pellman
02-28-2007, 04:31 PM
Dear Dr. Bradley,
My 19 year old son has a job and attends community college (although after his first semester, he is on academic probation). He lives at home and spends most of his free time with junior and senior high school kids from the local continuation high school - drinking and smoking pot. i know they're even doing it in our house because we've found the empty containers and pot paraphernalia.
When we confront him he becomes angry and beligerant followed by apologies and hugs a day or two after - only to revert back to the same behavior. We have tried to have agreements and understandings about the house rules, but he will not comply. nor will he go to therapy.
I've heard your advice about locking him out if he refuses to comply with our house rules, but he is 19 - we're afraid he could end up with a criminal record that will follow him the rest of his life or end up in a wheelchair, or something. we know he suffers from low self esteem and has a lot of pent up anger from abuse he took from his father on weekend visits (we just recently found out about this from his older sister.)
We're heartsick and worried and look forward to your reply.
My 19 year old son has a job and attends community college (although after his first semester, he is on academic probation). He lives at home and spends most of his free time with junior and senior high school kids from the local continuation high school - drinking and smoking pot. i know they're even doing it in our house because we've found the empty containers and pot paraphernalia.
When we confront him he becomes angry and beligerant followed by apologies and hugs a day or two after - only to revert back to the same behavior. We have tried to have agreements and understandings about the house rules, but he will not comply. nor will he go to therapy.
I've heard your advice about locking him out if he refuses to comply with our house rules, but he is 19 - we're afraid he could end up with a criminal record that will follow him the rest of his life or end up in a wheelchair, or something. we know he suffers from low self esteem and has a lot of pent up anger from abuse he took from his father on weekend visits (we just recently found out about this from his older sister.)
We're heartsick and worried and look forward to your reply.