Hash run, I've always maintained that if they put a liquor store every couple of clicks I would finish a heck of a lot faster.....
"Controlling" a child and controlling a spouse are two very different things. I can see why though, it brings back a bad taste. What kind of poor decisions? Out of character decisions? If so, you have to ask yourself what else is going on? Could be that it is all becoming real for him. 18 is still a baby, psychologically his brain still has another 7 or 8 years before he is fully capable of stopping the "That looks like a good idea, why not?" impulse.
Do any of these poor choices have dire consequences? Is he just scared maybe that he is growing up?