Thanks, everyone.

 

I'm still mulling over my next move.  I understand and agree with what you said, Paradox, and I am pretty much of the same mind.  My son has been disordered all his life.  He was adopted.  I used to think that that should have nothing to do with anything, but of course that is naive.  It takes a great deal of maturity and a healthy sense of self-worth for an adoptee to accept and come to terms with the reality of his or her beginnings and he's just not there yet.  I can accept that I never can trust anything he says.  I can also accept that I never can have money in my purse or in the house.  I also know that when he has stolen from me, the only response is to confront and never back down.  I've learned all those strategies.  My concern now is the escalation of the bad behaiour--we're not talking about the odd $20 anymore.  And of course paramount of all my concerns is my desire as a mother that he find some way to be successful in a civilized society--and be safe..

 

At the moment my son has gone underground.  I have no idea where he is or how to contact him.

 

I'll check out the general forum when I have a moment.  I came to this forum specifically to address this situation as a parenting issue.

 

Thanks again, all of you.