Seriously Hard Concepts for the Teenage Mind to Grasp
- Asking before taking something
- Not putting things back where they belong (even if they are yours)
- Thinking that parents are made of money
I have had a bad week as far as kids go… I feel that I am not respected lately. There is truth in the saying you’re only as strong as the weakest link. This household cannot run as smoothly as I would like when the are sooooo many weak links.
I actually feel like a nag and I am sick of hearing my own voice… I may just let things unravel and see what happens.
My beef for today… I will (I hope) get over it.
unfortunately, my kid can survive things unravelling much longer than I can before I have to re-ravel. lol
Wow, V….I just went through a huge respect “set-back” with my teen today….flat refusal to comply with my very simple request (all stemming from all three of your points above, plus cleaning up after himself).
I had to make a decision right then to either “enforce my will and authority” through sudden and swift anger (which I am very capable of….and good at), or take a different tact: one of patience and longsuffering (something I am horrible at).
Today I chose the latter, figuring I need the practice, considering my new career and all (cop), and I will calmly be discussing his options: rent in the form of money, or a serious effort to take up his share of the household burdens.
I don’t think he was expecting a calm response today, and now I think he is shook more than if I had exploded!
Keep ‘em on their toes….I’ll pray for you on this, V!
Well, my son has been told to leave and think thing through a bit… it was not good for either of us to be living together at this moment. He is 21 soon and needs a serious wake up call.
Hello… you have to be productive in this world… no more handouts son etc.
Yes, the leaving part is an option….not quite reached here yet, but within possibility.
I will certainly pray for you, your son and your family, V, this is very heartfelt….
Mine are 4 and 2, so of course they don’t understand any of that.
You mean, it just doesn’t improve? Oy.
Michael, it can get tough, but if you build a strong foundation, they eventually rest on it. They just like to test the more shaky ground as they want to develop independently from their parents.
The grass is always greener, or so it seems.
Anyway, I have heard from him, and he agrees that he needed this to kick start his life into action instead of relying on us so much for absolutely everything.
He has been out of school now for nearly four years and has not had a full time job, and I could probably count how many weeks of work he has had altogether on two hands if I added up the hours of part time work.
He has tried to live the Rock Star life, as a free loader, and it is time for a huge reality check. Nothing does it better than saying. Well, your on your own.
Does the Prodigal Son ring a bell?
Thanks for your prayers and comments guys. They are much appreciated.
V
Hey, I hear ya. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of tough love.
I knew you would Carla…
The term tough love is tough not only on the young adult, but even on the parents.
I hated doing it, it was/is one of the toughest things as a parent to do.
I think it’s the toughest on the parents as we have loved them since we first laid eyes on them and don’t want them to hurt. I’m really lousy at the tough love thing. But of course, we know that the only way for any of us to know God and ultimately be brought to that place where we call on His name and choose to serve Him is by going through a refining process.