My son is in Form Two in a day secondary school in Nairobi. He has been performing well in school and was formerly a well-behaved boy until this year. He has totally changed and spends most of his time locked up in his room.
He does not take care of himself and he has become disobedient and rude, not to mention that some valuable items are now missing from the house. I suspect he is taking drugs, but I don’t know how to ascertain this.
Please advise me on how I can deal with him to put him back on track. He is the first born and I really pray that his siblings don’t follow his habits.
{Helena}
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Your take:
Where is that boy’s father? What is he doing to guide him through this phase? His father or a close relative such as an uncle or elder cousin are the only people who can help him. They may identify with him much more than you would. Encourage them to talk to him and give him the advice he needs, otherwise, he will get it from all the wrong places.
{Mercy Kagwiria}
He may be a troubled young man and you should try and break through to him. Try and get close to him so he can share his problems with you. You may also want to involve a professional counsellor to sort out this matter.
{Tasma Charles}
Yes, you are right to be worried but beware that he may be doing more or less than what you think. Make an effort to know who has access to his room. He may not be spending all his time there alone but also research on the characters of his friends. He is going through adolescence and he is bound to go to extremes. Find out if he is happy and satisfied but also check to see if you are giving him too much pocket money. This is a big challenge to many parents and you may be spoiling him in the process of loving him. Try and understand his concerns and he may be the best son you ever had.
{Ouma Ragumo – Sifuyo}
Your son is already in the wrong group of men and the sooner you seek counselling for him, the better, it will be for all of you. The fact that he sells small items in the house is a clear sign that he is looking for money to buy hard drugs. Refer him to a counsellor or a spiritual leader and if possible, take him to a boarding school. He may be having too much freedom by being in the day school. You should be very strict when handling him so as to set an example to his other siblings since he is a firstborn. If he has a drug problem, you may also seek help from the responsible government agencies for correction purposes.
{Onyango Outha – Jauduny}
Your son is now a teenager on his way to adulthood. This is the stage that will make or break him. Start by investigating him and his friends to ascertain their behaviours and characters. You may also want to get his father or uncle to play a more active role in his life in an attempt to understand him better. He needs your guidance.
{Atsiaya Wilberforce}
