Teenage Boy Spends First Day Newly Homeless After Parents Kick Him Out On His 18th Birthday
By: Nia Tipton
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A teenager revealed that he was now homeless after being kicked out by his mother.
The video of the unnamed teenage boy sharing his story was posted on @homesforhomeless' TikTok page and immediately struck a chord with viewers who shamed both his parents and any other parents who feel as if their child needs to leave their home once they turn 18.
The 18-year-old opened up about his mother telling him he would need to leave as soon as he turned of age. "My mom basically said, once you turn 18 you're on your own," he recalled. The only word to describe the look in the young man's eyes as he relays his story is heartbreak.
He said that since being kicked out, he's now in Salt Lake City looking for a place to stay for the night as he figures out a way to find his way back to California. When the person interviewing him asked if he was stranded out there, the young man confirmed that he was.
"How long have you been out on the streets?" the teenager was asked. He responded that this was his first day being homeless which was also his 18th birthday. The teen also explained that he was trying his hardest to get back to California because he was trying to finish his last year of high school.
When asked if he had three wishes, what would they be, the 18-year-old replied, "That my father was still alive, to see my sisters, and to get home." Unfortunately, this young man's distressing story is the mindset that many parents in this country have about their children turning 18 and needing to leave home.
Moving out at 18 is financially impossible for many people in America.
With the rise of rent and housing prices, mixed in with inflation and the deteriorating availability of jobs, freshly-turned 18-year-olds stand no chance of being able to financially support themselves without any help from their parents or families.
With the average American debt being $58,604 and 77% of American households having at least some type of debt, it's becoming less and less possible for even adults to afford to live on their own, much less teenagers.
It's also the fact that newly-turned 18-year-olds still need emotional and psychological support from their parents. Transitioning into adulthood can be a challenging and overwhelming time, and having a stable and supportive family environment can greatly assist them in this process.
In the comments section, people shared their bewilderment that a parent would just cast aside their child without a second glance.
"The pain in his eyes is just insane. I hope he succeeds in life and shows her he didn't even need her," one TikTok user wrote.
Another user added, "I literally can't wrap my head around this. My daughter is approaching that age & I'd keep her with me forever if I could. I will NEVER turn her away."
"She didn't even let him finish school. That's a heartless mother. My kids always have a place in my home no matter their age PERIOD," a third user pointed out.
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I voluntarily moved out on my 18th birthday.
My first apartment was a crappy one bedroom that cost me 200 a month. At least I was on the third floor and right on the beach.
What's the big deal? Mormons have been kicking male children out for decades.
Just more wives for their fathers.
Exactly, all kinds of speculation here today, no big deal, business as usual.
And you could join in, you know, actually be human and talk or you could stop repeating yourself and trying to put others down and leave well enough alone.
Not one person cares about your condescension and if it keeps up will be deleted.
A few questions, like how did he get to Utah...
Still, I don't think I could throw a kid out on the street.
That's what I was thinking. He somehow got to Utah in one day only to want to go back to Cali. Also, it's July 4th. He's not out of school yet? This kid's full of crap. Maybe he should have been nicer to his mom.
We kicked our girls out, but only after we made sure they had a job that could support them, or college dorm to move into.
1 couldn't wait to get out, and graduates at the end of this coming semester. She is currently interning and has already been offered a job at the end of her internship.
The other turned out not to be college material, but is now on her own with a job that will cover the cost of her room and board.
However they both know that we are here if they need it, and often help them out with their unexpected costs (like 4 new tires for $800).
Same. And my son has been an absolute little shit at times. But the thought of him hungry, cold, in danger on the streets? Nope, can't handle it.
According to the article he still has his last year of high school to finish. A question is how and why is he in Utah?
A lot of holes. If it was his first day on the street, he went a long way in one day.
I was thinking there's a lot of info missing too. maybe he woke up there, or the kid could be a juvenile delinquent. not an expert in family law, I think mommy is responsible thru his 18th year until the day the kid turns 19.
In California it is on his 18th Birthday. If he was from NY is would be 21 I believe.
18 years in California.
Regardless of when his birthday is, it strikes me as pretty bad not to support him until he graduates high school at a bare minimum.
When my son's father and I divorced, the child care arrangement stipulated that he was entitled to child support until he was 21, so long as he was still in school, be it college or a trade school. And I didn't have to ask for that; it was just the standard arrangement.
Maybe Mom dropped him off? That would be uber extreme in my opinion, but who knows?...
That would be unusually cruel to drop the kid off a couple of states over.
Though people never stop surprising me.
It's all speculation, as you noted not much info. Perhaps the mother put him on a bus to Salt Lake because that's where the deceased father hailed from, perhaps he's her step son and she doesn't want him around any longer than she is responsible for? Who knows, as you said lots of holes
The kid has several options.
First he could join the military- they are desperate for recruits. If he can pass the physical and has brain cells enough to follow orders; he will be set for food, shelter, and even get paid. The military will make sure he gets educated- though it may not be the education he wants. He will also be eligible for free college once he is done. This is the route I would take if I were in his shoes.
“The military will make sure he gets educated- though it may not be the education he wants…”
And he could possibly parlay that indoctrination into a stint with the ‘proud boys’ or any number of paramilitary militias.
What percentage of Vets are in paramilitary militias?
Do tell if you wish to assert your point…not your mule…but do any of the 1/6 convictions jog your memory?
Bigotry of those who were brave enough to serve on full display in that comment.
“…brave enough to serve…”
…as too often a last resort. Kudos to those that served sans that caveat and all honor to them. Let us never forget their sacrifices, but let us not diminish their sacrifices by lumping in those that had absolutely no business being enlisted.
I wondered if you were clueless on how exceedingly small the percentage of Vets joining a militia is, and I got my answer.
In concept, since I do not trust the facts of this story, at the very minimum, the mother should have set his graduation from high school as the end of support. And this should have been planned so that the kid has a soft landing.
But beyond that, the mother should support the kid through his full education. That is, he needs to learn a trade or go to a university and gain marketable professional skills.
Bottom line, tossing an unprepared kid out to fend for himself without marketable skills is cruel and irresponsible. Seems to me, the kid should try to get into the military.
Again, in concept, since I doubt this story is fully told.
I saw a special report about an extreme sect of the LDS church. They kicked out boys when they got to be teenagers or of age to keep down the male population. These kids have no skills and only knew their church life.
That was a thought of mine, he almost fits the profile. Maybe he didn't want to admit it and made up a story.
I don’t understand. Did his parents drive him from California to Utah and then kick him out? Did he travel to Utah on his own?
There’s more to this story we aren’t getting. No way to judge his situation. I’m in no hurry to kick my own kids out, but maybe this kid is an asshole who drives his parents insane. Maybe they’re too poor to keep feeding him. Who knows?
That hasn’t stopped some here.