You two are stuck in a feedback loop. It’s a really tough spot to be in until you realize it and work on it.

Anxiety in a hostile environment (or the perception of being in a hostile environment) will be met with reciprocal hostility. And then things escalate, and then repressed, and it continues. You two are fanning each others flames. You may be more alike than you realize or care to admit.

Good luck finding a therapist. Remember it’s a lot like dating…you may get lucky on the first meeting, you might find yourself completely incompatible with them, or you may find someone that you’re comfortable enough with to build a good rapport with over multiple sessions.

You talked an awful lot about your kid.

How are you doing?

Your 18yo sounds like a grown up version of my 4.5 year old. Honestly if you said the arguments were about potty training we’d be talking about the same person.

How were they, when they started living with you full time, with regards to pottying? Difficult? Regressive? Headstrong?

I ask because how you are doing, because I started seeing a therapist for my own struggles with parenting. And it’s probably the best thing I’ve ever done. It really gives a chance to reflect and get honest constructive feedback on how I approach and handle interactions and discipline and whatnot. Most importantly, how to deal with stresses of parenting a difficult kid and not criticize yourself too harshly at every setback.

Please, if you haven’t already, consider a therapist for you, preferably one who specializes in family issues.

That’s actually a requirement?

Do they have to hold up the Holy Grail and yell out “Jewmanji”, too?

Did you pay by the SLOC?

It’s a shame. Linus was and is far more deserving of respect for his contributions to technology than Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. Probably even Woz. But he’s by far down the line in terms of fame and fortune. Except maybe Woz.