Son on the wrong path

[Sunflowerseed]

Hi @dizzyrhino,
Thank you for updating us and sharing this here. It must be a tough few months for you and your families. You've done well on setting and keeping the boundaries. That's not an easy thing to do but it is neccessary to protect you and your families.
Also, thank you for sharing your unique experiences with the legal system. Take care of yourself, and don't hesitate to ask if there is anything we can help you with.

[PnorkelPW]

What a great result @dizzyrhino…………….it’s one thing to get a suspended sentence but it’s a whole other thing to get away without a conviction being recorded. The support you and your family have given your son is amazing and this result speaks to that. The magistrate was obviously able to see that too.

It’s over to your son from here to maintain the right path. He’s been given a massive opportunity to make a detour and a great future for himself. He’s got an amazing family supporting him and if he can see it, which I hope he’s able to at some stage in the future, he’s got some great role models for parents.

I’ve said it numerous times but the boundaries you’ve kept have been phenomenal. The conversations you’ve had with your son have been amazing too. From an outside perspective it appears that you’ve approached this by talking to him and not at him. I’m sure there have been some emotional conversations but I’ve read an approach that’s come from the perspective of trying to understand and learn how to help instead of just yelling and screaming and expecting change. You’ve all been through an extremely difficult time, I hope that what lies ahead is smoother sailing and I hope your son can stay on the right path.

I think the fact that he’s paying you back over the next three years is brilliant. Every week when he hands that $50 over it will serve as a reminder of what could have been. I think that’s important. It’s not a punishment, it’s responsibility, it’s reality. It’s demonstrating that actions have consequences and that those consequences can last a long time………..he’s just lucky those consequences weren’t worse. The fact that you’ve been so consistent with letting him know that if there’s a next time he’ll be navigating the system without the support he’s had this time is another big reason for him to maintain this path.

The legal tips will be a great help to others too. Thanks again for sharing and please let us know how things are going in the future. Let's hope he doesn't need any new 'management' in the future.