My son is 16 and he’s challenging us to the point of almost breaking up our family. He was always a good kid, really sporty and Really out going. We found out he was smoking marijuana about eight months ago. We’ve spoken to him about all the health problems especially mental health problems marijuana can cause. Both my husband and I have mental health issues in our family. He continues to lie and goes against what we ask him to do and not do. We unfortunately gave him freedom about 18 months ago to live in the bungalow in the backyard. It’s been the worst decision we ever made . When we first found out he was smoking he was grounded and lived inside for four months. My husband gave in and let him live back out there again and now it’s happening all over again. Any advice please? Btw. He vapes too. 😞
5 Replies
Does he work? Where does he get the money from? I would speak with him about addiction, potheads are the worst for saying it’s not addictive and doesn’t affect them while being absolutely addicted and fully affected personalities. And the ones I know do admit they are self medicating, so check in with him if he thinks that’s what he’s doing.
Let him see where it can go.
I grew up in an area where it was the norm, I watched families be ripped apart by addiction, I was the victim of a relatives addiction, his daughter now same.
Don’t go once, get involved with something that he can talk to others who where where he is now. People will share their journey.
Education is key but not forcefully.
I have been watching a few documentaries on Huntington in America.
I personally am worried about my kids growing up in a safe bubble, where they cannot see first hand consequences to actions.
He may be suffering anxiety or depression, or the beginnings of it, and self-medicating with pot. Instead of punishing him, get him assessed and treated.
If its a full on addiction and he's being lazy and not doing anything it's an issue. If he is like most normal young teens and has it every now and then, well I would say it's not a huge worry. Most kids do it every now and then through teen years. I did, my daughter did and not really as adults. Every now and then I'll have a drag of a joint with friends around a fire and some drinks. Thatnwill be it for nother 5 years. My daughter is 19 and had it in teens years and now thinks it's gross... depends what level you are talking about. My cousin still smokes it and I have friends that did through 20s but don't now ... I think it's a general normal part of teen years, if it's constant then it's another story.
Hey mamma!
Super tough situation, my heart goes out to you.
I smoked weed for many many years, I was addicted! Although weed is branded as a non addictive substance, it is addictive, as can anything, really...people get addicted to TV, phones ect...but in saying that I kicked the habit rativively easily and have a family, a successful career, a house everything I dreamed of!
I think from ages 16-18 it is important to stop leading our kids and instead walk beside them, start preparing them for adulthood. I would take a different approach...I would talk to him about what he wants in life, what led him to smoking weed ect. If he says he wants to go go uni, or wants to do a trade or what ever it is, start looking into the requirements for those jobs with him. Ask him if he would like to talk about the long term repocusions of smoking weed at a young age. Start having those conversations that centre around his hopes and dreams, not necessarily telling him he shouldn't do something, because that will likely push him to do it more and be more secretive.
There could be many reasons your son is turning to stuff like weed and vaping to cope, it could be trauma, stress or he may just be struggling with sleep. I smoked weed because i didn't know other ways to cope with pain and insecurities and my parents took a hard line approach, I couldn't talk to them about what was bothering me, so I found ways to avoid having those feelings all together. That's just my experience and I hope it helps in some way.
Its obvious you love your son very much and I wish you well xo