ANITA NAIK A PROBLEM SHARED

Mum of two Anita Naik has been an agony aunt for 33 years

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My son won't leave home

I have a 31-year-old son who still lives at home. He works and has a girlfriend, but he won't leave home. I'm ready for him to leave – I'm tired of how he expects me to do everything for him and doesn't pay towards living here. How do I tell him without making it feel like I am throwing him out?

Sometimes, the easiest way is brutal honesty. Tell him it's time he moved out. At 31, he's way overdue for the realities of life, such as paying rent and bills, doing his laundry and cooking for himself. I suspect he stays because you do all these things, so set a deadline and pull back from making life so easy for him.