Relationship with your son

[jamo]

My son is 16 year old a junior in High School.  Trying to figure a way to motivate him, he is smart and an average to slightly above average student 3.5 grade point average and average SAT scores of 1,570 (first try) during the summer he has basketball practice twice a week, a little golf, but most of his time is on video games,  Black Ops and Basketball videos.  I hide his power cord for his games and make him watch certain motivation videos on You Tube such as Warren Buffet's MBA speech to graduating students.

I am worried that he is not self motivating himself to improve and prepare for college and the work force.

Any suggestions?

Make him set goals. Maybe have him look for a job, even it's only caddying or refereeing. Show him the real world, and what happens to people who don't work hard.

[BigAl5150]

Originally Posted by ks8829

My son is 16 year old a junior in High School.  Trying to figure a way to motivate him, he is smart and an average to slightly above average student 3.5 grade point average and average SAT scores of 1,570 (first try) during the summer he has basketball practice twice a week, a little golf, but most of his time is on video games,  Black Ops and Basketball videos.  I hide his power cord for his games and make him watch certain motivation videos on You Tube such as Warren Buffet's MBA speech to graduating students.

I am worried that he is not self motivating himself to improve and prepare for college and the work force.

Any suggestions?

What are you trying to motivate him to do? Make the varsity basketball or golf team? Get into a certain college? Also, define "improvement." He needs to have specific goals in place so he knows what he is attempting to obtain. If he enjoys Black Ops, perhaps finding out if he's interested in serving in the military for a few years.

Best advice is to make sure you practice what you preach. If you are trying to motivate him to "improve" and you're not doing anything for your own personal self-improvement, he's not going to listen to anything you have to say.

[ks8829]

Originally Posted by BigAl5150

What are you trying to motivate him to do? Make the varsity basketball or golf team? Get into a certain college? Also, define "improvement." He needs to have specific goals in place so he knows what he is attempting to obtain. If he enjoys Black Ops, perhaps finding out if he's interested in serving in the military for a few years.

Best advice is to make sure you practice what you preach. If you are trying to motivate him to "improve" and you're not doing anything for your own personal self-improvement, he's not going to listen to anything you have to say.

Great point,

Thanks,

ks8829

[ks8829]

My 10 year old daughter has been to a summer golf camp last week from 9 AM - 5 PM playing 9 holes.  She shot 40 and 44 for 9 holes a par 30 course.  trying to play 9 holes with her and a friend in her class this week.

[Inebriated]

If I were your son I'd have a hard time letting you just up and change because you feel bad... Personally, I think you sound like you were a dick, but at least you're changing, which is really all that matters.

[Timmy]

As a 19 year old that was/is quite into video games, think about it this way.  Would you rather have him out getting drunk every night?  Keep it in perspective.  Video games are simply a fun way to spend ones time.  I played a ton of them when I was in high school (and still did in college) and I was able to balance school(3.9 GPA) and basketball my freshman year of college with no problem.  I was never incredibly motivated in high school, but I'd simply ask him what he wants to do.  If he's put any thought into college or a profession.  Then, even if he says no, he'll start to think about it.  He'll talk to his friends and start thinking about it.  Sometimes you just have to plant the idea and let him slowly start to come to a decision.