Hi, I was hoping for advice concerning a young man that I have taken into my care over the last 12 months named Sean, & I ask that yiu pray for him.
For context, I have raised with my late husband 4 children, the youngest a son, who have all left the nest, so this isn't my first wrangle with a teenage boy.
I'll preface this by saying that Sean is a kind, generous, charitable, & keenly intelligent boy for his age. The causes he fights for are just & his values, though they don't align with mine necessarily, are well motivated & despite his disadvantages, he's often in the upper half of the class gifted a God given mind.
However, being a socially conservative house hold, the promiscuous sexual activity with both sexes, alchohol & drug indulgences, anarchist communist politics, street activities, & late nights are difficult & have been somewhat of a culture shock - reinforced by his continued association with social circles before I fostered him.
Finding beer bottle caps, cigarette butts, condoms, & more in the laundry have never been issues I've faced. I have spoken to him about my concerns & though he, out of respect, has assured that he isn't sexually active or consuming drugs or alchohol in my house, I know he is elsewhere
Lastly, I want to say that he is good at heart & that he does respect me despite his antagonism to any authority. He has described that he used to sustain himself with dumpster diving & shop lifting (& this pale & lean build would suggest he grew up underfed), trespassing on sites to squat for shelter, & can even point out different graffiti tags locally. He even has a self made anti policing tattoo. However, he respects my authority in my house & is thankful as this is the longest he's stayed in one place since he turned 10 (he is currently 16).
I suppose I came here to ask what advice is there for a caring & bright but rough & tough young man. I strongly feel God has called me to foster care, & I to enjoy this experience much of the time, but never have I ever had such a contrast of lifestyle .
Thank you for your answers & God bless you
For context, I have raised with my late husband 4 children, the youngest a son, who have all left the nest, so this isn't my first wrangle with a teenage boy.
I'll preface this by saying that Sean is a kind, generous, charitable, & keenly intelligent boy for his age. The causes he fights for are just & his values, though they don't align with mine necessarily, are well motivated & despite his disadvantages, he's often in the upper half of the class gifted a God given mind.
However, being a socially conservative house hold, the promiscuous sexual activity with both sexes, alchohol & drug indulgences, anarchist communist politics, street activities, & late nights are difficult & have been somewhat of a culture shock - reinforced by his continued association with social circles before I fostered him.
Finding beer bottle caps, cigarette butts, condoms, & more in the laundry have never been issues I've faced. I have spoken to him about my concerns & though he, out of respect, has assured that he isn't sexually active or consuming drugs or alchohol in my house, I know he is elsewhere
Lastly, I want to say that he is good at heart & that he does respect me despite his antagonism to any authority. He has described that he used to sustain himself with dumpster diving & shop lifting (& this pale & lean build would suggest he grew up underfed), trespassing on sites to squat for shelter, & can even point out different graffiti tags locally. He even has a self made anti policing tattoo. However, he respects my authority in my house & is thankful as this is the longest he's stayed in one place since he turned 10 (he is currently 16).
I suppose I came here to ask what advice is there for a caring & bright but rough & tough young man. I strongly feel God has called me to foster care, & I to enjoy this experience much of the time, but never have I ever had such a contrast of lifestyle .
Thank you for your answers & God bless you