Why does our adult son think he's right about everything?

[Deb2bees]

Our oldest son is 24, and we are wondering why it seems as though he has an almost desperate need to be right. He does have OCD and ADD, however my husband and I do not understand the workings of his mind. We have four children, and from the time he was about one year old, he has teased and tormented each one of us in the family. No amount of counseling has worked. He either gets his way, or stomps off in a huff, throws a fit, or calls us names. Every birthday party we ever had was ruined by his behavior, unless it was his. I have been the primary disciplinarian in our home and wonder if that is part of the problem. It is difficult to enjoy time with him unless it is on his terms. Until recently, he had been very close to his dad, and in general only gave me problems. Now his anger is directed at both of us. Is there a spiritual reason for this type of behavior, such as pride, or is it some other type of problem we are dealing with?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I am not a counselor, so I cannot presume to know why your son acts the way he does. All that I can do is to assure you that you don’t have to put up with his behavior. He is 24 and, by your report, has received counseling and discipline for years for his behavior. If that is the case, then it may well be time to force him to face the consequences of his anti-social behavior by disallowing him to continue to hurt your family. If he’s still living with you, give him a deadline to move out and enforce it. If he’s living on his own but visiting you, then end the visit when he becomes disruptive. At this point, the counseling that may be necessary is not for your son but for you and your husband in building appropriate boundaries. I recommend the Pastoral Solutions Institute, a Catholic counseling apostolate, for more assistance.