DS19 hated me for a long, long time. He could barely be civil to me and if he was invited to go somewhere with the family, his first words were, "Is mom going?"

His hatred for me was easily the most difficult thing I have ever endured. He absolutely oozed hostility. He couldn't wait to leave home after his senior year--in fact, he quit school(age 18) with 6months left to graduate and joined a Disney On Ice tour for 4-5 months just to get away from me.
And that was the turning point... He learned that out on the road, nobody picks you up when you fall down, nobody cares if you're sick, nobody's there at the end of a tough day to make you some dinner or share a hug. Just a bunch of roadies living the hard life with no end in sight. It was the
best education he could have gotten. He left the tour and begged to move back home. I was very reluctant because I was really enjoying the calmness of our home, after all those years of turmoil. I had begun to develop a deeper relationship with his younger sister, who always seemed to get pushed aside by his drama.
I have to say, to my great surprise the hatred is gone.

DS has talked a little about his road life, but mostly how it helped him know what he
didn't want. Not that it's been a bed of roses--in fact we're devising a plan to get him out and on his feet now. But DS is respectful, has a job,helps with housework, asks to take trips with us, and even brings home DVDs he thinks I'll like.
What a difference a year can make. Don't give up hope, Marseeya. Your time will come eventually. All you can do until then is continue to love him and not get sucked into fighting with him.