Each week, local "women about town" Anjl Rodee and Marilynn Mee answer OnMilwaukee.com readers' questions about relationships, romance and whatever else is on your mind. They point out that this column is "for entertainment purposes only," but they mostly say that so they don't get sued. Send your questions to Anjl and Marilynn at anjlandmarilynn@staff.onmilwaukee.com.
Dear Anjl & Marilynn,
My kid has no ambition -- how do I get his 27-year-old ass off the couch and into college?
Dear Parental Doormat,
Marilynn: Your son has bigger problem than a lack of ambition or education -- he has parents allowing him to live at home and do nothing.
Anjl: Hey, at least he's on the couch and not in the basement building weapons and writing manifestos...
MM: How do you know he's not doing that during the night?
AR: Sociopaths wouldn't stoop to couch lounging during the day. Too bourgeois.
MM: Back to my original point: You need to ask yourself why you allow a 27-year-old to lay around on the couch all day ... I don't know if you've heard of this tough love thing, but it's time to give it a try. At 27, your son needs to either start working or go to school.
AR: Yeah, I agree with Marilynn. Give him a time frame that's reasonable; say, one month. That will give him time to save up for an apartment or find a roommate or something, but it sounds like you'd like him to get an education. I'd tell him he can continue living rent-free at home as long as he's enrolled with a full load of credits at school.
MM: Oh Anjl, you're always such a nice parent. I'm sorry, but at 27, living at home, he'd better have some money saved up. And if he doesn't, he'd better move out and make some.
AR: Let's refer back to your first comment, Marilynn: "He has parents allowing him ..." You can only give the freeloader half the blame when the parents let this go on for almost 10 years after high school. The situation is what it is, and needs to be addressed starting at this point. If you want him to go to school, and it sounds like you do, let him keep his already overused childhood bedroom until he gets his degree, or moves in with a coed.
MM: No wonder your kids turned out so fabulous ... I hate you! I can't even make my dogs behave!
AR: I have some advice about that situation, too, but we'll save that for another column.
Anjl Rodee is a jack of all things right-brained. After a variety of odd jobs, from singing telegrams to ballroom dance instructor to weekend overnight DJ on Lazer 103, Anjl earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Mary College and settled down to a nice career as an award-winning artist. At night Anjl can be found playing with a variety of local bands. She currently fronts a classic band called Radio Doctors, and plays bass and accordion with her friend Chris Demay.
Marilynn Mee has been a fixture on Milwaukee radio for most of her adult life. After a short stint on WQFM, she joined Lazer 103 at its inception. After several years as a Bob and Brian sidekick, Marilynn became midday host and music director, earning national recognition from the likes of Billboard magazine and Radio & Records. She is currently the midday host on 96.5 WKLH. Marilynn is a well-known animal lover, lending her name and free time to humane societies and animal rescue groups.
Anjl is a mother and grandmother and is in a committed relationship. Marilynn is single and mom to 2.5 dogs and a one-eyed cat. Anjl and Marilynn both hail from the greater Milwaukee area and have been best friends for 20 years.
