The Coolest Guy Ever

DEAR AMY: My 37-year-old stepson has moved in with his father and me.
His life as an up-and-coming rap star has not worked out, and he has no
place left to go. He has never worked a real job. He is heavily tattooed and
pierced, and he weighs 350 pounds, so it’s not as if he can work just
anywhere. His father and I are both working minimum-wage jobs and
can’t afford counseling or therapy for him. I would be depressed if I were
he, but he seems perfectly happy to sleep until noon, eat and play video
games all day. Any advice? -- LK in Oregon

DEAR LK: Your husband is the best (really the only) person to address
this. He could have prevented this in the first place by insisting that his
son find other housing. (It's much harder to get a carbuncle off the
couch once he has established himself.) You could help by doing some
research on job-training programs in your community. Your stepson should
demonstrate the ability to get off the couch.

Your husband should make his expectations clear, and give his son a
deadline to get it together and start contributing to the household -- or move
on. As a last resort, you could try "torture by soft rock." Playing
Captain and Tennille recordings at home might hasten his departure.