Uni
It's not too late. Hopefully he'll go to uni too far away from his mother for her to be able to do things for him, and he will learn quickly how to take care of himself.
I'll admit I was someone who didn't know much about taking care of myself; ok I could cook a meal or two, but I hadn't had to do so every day before (rather than being a "MooomIwannaSadwich" kid, it was more I was asked when I didn't want anything). I technically didn't 'know' how to use a washing machine until I went to the dorm laundry room the first time, because I'd never needed to. But with any luck he'll get his act together and become independent and self-sufficient if he is given the opportunity. If you can I would encourage his mother to let him go away to uni, and don't try and hold onto him. It'll do him the world of good (so long as he is willing to let it).

I know I may come off sounding like I was spoilt growing up - I guess I was. But I think how I've developed and what I've achieved in the past 8 years since I left home would show that you can become a semi-rounded individual, even if at 18 you aren't what most people consider 'grown-up'.
( Boras the anachronism, Fri 10 Oct 2008, 1:09, 1 reply)

He's awfully lazy, alas
My aunt is the one running around, trying to get him into a 'good school', as only the best will do, while he sits around playing video games. Despite the coddling she really wants him to get out into life, and yet he has no skills, household or personal, to get him there. He's never cooked a single meal in his life, not even pasta.

The boy's clever, and though being clever won't get the bedsheets clean or get supper on the table, at least he has more of an advantage than the terminally stupid, and it frustrates me that he's happy to waste it all.
(louveciennes , Volvospotter, Fri 10 Oct 2008, 21:17, closed)