Hi Bruce - it is as if they have had an empathy by-pass. I do believe that for many of our WAS it is a fight for personal survival, against all the dark forces that have welled up within them. This is very much a personal opinion,I hasten to add!
They aren't hugely interested in anything but themselves, and cannot see beyond their very personal concerns - my son's first year at university passed by h as if he were in a dream, compared with the interest that he took in his other sons' university careers. Tremendously hurtful for the kids.
I don't know whether you have seen Rollercoasterriders theory about 'Drop-ins' 'Drop-outs' and 'Droplets'? If you haven't here is a quick summary. Drop-ins are those that basicaly stay around, and in contact; Drop-outs are those they take off and move out, and droplets are the ones that come and go.
Snodderly [hope I am not misquoting here] expressed a view, I think that it is the weaker ones that stay more attached to the apron strings, and the stronger ones that go.
As for talking to us like adults - no they don't, in most cases that I see. But I don't think they know how to behave like an adult themselves. I truly believe that they are in some way re-discovering themselves.
