My son is 17 and I'm scared for his future?
After years of fighting him to go to high school, he finally dropped out and got his GED. He enrolled in a community college and is working evenings in a pizza shop. Now, he tells me he is failing his classes and school just isn't for him. He is very smart and funny and kind to his little brother, but seems to have no willpower to stick things out...very undisciplined! (my fault, I'm sure). I try to support all of his decisions the best I can, but I'm having trouble with this one. We do talk alot and he knows how important an education is, but says he just wants to work realizing that he'll probably get nowhere. He sleeps in til noon, plays basketball til 4 and works from 5-10. He has plenty of spending money and is saving some too, but once child support ends when he turns 18 in June and he can no longer be on his father's insurance (because he won't be a full time student) he has to have something. Everything I recommend is put down for one reason or another. I know that he is young and may grow up and mature enough in a few years to "get it", but so far what I've seen from him is a lack of any motivation. He says he's sorry he let me down, wants to make me proud, wants an education, but just isn't "into it". I go from kindness to sarcasm within seconds in our conversations. Is there any way to motivate a boy who isn't? BTW his girlfriends works and goes to college for nursing; she is very ambitious and disappointed too, but she loves him like I do. Charge him rent at 18? Throw him out? I don't think I can do either of those things. HELP!