My son made me cry today.

<p>I love my two boys so much. But they refuse to be sentimental or demostrative, it is just not in their nature. They get it from their dad. Just need to say that up top.</p>

<p>Oldest son is a 21 year old senior living in DC. He lives off campus with three other guys in a neighborhood that is not the worst, but not the best. They have been living in the house since the first of June since they were all either in summer school or working in DC over the summer. Anyway, Son has had nothing but bad luck since moving into the house. Early in July he was out for bike ride with his roommates when about four blocks from the house he got a flat tire. He sent his roommates on and he started walking back to the house (this was about four in the afternoon.) Out of nowhere twelve teenagers came up and surrounded him, started trashing talking, punched him in the head, knocked off his glasses, and took his wallet. An off duty cop happened to be across the street and helped him chase them off. I had to help him cancel his cards, his ATM, etc. and Fedexed him his passport so he could have some ID.</p>

<p>A week later while they were sleeping someone came onto the screened-in porch, cut the cable and stole son’s bike along with his roommate’s bike. I helped him file his claim with College Student Insurance (which worked like a dream by the way) which I had set up for him years ago.</p>

<p>He comes home for a couple weeks in between Summer Session and Fall session. When he gets back to DC he discovers the basement had flooded. His bedroom is the only thing in the basement. Fortunately, he only lost a rug and the sheets on his air mattress. He calls me, I tell him to mix bleach and water and scrub down the floor and the mattress before sleeping on them again. I mail him new sheets and mattress cover.</p>

<p>Las night he calls. Friday night he was alone in the house, all three roomates away for the night. He wakes up at 3 am to find three men in his room. At first he thought it was his roommates returning early, but when he spoke to them they took off. On the way, they stole his roommate’s car so they must have been in the house long enough to find the keys. He called the police on that one. Gets the landlord to come out and change all the locks on the house. Then last night all four roommates were home, they were in the kitchen about 10:30 when they hear a sound downstairs. They go downstairs, find that someone has broken the window, gone through his bedroom, stolen his computer, out the back basement door and stole his other roommates bicycle on the way out of the yard.</p>

<p>So this morning I called him before his first class, earlier then I thought. I woke him up. I tell him to call me on my cell once he has had his shower and his coffee. About an hour later he calls me – tells me he accidentally dialed his grandmother first. We get things started on his insurance claim for the computer. I hang up and call my mom to make sure she is not fussing. She tells me my son had called her this morning and said “Oh, I’ve got the wrong number. I am trying to call my mom. My house got broken into last night. She will fix it. She can fix anything.” I hung up the phone and burst into tears. He is 21 and still thinks his mom can fix anything. How did I raise such a deluded kid?</p>

<p>At least he has faith in you. Sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders. You’ll know what to do with the insurance claim. :)</p>

<p>OMG ,that is five really terrible incidents in just three months of living there! Many hugs as I could not take this as a parent. I’d be worried night and day at this point. </p>

<p>As an aside, the way your son says, “my mom can fix anything,” probably is not so literal and more means, “i know who to call when I have a major problem.” I mean my kids would call us for these things for support/advice. </p>

<p>Anyway, I don’t know how he can still live there. Way too many really serious incidents and it sounds like no end in sight…that would deeply concern me. I don’t know if there is a way out of this lease…after all, the home has been broken into three times (twice with residents present). (not dismissing the flooding or the assault on the street but just giving justifiable reasons to get out of a lease…the unit is not safe).</p>

<p>That’s terrible! I’m a son, and I can find some similarities between me and your son! When something major happens, and I’m not entirely sure how to deal with it, I just ask my mom. My reasoning is, whatever she does will produce a better outcome. That and I tend to get a little panicky. But geeeez, remind me to stay away from that neighborhood! I’ve lived in LA and Chicago, and I haven’t had as much encounters with criminals as your son in DC!</p>

<p>I’m with soozievt. Tell him to get the heck outta there! But, your question was about “My mom can fix anything.” I hear my D say that about me and I know it really just means she is in awe of my abilities (and proud) and hopes that she will be like that, too, one day. I’m sure that your son feels the same way about you.</p>

