Are you truly ready to be on your own at 18 / Are you an adult?

I think it's an individual thing about when someone is ready. I don't think it's a biological thing that says someone must be ready at 18 - but society (at least American) tells people they should be. I'd say know your kids, and when they're 18, if they aren't ready to live on their own, you can still give them more responsibility (possibly already start before they turn 18) around the house. Maybe even pay rent. Not the amount someone would pay if they already lived on their own, but a portion of a part time job or something like that. But, don't just toss someone at 18 out just because they should be ready. Take the time to prepare them to be ready. But, I'm talking completely theoretically. I've never had kids or worked in a job where I had to contemplate these things.

"However if they throw out a 17 yr old it is abuse" Unfortunately in Ontario UNLESS the laws have changed a great deal..thats not the case...I was kicked out when I was 13 yrs old and not a damn thing could be done about it...And it was very obvious that there was much more to the story however proving it and a child being able to pay for legal help is next to impossible...I also know that in Niagara Region at least when I child 16 or older but UNDER the age of 18 runs away the parent CANNOT physically force that child to come home...The parent will be charged...How messed up is that?!

To me, an 18 year old is still a baby. They are not truly equipt to take care of themselves at 18. My parents did that to us. We were not prepared and it was a hard life until around age 25. I will never do that to my children. They are welcome to live at home until they are truly ready to step out on their own and even then, we will help them and the door will always be open just in case. That's what parents should do.

Well here is something to take your shock to a new level. I live in Scotland which is part of the UK and here we have many of our own laws that differ to England so you may not know about some of it. Here in Scotland you can technically leave home and set up your own house and even be housed in a council house regardless of whether it is their own personal choice to move out their parents or not. And it isn't uncommon at all. You can leave school at 16 and leave all forms of education and that is also not uncommon at all. You can get married when you are 16 without any parental consent whatsoever. You can have a baby at 16 and would be provided with any benefits that you are entitled to and would not be offered any more help than someone alot older than yourself. So if you think that 18 is young then think about Scotland. Here is Scotland a shocking 75% of children are living in poverty (not sufficient clothing, shelter, food, etc.) But yeah I do definatley think that 16 is far too young and 18 is a bit too young but I left home at a young age (I am back home now after years), I left school at 15 with the pretence of going to college full time and I haven't been married or had a baby but I know plenty of people who did.

I don't think everyone is ready to be on there own at 18. Now in days more then ever people aren't ready to be on there own. Sure it is funny on t.v. when a grown man still lives with his mom, but if you think about it not everyone grows up at the same pace. Some are forced to grow up and some are "forced" to stay with there parents for the simple fact that they need to help them.