Teenager?
26 Apr 2010 1 Comment
in Family, Noos Tags: Family, Teenagers, Vacation Care
I thought that I would have a few more years left before my constant refrain became “Pull up your Pants!” But alas, it has started these holidays. Noos is 10 1/2, but is very concerned about his appearance. During these holidays he made friends with a boy in year 8, who for some reason was attending the same vacation care program. From the very next day the skinny jeans were no longer sitting on his hips, but were pulled down to show off half of his undies. And those undies had to be Bonds.
What do we do when someone else begins having more influence on your kids than you do? How do you keep them on the path that will leave them successfully through adolescence? I see the position of his jeans as a symptom of the overall issue, not the issue. Up until now I have been able to guide my sons friendships and encourage the ones I see as positive influences, and quietly steer him away from the ones I am not so sure about. I can see this is rapidly coming to an end. I can, and do, provide lots of positive older male role models, young men whom I know with strong values and morals and like to be involved with the boys.
After a bit of detective work from both myself and my Mum we have discovered that there was more to this older boy than simply wearing his pants half way down his backside. Conversation topics that were not suitable for a 10 1/2 year old and involvement in behaviour that is unacceptable. A quick phone call to vacation care and I discovered that I wasn’t the only concerned parent and that this older child would not be returning to the program. So problem fixed for now, but this is only the beginning……
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