<p>Gosh, your story is bringing tears to my eyes, too. :(</p>

<p>I think they need to move, and fast. Sometimes criminals keep hitting the same place, when they think there’s still things for them to steal, and they keep getting away with it. There is very high crime in some places in DC. There has got to be somewhere safer, whether it’s an apartment near campus or not. Next time they might have guns. I hope at least he can get out of there. It’s not worth it.</p>

<p>I hope my sons feel that way about me too.</p>

<p>I was up half the night sifting through Craig’s List for Rentals in DC. E-mailed a couple of them to my son before remembering that they stole his laptop. DUH! He says he can use the computers at school for that.</p>

<p>He says he doesn’t want to move-- the other guys though are pushing to move. My Husband insists that he move. Son is stubborn, but I think this time he will give in.</p>

<p>And I know that he doesn’t mean I can literally fix every thing. I am just so touched that he still thinks I am the one to call, cause heavens knows I don’t think I can fix ANYTHING. I mostly wing it.</p>

<p>Are you paying rent? He is still in college? In that case, I think you can insist he moves as this is causing you tremendous justifiable concern and it is not safe. How many incidents should it take? There are in person robberies and assaults. And several! If he were on his own and not in school, perhaps you could not insist but if you are paying for his college housing off campus, I think you should be able to strongly get this to be changed. And even the roomies think so and so he is in the minority. I would have trouble sleeping over so many serious incidents. The fact that so many incidents were in person is what would do it for me, which is worse them someone stealing things when you are not home.</p>

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<p>5 acts of violence or burglary in three months, and this neighborhood “is not the worst”?:eek: God, I shudder to think what constitutes a worst neighborhood! </p>

<p>It’s sweet that your DS thinks you’re Wonder Woman and can fix anything, but the best thing you could do for him is to find him another place to live—a safe place!—before he is physically harmed again or worse. I would quite literally be sick with worry over my son’s living circumstances, if I were in your shoes. Try to help him and his roommates get out of their lease and find another house or apartment. Even if they had to forfeit money to do so, it would be worth it. Don’t let those tears of joy over his conviction that you can “fix anything” turn into tears of sorrow because something horrific has occurred!</p>

<p>“Don’t let those tears of joy over his conviction that you can “fix anything” turn into tears of sorrow because something horrific has occurred!”</p>

<p>Totally agree. It is excellent that you’re already looking for him. I’d imagine with pressure from you two, and that his roomates want to go also, odds are good they’ll move. Thank God.</p>

<p>Don’t worry guys, we are working on it. Had his roommate look at two other places today – when he got to school his major professor told he would flunk him if he didn’t move. I think he is getting the idea.</p>

<p>The police are pretty sure they have been targeted. They are the only student house in a block of single family homes on a short street just off a busy commercial street. They are also they only house on the block to have been hit. The police are pretty sure the last two incidents are related, but the stolen bike probably not. He said even the cops told them they should move.</p>

<p>lololu, I am the same way with my mom and dad. the moment something is broken I’m like… they will know the answer on how to fix this!! if they dont know it, they’ll know what direction to send me in. :)</p>

<p>"Don’t worry guys, we are working on it. "</p>

<p>I’m so glad. See, he knew you would help to fix it!</p>

<p>dd had her laptop stolen last week in a quiet little college town - her dad said to be careful - the thieves know that once they steal the laptop the college kid will get a new one in a week - he should hide it or carry it.</p>

<p>The one night that I didn’t park in my garage I had someone smash my car window and steal my GPS. I got the window fixed and bought a new GPS, which I am keeping in my house, and am never parking outside again. I live in a really good area too… it’s just someone from a not good area must have been roaming our streets.</p>

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<p>Now THERE’S an advisor. Glad you have some extra muscle behind getting him to move.</p>

<p>Good thoughts, prayers, and safety juju being sent y’all’s direction.</p>

<p>Horrible. Get him out of there.</p>

<p>You cry because you son thinks you can fix anything? My mom cries because I try to do everything myself.</p>

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<p>Absolutely! There are some things that happen that college insurance can’t cover. (My heart just about stopped when he recounted 3 strange men being in his home!)</p>

<p>Dude, the trick is that my son CAN do everything himself. Including knowing when he needs a little help. It just touches me that he still thinks of his mom as the first source of advice.</p>