Hi
I’m a sole parent so all decision making is up to me and I need some advice from people not emotionally invested in my family!
My 15 year old son has lost most of his social circle because he is sporty and doesn’t want to do the whole partying and drinking etc. The boys he hangs round with have always been a bit of a concern to me but I trust my boy anyway he has asked to change schools to get away from them, but the advice I received from my family is that he should stay at his school and realise that life isn’t easy etc... my thinking is I’d rather him change schools then maybe circum to peer pressure and start the partying ways?
What are your thoughts on this?
Should I let him change schools?
Apart from this his current school is great.
The other school he would change to is great as well.
I really don’t know what to do.
Changing high schools
Changing high schools
Posted in:
Education, Teenagers, Tips and Advice
8 Replies
I actually think this shows an incredible amount of maturity for a 15 year old boy. Not only to recognise his mates are not necessarily people he shares values with but to also want to remove himself from a situation that could potentially lead him down the wrong path shows that he's actually put quite a bit of thought into this! I actually disagree with your family quite a lot, this wouldn't have been an easy decision to make, in fact it would be easier for him to stay behind and succumb to the peer pressure to fit in.
The way I see it, you wouldn't stay in a workplace if your colleagues had a negative impact on your life, as an adult you wouldn't remain friends with people who you don't particularly like or relate to just because "life's not easy", so this situation isn't any different really...
It sounds like he needs a fresh start and some separation from his old mates. Sometimes it's easier to create a new social circle in a new environment.
As long as he understands that there's going to be kids at every high school who are into that party/drugs/alcohol lifestyle and he's not going to fall in with the same kind of kids again, i really can't see a negative.
Well said! She’s obviously doing a great job.
Wow, you have an amazing son, I would let him do what he thinks is right.
Well done mumma!
Go with your gut.
If he has asked to change schools maybe theres more going on than just not drinking and partying. Maybe he is getting a hard time from them? An easy target for jokes and stuff and he has had enough? They might be making it really difficult for him to find other friends? I think you should let him change schools, ignore your family on this one, this is a decision that needs to be made by you and your child as you are the only ones affected.
I look at it this way - at the age of 15 some kids are leaving school and working fulltime and making adult decisions. From what you have said he sounds like a level headed mature young man so I doubt he has come to this decision overnight. If it were me I would only have one condition- that he can't chop and change. If he changes schools he has to at least stick it out for the rest of the year if it doesn't have the result he wishes for.
Your son sounds so smart and mature. I’d listen to him.
If he has asked for positive reasons I’d support him.
I think you have started to raise a wonderful man. I would 100% let him change schools. Show him he is listened. It is okay to not get along amd be friends with everyone. He is just starting to make some independant choices. You shoild let him follow through with them