Gosh imagine if every teenager who flounced out of the parental home was entitled to sue for a handout:

"A New Jersey teenager who sued her parents for financial support after leaving home has lost the first round of her lawsuit. Cheerleader Rachel Canning, 18, sought $650 (£390) in weekly child support from her parents, the payment of the remainder of her tuition at her private high school, a fund for her future college tuition, and her lawyers’ fees.

I am reeling from the shocking news that DH has actually taken the bull by the horns and done something to avoid yet another Christmas day when we end up at the butt end of his 18, 22, 23 and 26 year old daughter's plans. I thought it would never happen. Every Christmas is organised around BM. The year before last they rolled up 2 hours late because dinner had 'overrun' at BMs, so we sat around waiting and waiting and eventually had to put newbornDS, DS2 and DD4 to bed before they turned up.

My husbands youngest brother just announced he is expecting a baby with his girlfriend. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that BM posted this comment on the FB announcement:
"Congratulations BIL and GF. Be lovely to have another baby niece/nephew xxx"

SD17 has just been round for a very rare visit, to help DH prepare for the funeral tomorrow. SD lived with us for over 2 years, before her multitude of issues, lies and self destructive behaviours, and DHs inability to address them, nearly drove me to a breakdown. I ended up disengaging to save my own sanity, and after a few months of failing to get my attention she went back to her mothers, and shortly after ended up in an eating disorders clinic.