confident he'll ever be able to move out. I'm a bit more optimistic. He's perfectly independent. He just has a mild speech impediment and doesn't read or write very well. He's going to begin Technical School next year (his junior year in high school) where he will learn a trade... either carpentry, electrician, masonry, or plumbing. He'll start out trying all four and settle on one just after Christmas. As long as he takes that as seriously as I believe he will, he should be able to function as an independent adult.

I have two more from my wife's first marriage, aged 21 and 27, respectively. Both currently live at home, although the 21 year old did actually take a stab at moving out last year. He dropped out of high school so he could work his job. Things didn't work out like he'd planned and he had to come home, but he has an outstanding work ethic and he'll eventually manage to move out, I have no doubt.

The 27 year old has a B.A. in History and about $35,000 in student loans. She has a job she LOVES, but doesn't pay enough for her to move out on her own and she doesn't seem to be close enough friends with anyone on the east coast to go in on an apartment together with. She's got a friend in Oregon graduating from college next month and they want to live together.. out in Oregon, which, of course, means Daughter would have to quit this job she loves (and just recently got promoted in). With the promotion she may begin to earn enough to move out, but she'll certainly be able to do it with the next promotion. So, HOPEFULLY we'll be rid of her in the next year or so.

Still keeping our fingers crossed for an empty nest before we turn 50. LOL