Stacy
03-20-2005, 11:27 AM
Hey Doc,
You recommend 12 hours of work a week, but I can't seem to get my almost-18-yr-old Junior to lighten his schedule. He just returned from 4 mos of substance abuse rehab and I feel that all this working, on top of school is too much. And it's not just school around the corner, he's in a private school which he commutes by train. Sometimes he gets his work done on the train if he doesn't use the time to catch up on sleep. We talked about 3 (4-4/12 hr) days of work a week. Now he seems so money hungry that he's going to work 4 and this week he filled in for someone and said he's probably going to go to 5 days. He's even scheduling his outpatient sessions on the day work is closed. His drug counselor suggested I "back off", saying that at least he's staying busy. Busy is fine but none of the busy is fun busy. He enjoys ceramics and I found a program for Wed nights but he only went once before returning to his job. And there's rarely any time for family stuff. I think all of this will cause too much stress and perhaps become a trigger to him returning to old drug use behaviors. I also am afraid that if he doesn't work to satisfy his money hunger, he may consider selling drugs again. UGH! I'm really trying NOT to be overbearing and overcontrolling. I'm also trying to voice my concerns and allow him to make his own choices and his own mistakes. I feel boxed in and I think he does too. What do you suggest for me, the parent in this situation?
Thank you, thank you.....Stacy
You recommend 12 hours of work a week, but I can't seem to get my almost-18-yr-old Junior to lighten his schedule. He just returned from 4 mos of substance abuse rehab and I feel that all this working, on top of school is too much. And it's not just school around the corner, he's in a private school which he commutes by train. Sometimes he gets his work done on the train if he doesn't use the time to catch up on sleep. We talked about 3 (4-4/12 hr) days of work a week. Now he seems so money hungry that he's going to work 4 and this week he filled in for someone and said he's probably going to go to 5 days. He's even scheduling his outpatient sessions on the day work is closed. His drug counselor suggested I "back off", saying that at least he's staying busy. Busy is fine but none of the busy is fun busy. He enjoys ceramics and I found a program for Wed nights but he only went once before returning to his job. And there's rarely any time for family stuff. I think all of this will cause too much stress and perhaps become a trigger to him returning to old drug use behaviors. I also am afraid that if he doesn't work to satisfy his money hunger, he may consider selling drugs again. UGH! I'm really trying NOT to be overbearing and overcontrolling. I'm also trying to voice my concerns and allow him to make his own choices and his own mistakes. I feel boxed in and I think he does too. What do you suggest for me, the parent in this situation?
Thank you, thank you.....Stacy