My son is doing so much better…. can it last?

by Rod Smith

“My son (14) has had a turn-around that is hard to imagine. He is getting down to his work. He is talking with me. He is being more respectful at home and trying to have cordial conversations with me. I cannot tell you how proud I am and how glad I am that something has ‘clicked’ for him. I am living with my nerves on end about when things will change back again and he will be back to himself. Can this last?”

 

I am very pleased your son is “seeing the light” and responding to whatever is helping him realize that it is he who is indeed in charge of his emotions and his future. Like most parents, I am sure you have come to expect that people can go one step forward and three steps back in a very short pace of time. Affirm your son’s progress – and believe in it. Treating him as if his changes are less than real will only serve to undermine the very efforts he is attempting to make.

One Comment to “My son is doing so much better…. can it last?”

  1. tobeme's avatar

    Great news about your son. Positive reinforcement and your total belief that this will continue are the steps that will help keep him on track.

    Remember the adage, “We get what we expect”.

    Rod, is so right on, you must believe that this change is permanent. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, will be detected by your son, and your thought patterns could induce that very thought to become a reality.

    Note: if your son does start to slip, be careful not to use his past behavior against him, continue to reinfoce the desired behavior.

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