What You Should Know About Emancipation

M
y son hates me.  I can feel it.  I went to church today with my daughter, and son whom I borrowed from his foster parents for family day.  He did not even look at me to say, “Peace be with you,” but he offered peace to others churchgoers.

He wanted allowance.  I had him do chores—wash the van, vacuum the carpet in the house, clean his room, and patch up the hole he made in the wall a month ago. He earned $20, easy.  It did not take him an hour. He smiled at me for the first time today.


Then we went to downtown outdoor mall.  After that he asked to go to my house and pick up more clothes to take to his foster home.  He asked to be dropped off three hours early.  I took him.  He hugged his sister goodbye but not me.

I try to set the pain aside.  He is annoyed with me.  After all, I am the uncool mom who refuses to buy him cigarettes. I  remind him about rules, push him to go to school . . .  all those annoying stuff.

What hurts me the most is what he asked about before I dropped him off—emancipation.  He wants to get a job at the chicken fast food place,  get a place to live when he finishes his time at the foster home, and live independently from me.

I asked him how he can afford his own apartment going to school, working only part-time at a minimum wage.  How can he afford insurance, food, clothes, contact lenses . . .
He said, he does not know. He said he will research about them.

All this plans stemmed from a future job interview  at the chicken fast food restaurant?  I wonder.  He is already planning to leave me before he gets a job.  Oh my.

I just forwarded him information to his e-mail tonight about emancipation.  What does he need to know?

What you should know about emancipation

• Emancipation means gaining legal independence from parents before turning 18.
• The Court will require minors to prove that it is for their best interest before granting it.
• Minors with strong reasons may be granted it.  However, courts are very hesitant about it.
• In a few cases, emancipation can be granted—

1. For minors’ financial independence like in a case of a teen with large amount of money but with parents he does not trust.
2. If a minor gets married before becoming an adult can be a reason for emancipation.
3. If the parents are missing and the minor has been taking care of himself anyway. 

My son has not realized yet how lucky he is that he gets most things free from me.  Why hurry up, be an adult, and have to worry about bills, food, and work?

I hope he researches hard about cost of living independently.

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