Welcome home to the abusive son.

Question

My son is coming home from prison in 3 weeks. He was physically abusive to me before going to jail but that was because he was using so much meth and crack he didn't even have much of a grip on reality anymore. He says he is clean now and he has been working an addiction recovery program in prison. He is asking if he can come home to live with me again since he has nowhere else to go. I want to help him but I am scared it will turn out like last time. Is there anything I can do to help him stay off drugs so he can stay with me without getting violent?

Ari Hahn · Accepted Answer

In my opinion, the best thing you can do is protect yourself in an absolute manner. In other words, make it real clear that if he is abusive to you in any way he is out on the street.

The threat might help him stay clean. However, it is not easy for you. I suggest that you write down on a paper what type of behaviors he might do that will cross the line. Share it with him. Make it clear again. And follow through if you need to. Don't be afraid to kick him out if he is the slightest bit abusive. That is likely to happen, because that it the only way that he will really know that you are serious.

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