Quote:
Originally Posted by ArmorPlate108
You can lead a horse to water....
Have to agree that willful people don't take advice. In fact, from my experience, they usually end up going in the opposite direction.
I know you said you weren't asking for advice, but perhaps it would be an interesting experiment to refrain from giving him advice and see what happens. Some people make a habit out of depending on advice they can ignore from someone close to them. It's a weird way they function in order to not take responsibility. My H does this-- if I'm talking about a problem he has, in his mind that gives me ownership of his problem and let's him off the hook to a great extent. It's counterintuitive and doesn't actually make rational sense, but it is a thing with some people.
You love your son, no doubt about it. He'll get where he's going eventually, as frustrating as it is at times. |
Interestingly.... I never bring any of this up (advice as it were) until he initiates the conversation. What I mean by that is if he's talking to me in front of someone, he's all nice and "normal". However, one-on-one he gives me the whole "I'm depressed and here's why" routine. I try to be a positive influence on him and point him in the right direction but, as you read earlier, it falls on deaf ears.
What is really sad, is ANY interaction I have with him, whether five minutes or two hours, it is GUARANTEED this will come up and we are not supporting him enough and the whole guilt thing. It is so tiring.