Couple Says Son Is ‘Lazy’ And Spends Time Vaping – But He Says He’s Determined To Become Famous
“My 20-year-old stepson is entitled, lacks motivation, and hasn’t chosen a path for his life,” says Stephen. “Damion doesn’t have a job because he’s waiting for his social media career to skyrocket, whether it be with music or with his gaming, or just being famous for being famous.” Stephen and Carrie say Carrie’s son, Damion, wants to be a singer and a social media influencer, but he spends most of his time in his bedroom sleeping and vaping. “He just thinks everything’s going to work out for him,” Carrie says. “He doesn’t put much effort.” Carrie admits she does everything for Damion. Does she believe she enables him? Hear part of Carrie and Stephen’s conversation with Dr. Phil in the video above. On Friday’s episode, "'I’m Addicted to Vaping!'," hear what Damion says about his dreams and how he plans to accomplish them. Check local listings to see where you can tune in. TELL DR. PHIL YOUR STORY: Hopelessly in need of Dr. Phil's Help?
Video Transcript
STEPHEN: My 20-year-old stepson is entitled, lacks motivation, and hasn't chosen a path for his life. My stepson's goals are unrealistic and unattainable for him. He wants to be an influencer. But in order to do that, you really have to work the craft.
CARRIE: My son, Damion wants to be a singer. I barely hear him sing. He just thinks everything's going to work out for him. He doesn't practice. He doesn't put much effort. My son's laziness and motivation is 11 out of a 10.
Damion vapes nicotine on a daily basis. He was 16 when he started vaping. All my son does is sleep in play video games.
STEPHEN: When he's playing his video games, he gives tutorials on where to go, how to unlock certain contents, how to beat certain levels. Damion likes to post dances on social media. He loves himself.
Damion doesn't have a job because he's waiting for his social media career to skyrocket, whether it be with music, or with his gaming, or just being famous for being famous. He feels like me and his mom should take care of everything, his friends, his food.
CARRIE: I do everything for Damion. It's the norm for me.
STEPHEN: My wife was buying his clothes. He was doing his laundry. She was giving the food. She was giving him money to hang out with his friends. She was 100% fully supporting Damion's life. I've tried everything to help get him self-sufficient. My stepson has been fired from at least eight jobs. He might be turning 21, but mentally, I feel like he's 16. Damion's my son as far as I'm concerned. And we can't continue to foster this behavior.
DR. PHIL: You've got a lazy young man on your hands. Is that what you're telling me?
CARRIE: We sure do.
STEPHEN: Oh, yeah. Pretty much. You know, we've tried just about everything to kind of get him going and get them started, let him realize that he's 20. And that these jobs are really one of the million, a lottery ticket jobs, you know. That you guys actually work for money, like the rest of us.
DR. PHIL: Carrie, where are you on what Stephen is saying? Are you enabling this young man? Are you making it possible for him to be lazy, to feel entitled, to sit around and play video games, to have this vision of getting rich on the internet. Are you doing that?
CARRIE: Oh, yeah. I am. I pay for everything. As long as he's doing well and not getting in trouble, he usually gets whatever he needs.
DR. PHIL: OK, you just said doing well. Define doing well.
CARRIE: He's not getting in trouble. He's copping up around the house.
DR. PHIL: That's a pretty low bar. And you find this vaping habit, do you buy this stuff for him?
CARRIE: I did when he started turning 18. And then when he turned 21, I told him to do it himself.
DR. PHIL: So you have actually been buying this for him and giving it to him and letting him stay in his room to become an influencer and an R&B singer?
CARRIE: Yes. I just need to get rid of the guilt. I get upset because I'm just afraid for him to go out in this world. Like I don't think he's ready.
STEPHEN: You know, as a father I feel like I'm failing him because I don't have him ready to leave the house. And it's not about him leaving the house, it's just about him earning a decent living, being able to take care of himself.
DR. PHIL: And Carrie, you've not done him any favors. And you're not doing him any favors if you don't require him to step up, man up, and start pulling his own weight.
