Teenagers

Here's a question close to my heart at the moment.. how do people deal with "mature" teenagers in their lives, without murdering each other?

Take my 19 year old Son for example, he's been away at Uni for most of last year and is now back home for the Summer. He seems to have discovered the joys of "going out" more than would seem feasible to even the most hardened of party animals, and is quite the social butterfly at the moment. I think we've seen him about three times so far in the last three months and each time his "pit stop" at home consists of a dropping off of washing and a loading up on beer, money and fry-ups then buggering off for weeks again! Of course constant reminders about getting a job to fund these activities or hints about prepping for next term seem to serve no purpose but to irritate both parties! Seems like only last month he'd be perfectly happy to hang around with us pensioners and take in a weekend trip away or an evening watching a film or a visit to the pub for conversation and a game of cards, how quickly things change! 

Still, I suppose I mustn't grumble, despite his lack of awareness of the art of self-sufficiency, he's generally a good lad, doesn't get into trouble and seems to succeed at his studies (so far!) It feels like things don't change for years then all of a sudden you're dealing with a different person (almost) and a new relationship has to be carved out, new understandings and new compromises etc. it takes some getting used to I must say.