious consequences including time in a detention facility if he's convicted. Rody asked if I thought he should hire a lawyer or if the public defender would be sufficient for Tyler's case. I told Rody that Tyler definitely needed a good lawyer because drug charges could affect Tyler's future education and employment opportunities even if he sentenced as a juvenile. But I also told Rody that this arrest proved Tyler hadn't learned anything from the consequences

of his previous behavior and was still making the same dangerous choices. I said Tyler needed intensive counseling and possibly residential treatment to address whatever underlying issues were driving his destructive behavior. Rodi said he was trying to get Tyler into counseling but that it was expensive and his insurance didn't cover much mental health treatment. Rody also said Tyler was resistant to the idea of therapy and claimed that talking to a counselor wouldn't change anything about his situation. I wished Rody luck with Tyler's case but told him that I couldn't be involved in Tyler's

problems anymore because I needed to focus on my own children and rebuilding our stability. I said I hoped Tyler would get the help he needed but that Rody and Tyler would have to handle their situation without expecting support from me. Rody understood and said he would keep me updated on major developments but wouldn't ask for advice or assistance. Last I heard from Rody, Tyler's case was still pending but the lawyer thought they could work out a deal that would keep Tyler out of detention if he completed a drug treatment program and stayed out of trouble for the next year. Rody said Tyler was finally admitting that he had made serious mistakes and was willing to try counseling, but I suspect Tyler is only saying what he thinks people want to hear to avoid going to juvenile detention. I feel bad that things worked out this way because I never wanted Tyler to end up in legal trouble, but I also feel validated that my concerns about Tyler's behavior were justified. My children and I are much happier and more relaxed now that we don't have to worry about Tyler's unpredictable behavior or criminal activities affecting our daily lives.