Morning all,

I just found out that my step-slob (SS20) is supposedly going to college next year. As a bit of background, SS20 lives with his father, who still lives with **his** mother, the SS20's grandmother (long story about how SS20 ended up there). SS20 barely graduated from high school, and wouldn't have even managed that if I hadn't gotten involved during his senior year. SS20 had failed multiple classes, and was barely passing many others. I met with the teachers and the counselor, and found the easiest classes that SS20 could take, so that he could graduate (essentially, SS20's last semester in high school was comprised of "attendence-based" classes, where the grade was solely determined by physical presence in the classroom - no homework, tests, etc.). Even though SS20 readily admitted that he hated school, and would not put forth any effort, no one, including my DW, wanted to deal with SS's academic issues. It naturally fell to the lowest common denominator - me. I'm sure that it comes as no surprise that not one scintilla of appreciation was shown for me helping SS20 to graduate - after all, I'm "only" a step-father.

In addition to SS20's academic problems, he has a number of emotional and developmental issues. Due in large part to "friend" parenting by my DW, and excessive coddling by the grandmother, SS20 has the life skills of a 12 year-old. He does not know how to properly bathe and shave himslef, and apparently never figured out what that little oblong-shaped device labeled "Right-Guard" was for, since he always has BO. He does not have a driver's license, and has never even attempted to learn how to drive. He also has never worked a day in his life. He also weighs almost 300 pounds, ang nearly has a heart attack anytime he climbs a flight of stairs. He was granted a "sabbatical" by his grandmother after high school, since he worked "so hard" to earn that 2.6 GPA. :sick:

Anyway, grandmother is now forcing SS to apply to college. I would think that, having read the above information, any normal person would realize what a huge mistake this will be. SS does not want to do this, and even if he did, he does not have the academic background and life skills to be successful. Nontheless, grandma is pushing forwarg, because her perfect little grandson is "entitled" to a college education, and the big job it will ultimately bring. LOL! She is delusional! Even my DW admits that SS has no business going to college, but she doesn't want to be "mean" and "discouraing" by telling him this. Thankfully, he may not even get in, thanks to his GPA and shitty ACT score. Even if he does, he will be kicked out after he bombs his first couple of semesters.

Watching these "friend" parents and "enabling" grandparents is so frustrating. They absolutely refuse to get tough with the kids, and insist on coddling the forever. They don't realize that the coddling is the biggest source of trouble, because the kids never learn how to do anything for themselves. They grow up expecting everything to be handed to them. In SS20's case, he is also very physically unhealthy, because no one would ever dream of talking to him about the health issues that stem from being so overweight and out of shape. It is very frustrating.