You have my sympathies. My parents raised several of my aunts (some who are close to my age) and one of them was very much like your son. She was a loving child but it started to change when she was about 12 or so.
My parents gave her chance after chance to correct her behavior. They loved her so much it made it nearly impossible for them to throw her out (she was quite manipulative emotionally). It took her stealing their car (hitting my father with the car while doing so) for them to finally kick her out.
It hurt them immensly to do so but she really left them with no other choice that was healthy for them. It'll be hard to be strong and it's going to hurt a LOT but from what it sounds like, you'll be much better off emotionally, financially, etc in the long run this way. Try not to 2nd guess yourself and think 'what if' or 'if only' as that kind of thinking and worry isn't going to do anything positive.
Yes, he used to be your little boy...that's why you love him so. But, he's not a little boy anymore. He's an adult who has conciously decided to make the hurtful, wrong decisions that have driven you to this point. You've gone above and beyond the call of duty for a parent and it's now his turn to live with the repurcussions of his actions. Hopefully, he'll learn something from it when all's said and done. Even if not, you did what you could so have no regrets.
You thank the community here for helping give you support...well, I thank you for sharing your life and times with us... that's also what helps make this such a great community. The trust, affection and support of the TFP is amazing. Glad we're all part of it.
