Hi Nicholeen,
We are having problems with our son 13 1/2 years old son (starting 8th grade next august). Some time back we discovered he was vaping nicotine, we talked to him about the dangers and everything, we went over YT videos of the vaping consequences but he says it's his body and he wanted to continue.
We took away his phone for 3 weeks and after that and then he brought a vape for 2 more times purchasing from a random person he contacted via snapchat, we applied the same consequence (3 weeks without phone). We got Urine Nicotine and Marihuana test and do it randomly.
He also says when he is 16 he will leave the house because the restrictions and consequences we impose on him and his friends seems do not have any, as far as I know.
He is in gifted programs but in the school he does not like to do the assignments and he just want to pass, meaning in the last quarter he finished with 2 Fs because he does not put effort in study, he says he will focus on High School because grades not do not matter now. (He mentions he has no motivation at school)
I think he is obsessed with the idea of the money and the social network model something different, as of now he has only one hour a day in Instagram.
He has a little brother (11 years old) we are worried he can mimic his behavior.
My consult is about what consequences that could work for the following issues we are experiencing with him and how to apply them when issues like below arise. It seems he does not care for grades.
-Being caught another time with vape or Nicotine in urine.
-Poor grades or not completing his assignments.
-He is listening Explicit rap music a friend introduced it to him and we do not know if it's proper to restrict completely or to limit the music more. As of now he listen this music only during bath.
Note: I have parental control installed in his phone that I can control his phone remotely but to what extent I am being so restrictive when other kids do not have this.
Thanks very much for your support.