Seeking Advice for Raising a 18 Year Old Boy

Wow this is a tough one because at 18 he is almost an adult and diciplining him may not be an option depending upon what the relationship between the two of is like.

I have an 18 year old ss and he is in college. He pretty much does what he wants but at this point in life the choices are all his. Fortunately for us he is pretty honest and open with us and will come to us for advice but as I said, the choices are his to make.

I wish you lots of luck with your brother. If you don't mind me asking...why are you raising him?

I don't know if you can raise an 18 year old. Is there an older male friend that can mentor him?

an 18 year old male is really hard. my son is now 26. you definitely need to find him a positive male role model. some one else suggested talking to him all the the time. that's key. it may seem like he doesn't listen or care but the words seep in. trying to discipline an 18 yr old is really hard. you can try and take things away or ground him but ultimately he's going to do what he wants. just try and set positive rules and guidelines with him. as long as he lives with you he MUST respect your rules. try to keep him involved in all that you do so that he sees you trust him. if u trust him he will trust you. and remember that he sees and knows what you do. at his age you can't tell him not to do something you do without giving a better explanation. he needs to realize that everything he does has consequences and affects not only himself but you and anyone else that may love him. MOST IMPORTANT....love him. let him know how much you love him. Good luck.

welll i havea son thats 16 years old and wat i can tell you that i know its hard and feel the same way sometimes but wat i do with him is i got him in different programs to keep him busy and i talk to him always let him now that u are there for him and that there is nothin in the streets that are any good but most of all talk to him even if you have to talk all day and all night just do it show him that you love him and that you are there for him no matter wat

idk if ther r any right answers but only what is right for u and ur brother. i think maybe showing him that other choices, positive choices r what he really wants in his life. show him some of the negative sides of the streets and why that isnt for him. i think as long as u show him u r there no matter wht he will come around, maybe not as soon as u would like but he will.

HI I HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS, FIRST I DONT KNOW HOW CLOSE YOU ARE WITH HIM,BUT I WOULD TRY SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH HIM, ASK HIM WHAT HE LIKE TO DO, AND HAVE HIM OPEN UP TO YOU,AND GET TO KNOW HIS FRIENDS ,HAVE A GET TOGETHER ,THESE ARE THINGS I DO WITH MY CHILDREN,WE HAVE FUN TOGETHER INCLUDING HIS FRIENDS,, I HOPE THIS HELPS A LITTLE ,,ALSO WHY DO YOU FEEL YOU WILL LOSE HIM TO THE STREEETS,, TRY GETTING HIM INVOLVED IN SPORTS OR SOME KIND OF HOBBY HE LIKES. ALWAYS KEEP A CHILD OCCUPIED,SO THEY DONT HAVE TIME TO GET INTO TROUBLE.

I know your pain, I have six ranging from 14 to 31 years of age. However R., discipline means "to instruct a person to follow a particular code of conduct "order." . Every institution whether it's a restaurant, a church or a library has a "particular code of conduct. Just as he would have to follow their code of conduct, he must follow yours. Obviously you wouldn't discipline an 18 year old in the same manner as you would a 2 year old because their perception is or "should be" different. But the bottom line is that it's your home, you're the adult, you set the standards. It will benefit him in the long run, and he will appreciate you when he's a father with children of his own.