The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
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level.
This is great and I am so proud of myself for it. :) I went into my son's bedroom yesterday after work, looking for my flashlight. Well, I found 2 bongs on his floor, right out in the open. They were made out of plastic bottles and he had used my Pampered Chef Scissors to cut them. I was pissed. They reeked of pot. So I threw them in the trash. I then found my flashlight under his dresser...obviously hidden so he could use it to go out at night. SOOOO, I went to Lowe's and bought window locks that lock w/a key for all of my downstairs windows. And I bought new door locks that have double key lock on them. While I was in the middle of installing these wonderful new window locks on his windows, he came hom w/his friend. He LOST IT!!! It was great. He threw the biggest hissy fit. I kept my cool the whole time. I told his friend that I thought it best he leave b/c my son was not acting appropriately to have a friend over. Meanwhile my son was beating on his window frame screaming that I was locking him in his room, like a cage, a prison. That I was doing this b/c I thought he was leaving at night all b/c I busted him fully dressed w/shoes and jacket on @ 9:30 at night. I calmly said that I was putting locks on all of the downstairs windows and changing door locks too for security purposes, it has nothing to do w/you....all real calm. I was amazed at my calm....and the little smirk that was on my face as I was doing it. I had to stop myself from dancing the jig!! I was loving it. Then he was screaming about how he couldn't get out of his window now. I asked him really calm and innocent like, "Why would you need to get out your window? That is what doors are for." He said he sometimes left his window unlock incase I forget to put his key outside and he can't get in after school. I shot back at him - again amazingly calm - That I always have a spare key outside for Lauren just in case he "forgets" to meet her after school and that he can always use that key. Then he told me I better give him a key in case it gets hot and he wants to open his windows. I told him that it is summer now and the A/C is on and we won't need to open the windows AND if for some reason he needs to open it, I will do it for him. So he went outside while I was still working on the rest of the windows and cooled down in the yard. Then he took a shower. I just acted as if nothing was amiss...all was well in the house.
We ended up having a long (almost 2 hours) talk. He has agreed to visit the skate park and seemed fairly interested in going a few days a week. I agreed to talk to his dad about him getting a job at the grocery store down the street for the summer. I told him that he could do the skatepark 3 days a week and work at the store the other days. He is not even 15 yet (not until Aug) and I am not too worried about the job b/c I don't think he can get one at this age. But if he can and does, then at least it will keep him busy and make him responsible. He will have to use his own money to go the movies and out to eat w/his friends...not mine. So that is that. I am proud of myself for how I handled the entire afternoon & night. Yea!!!!! Score 10 points for Mom. LOL.
I recall reading in a Parenting mag (or somewhere like that, maybe 10 years ago... ) that teens need emotional guidance, right up until they are no longer teenagers. That emotional intelligence takes coping skills, good role modeling and benefits from lots of past experience. So at the time where they are pushing limits, setting boundaries & testing things everywhere to develop inside as individual human beings... (& seem to be the most difficult) is when they need adults & compassionate emotional understanding the most.
What amazes me as an adult now, is that emotional issues are difficult to deal with, even still. You would think they get easier but life only gets more complicated as we age, as there are even more life issues to deal with. Every situation is different, so it's all a brand new challenge for growth.
Staying calm, cool & collected is priceless! i am happy for you & your son & your accomplishment!
love, -k
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Light, Love, Peace, Blessings & Healing to Us All. God's Will Be Done. Amen.
I am so glad you posted this. The actual specifics of what you did (window locks...who knew?!) and how you stayed calm in the eye of the storm. Just kept moving on with what you knew to be best. I don't know if I wouldn't have lost my mind if I found a bong on my kid's floor. Seriously, I think I would absolutely lose it. But now, I hear what you did and how you reacted and I know there is a better way than just detatching with a hatchett! Thanks QOD and I am so glad you're back!
Well done! You go Mom. You handled that great. I am so proud of you. Here's hoping your son gets back on track. Love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong, Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
What a great post. That was a great example of a better way and working your program. Thank you for posting this.
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~Jen~
"When you come to the edge of all you know you must believe in one of two things... there will be earth on which to stand or you will be given wings." ~Unknown