What do I about my 16 year old son?

When I was in 11th grade i cut class every day and i don't even know why. Before 11th grade I had A's and B's and rarely ever got C's and went to school daily. I guess peer pressure just happened. By the time graduation came I was two class credits behind graduating, but I forced myself and managed to make up those credits over the summer and just received my high school diploma by the end of the summer instead of walking with all of my friends in the beginning of June. The point is... I got my diploma... but I struggled. It wasn't until I hit rock bottom that I knew I had to do something. It seems that rock bottom is not hitting him hard enough. I myself am joining the Air Force because it is a great opportunity to continue my education for free and in a fun way. I would also suggest that he joins the military except you cannot join without a high school diploma. You may however join with a GED but the military can only enlist a certain amount of recruits with GEDs a year per service. The new recruiting year starts every October so if he does get his GED then I suggest he enlists then. If he refuses to get his GED then I suggest you really consider boarding school, specifically a sleepaway military academy. He will live there and be forced to attend class and hopefully they will shape his morals and views on education as well. This may take a chunk out of your wallet, but if your son's education is worth it to you then it is the way to go.

EDIT: Here is a link to a bunch of military boarding schools. Some are Christian, some aren't. I suggest the ones that aren't Christian because I don't like people who force religion on others. Some are co-ed and some are all boys. I suggest co-ed because it may make things easier on him. He may meet a nice girlfriend and all. If you can find one close to home it may be best because then you can visit him.

http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/military-board...

Maybe you could put him in an Independent studies program, I got my diploma that way, i was a little trouble maker, so my parents took me out of regular school into Independent studies, That way they could keep an eye one me. Basically what i did was study from home, and once a week for about an hour, I would go meet with a teacher, turn in my homework and the teacher would give me a test on that weeks lesson. And the good thing about it is that you work faster than a regular class, so he would probably be able to catch up to his grade level quicker. Another positive to it, is he will get a diploma, not a GED which will look much better for future jobs. Hope this was helpful.

First, you should read the post on this site from the woman with the out of control 19 yr old son who's trashing both her & her house. This will give you an idea of what to expect from your son when he's 19 too if you don't deal with him now.

If you allow your son to continue this disrespectful, undisciplined behavior, you are doing him a great disservice. NOW is the time to put your foot down and give him these two options: shape up or get out. Since he's almost 17, he can become emancipated, that way you will not be responsible anymore for his unruly behavior, when you kick him out.

If he realizes the error of his ways & becomes a respectful, productive member of your household, then its all good. But if he refuses to abide by your house rules, tell him that you love him but the only way you will allow him to remain in YOUR house is if he joins the military.

So its either act right, or join the military, or get out. Those are the only choices available to him-have him choose which one he's going to accept.

He'll thank you for it one day & so will the rest of society.

You can't make him do anything, that's the thing. You can't freaking MAKE someone join the military, and that's a HORRIBLE thing to do to someone to begin with! Suggest he joins the ROTC program at his school if you want to go that route.

Your son's guidance counselor is right. It is up to him. Just let it go. If you thrust him into sometihng like military or boarding school, you can essentially kiss your relationship with him goodbye. He'll probably hate you for the rest of his life.

Just keep parenting. Stress the importance of a high school diploma, and then leave it alone. There's not much more you can do than that.

I can't give you much advice on how to help him, but I can tell you that job corps will only make it worse. I knew some perfectly good people who came out of there hanging with the worst kind of crowds. It may just be the kind of people in the area where I live, but either way it will never give your son the future he really needs.

I wish you the best of luck, to you and your son.

Boot camp. Send him to boot camp. There he will get his education he needs, discipline he needs and he will not get into any trouble there. It will teach him to be more responsible. Do something for him before it's too late....otherwise who knows where he will end up 5yrs down the road.

consider private or charter schools. some colleges have a high school on campus. he needs to focus and public school isn't working for him.

The first thing you need to address are the drugs he's on.

military or boarding school.