Out of Control Teenage Son

Question

I can't control my 15 year old son and I don't know what do. He won't come home some nights and he doesn't answer my phone calls and then he is vague about where he has been. I ground him and he just doesn't come home again. I take away all his privileges and he doesn't care, he just goes out. I stop his allowance and he always seems to have lot of money that I don't know where he gets. He won't talk to me and the only thing I can think to do is the thing I never want to do which is kick him out of the house! How do I make this situation better. My wife and I are at the end of our rope and we just do not know what to do.

Rachel Starck · Accepted Answer

Very difficult situation. Your son is flexing his budding independence, testing limits and certainly making dangerous decisions, however you are right in that you can not control him. I would seek professional counseling for yourself and your wife as soon as possible. I do not know enough about his childhood or prior family history, but you might also look into the parenting approach called "Tough Love", which supports parents in making diffficult choices about boundaries with out of control children.

Kind regards, Rachel Starck, LPC

www.thethrivingmama.com

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