My son won't talk to me, he is 17 years old and stays away from home as much as possible. His father passed away in February of 2011 from cancer that he never knew he had until it was too late. They weren't real close but they were working on the relationship at this point, his father left when he was 3.

My son is very quiet and won't talk about how he feels, sometimes I would see a glimmer of light when he would rush in the door excited about a new career idea but this idea only lasted until he got what he really came to see me for and that was money. This is how he works, thinking that if he was positive around me it would open up the door to ask me for things he wanted.

Now, I do give him money to mow the grass, I don't just hand it to him because he doesn't appreciate anything. I though I was doing the right thing by teaching him that things can be appreciated when you work hard for it, but I have learned the money was being used to buy marijuana and alcohol. I only know this because I went through it with his father and can identify.

So much to say so little space.