Though i am really concerned about this mother-son pair (i know
them personally and have been trying to help them on many
occasions), 'Superlady' is right about their spending behaviour.
They certainly need some credit counseling as they spend on items
that are way beyond their means (they have been spotted at
Starbucks, movies, cabs besides the hair salon)
I also think everything has been a little dramatised. Though he
has slight low IQ (only slightly - if you talk to him you'd realise
how rational his thoughts are) he had the opportunity to learn
skills in one of our schools for lower IQ children but refuses to
go. My friends and I personally offered to bring him to
school but his mother refuses the offer. And yes - she does
gets defensive when one brings up the matter about work. She
is overly protective and refuses to even allow the teen
to learn how to boil water. He is quite fit by the way and not as
sickly as it is made out to be.
This is a very sad case indeed, as though many people has been
trying to help them not just through financial means(by the
way, she gets MUCH more financial aid then
reported), but through advise, counseling, job recommendations etc.
they constantly reject the latter and yes - gets very touchy
when those topics arises. However, they have no qualms about
asking for money usually giving the excuse that they are starving.
My friends were fooled once as thinking they were really starving,
bought tons of food to their place only to notice that they do have
food in their kitchen pantry.
So whereas i understand the angst some of the speakers here has
displayed, there's always 2 sides to a coin. Yes i agree they need
help, but the help they need is not just financial. We need to help
them be independent, we need to help them to fish.