tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post4904125809747214337..comments2024-03-26T18:32:50.307-05:00Comments on Taking the Long Way Home: The hardest job in the world....Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-35083602177384960172014-09-28T21:57:11.319-05:002014-09-28T21:57:11.319-05:00I've had a variety of experiences with my thre...I've had a variety of experiences with my three sons on this and other fronts. It would be so easy if they could vicariously learn from our own bad experiences by simply taking our advice, but how often does that actually happen, especially with a boy in this age range? The good thing is that he is definitely taking notice of what you are doing in your own life, the exercise, the lack of substance use, etc. Even if he isn't copying it all right now, I feel it's being thought about and banked. I hope you will all be able to keep talking about this as a family, that he won't be too private, too embarrassed, or too afraid of punishment to keep having conversations with you. It's really nice to share and get support from other parents, but consider taking the details out of this post for his future privacy. Mary @ Fit and Fedhttp://fitandfed.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-10146965398044957202014-09-28T06:39:48.729-05:002014-09-28T06:39:48.729-05:00Thanks Karen! I needed to write it, to put my thou...Thanks Karen! I needed to write it, to put my thoughts down. Writing helps me process tough situations! Parenting teenagers is so hard! I had an inkling it would be tough, but nothing prepared me for this.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-1173978276890244262014-09-28T06:38:28.783-05:002014-09-28T06:38:28.783-05:00Thanks, Liz! It helps me so much to talk to other ...Thanks, Liz! It helps me so much to talk to other parents who are going through this or have been there. It would be so easy to give in and let him just do his thing. It's so hard to be tough!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-12981810892629127192014-09-28T06:07:11.772-05:002014-09-28T06:07:11.772-05:00I have been horrible at reading blogs lately. I am...I have been horrible at reading blogs lately. I am sorry. I am sitting here reading your blog waiting for the sun to come up and I read this. Wow. I am sorry you are going through this. I too was this kid in high school. Not so much the pot smoker(I did try it!) but the kid that made my parents worry. I look back now and feel so bad at the things I did to my parents. But I came out OK and hopefully your son will too. You are a GOOD parent and it's obvious your love for him. I'm here if you need a friend. xoxoxo Thank you for sharing this. I know that it wasn't easy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06100867684364665764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-66412956823097462092014-09-27T15:10:15.136-05:002014-09-27T15:10:15.136-05:00This was particularly hard for me to read. I'v...This was particularly hard for me to read. I've gone through some stuff with my son and it brought it all back for me. I know how you feel. It's not easy. You are giving it and him the attention it needs and what he will get from it is that you are a loving and caring mom. Don't ever doubt or question what you do as a parent. Those are your instincts that keep your kids safe. I ❤️ you Wendy. Big hugs :)Bitchinrunnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08291128827427661285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-18561430078668822014-09-26T19:49:12.914-05:002014-09-26T19:49:12.914-05:00Thanks! I'm just not ready to come down hard o...Thanks! I'm just not ready to come down hard on him yet, I'm waiting to see where this all goes. Plus I have to save some of the punishments in case I need to use it.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-38424545637132112752014-09-26T19:48:27.729-05:002014-09-26T19:48:27.729-05:00I feel the exact same way--I think if we can head ...I feel the exact same way--I think if we can head this off, we'll be ok--I don't think he's seriously into anything and I hope he figures this one out before he gets into some serious trouble. Like most of us did...Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-29097947986267200112014-09-26T19:47:18.290-05:002014-09-26T19:47:18.290-05:00Thanks so much! I hope he comes to his senses soon...Thanks so much! I hope he comes to his senses soon!<br />Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-14398554730288501962014-09-26T19:05:16.516-05:002014-09-26T19:05:16.516-05:00Just wanted to say I"m sorry you are going th...Just wanted to say I"m sorry you are going through this. I absolutely dread these teenage days and I am convincing myself that my children will be the exception to every single other teenager ;) For what it's worth, in my opinion you handled that situation perfectly. You obviously had an impact on him. His behavior seems to reflect that he feels embarrassed and guilty. You can't control his behavior, but you can control how you respond to it and I think you are responding appropriately. I hope he finds happiness soon :)stephrunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-77916677687184451272014-09-26T11:21:33.983-05:002014-09-26T11:21:33.983-05:00Wow. I have so much respect for you and your husba...Wow. I have so much respect for you and your husband, trying to figure out the maze of your son's teenage life; I can only imagine how tough that must be! Thank you for sharing your journey with us; I'll never forget when my dad called me (I was already out of the house, in college) to tell me that my mom found weed in my younger brother's room; we are 7 years apart, and he was in high school at the time. He was grounded, too, and, of course, there were no cell phones for teenagers at that time, so he didn't have much to keep him busy, other than video games which he was not allowed to play during his punishment. I remember thinking they should be thankful that was all he was into, but I know it can become a much larger issue. It all worked out, eventually, and he's really successful now - ha! You're doing a great job; hang tough. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757224632083428160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-47566177157954021052014-09-26T10:44:54.877-05:002014-09-26T10:44:54.877-05:00I do not envy you; I can't even imagine what i...I do not envy you; I can't even imagine what it must feel like to be in your place. I hope that you can get through to him and help him turn things around. Best of luck to you--I'll be thinking of you!Beth @ Running with the Sunrisehttp://www.runningwiththesunrise.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-36954187140077345172014-09-26T06:35:07.583-05:002014-09-26T06:35:07.583-05:00Haha! Thanks! I don't think it matters what I ...Haha! Thanks! I don't think it matters what I say right now. I hope someday he'll look back and appreciate what I've tried to do for him.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-37020240837826165582014-09-25T22:39:59.928-05:002014-09-25T22:39:59.928-05:00Sorry to hear about your troubles. You always seem...Sorry to hear about your troubles. You always seem to say the right things at the right time. Who cannot appreciate you? Seems like family members are the hardest to inspire to run. I'm still working on my 10-year old son. When I was about 7, my mom encouraged us to jog. I went for about 2 or 3 times, and never again until 2 years ago. Sometimes I wonder, "would I be running if my mom didn't make us?" In time, although it may seem not soon enough, your son will practice what you do. Patricia San Andreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15707021073819870895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-16392676687711739322014-09-25T19:41:15.372-05:002014-09-25T19:41:15.372-05:00Thank you! Writing this definitely helped. I just ...Thank you! Writing this definitely helped. I just am at a loss but I'll just keep moving forward and pushing him. It's hard. But we'll get through it.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-13081107993512504612014-09-25T19:34:18.353-05:002014-09-25T19:34:18.353-05:00I know you don't feel like it right now, but y...I know you don't feel like it right now, but you're a good mom. So much strength! I hope you feel better after writing this because you're doing a good job! Thank you for opening up and sharing. Lara @ Uptite Mamashttp://www.uptitemamas.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-19625839352297757772014-09-25T15:38:55.070-05:002014-09-25T15:38:55.070-05:00It's tough..even when he was little, we'd ...It's tough..even when he was little, we'd put him in sports and he just wouldn't even try. He has a job, which is good. We'll get through this. I just wish I could inspire him. Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-85007044187738591782014-09-25T15:10:24.576-05:002014-09-25T15:10:24.576-05:00Oh man, I'm so sorry you're going thru thi...Oh man, I'm so sorry you're going thru this with your son. Their brains just aren't developed at this age. They do such stupid things. We have to protect them from themselves, I swear. Does he belong to any clubs? Can he be encouraged to do a sport? I think if he could identify with a positive group, that would help a ton. Hugs my friend. Teamarciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03843904545493985865noreply@blogger.com