Reply To: Going off the Derech

aries2756-everything you said sounds so smart, and I will try to incorporate your suggestions. The people in my neighborhood don’t really have experience with this issue, although a number of my husband’s friends/aquaintances have tried to reach out to my son, but to no avail. My son doesn’t help out with anything in the house, and would say no when asked. But, perhaps if something were broken (he’s very good at fixing things), I might be able to catch him in a decent mood and ask him to fix it…

Even the zoo idea, he would say no to. He’s really not motivated to do anything. I’ve offered to take him out to lunch, for ice cream etc, but he always says no. He doesn’t even eat any of the meals I prepare. He’ll eat something like cornflakes instead. It’s as if he won’t let himself feel ‘taken care of’. But I appreciate everything you said, and I will try to remember your points and look for/create opportunities to put it all into practice.

pcoz-if it’s true what you say, that kids will become what they have been brought up to be expected to become, then I shouldn’t be worried in the least.