h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Sorry to hear about your personal problems, Bel. It is good of you to share them with us. I hope that your son finds a peaceful place in life, either living with you or somewhere else, and that whatever happens, everybody eventually accepts it.

I know my children will probably want to leave home eventually (although with the price of housing in Dublin, it might be many years away), but I hope they'll always feel welcome to stay as well.

Thank you, Gnomon.

I now have arranged that my son can be here any time he wants to be here and he comes to see us (his brother and me) frequently but avoids meeting his dad.
He'll start his voluntary social year in August, and expects to move into a flat with his friend by the end of August (both his friends he's staying with now still live with their parents).
He'll still be close enough to come here whenever he feels the need to.