Not spending more time with my son when he was little. He turns 17 next month, and now he doesn't want to spend time with me. He'd rather hang with friends or just be alone playing video games in his room. When he was a boy he looked up to me and wanted to talk and hang out with me. But I generally was too self-involved to give him enough quality time. And I can never get that time back. Ever.
Don't beat yourself up too much. I would submit to you that most 17 year old boys (and maybe girls) would rather spend time with their friends than with their parents. Just keep trying and don't give up. No parent is perfect, but at least you're trying. And that's leaps and bounds better than the parents some kids have.
Edit: Also remember this: it's never too late (until you're dead). He'll come around as he gets old and needs you for your life experience or advice or whatever.
He's a typical teen. We all go through a time like that where parents just seem like a nuisance. You may have lost the time with him when he was a kid, but don't give up on him. When he grows up things will change again.
Dude, he's 17, not 40. It's not too late. Go spend time with your son! Wether it's playing sports, or playing video games, or watching movies or something, or just talking, you can do it. He might not want to at first, but he'll get around if you keep trying once in a while.
Not spending more time with my son when he was little. He turns 17 next month, and now he doesn't want to spend time with me. He'd rather hang with friends or just be alone playing video games in his room. When he was a boy he looked up to me and wanted to talk and hang out with me. But I generally was too self-involved to give him enough quality time. And I can never get that time back. Ever.
Don't beat yourself up too much. I would submit to you that most 17 year old boys (and maybe girls) would rather spend time with their friends than with their parents. Just keep trying and don't give up. No parent is perfect, but at least you're trying. And that's leaps and bounds better than the parents some kids have.
Edit: Also remember this: it's never too late (until you're dead). He'll come around as he gets old and needs you for your life experience or advice or whatever.
Yeah and maybe you could get into video games with him?
Either way I know I didn't appreciate home until I left.
There's an idea. Don't let him win, though.
Yeah, remind him that you brought him into this [virtual] world and you can take him out of it.
He's a typical teen. We all go through a time like that where parents just seem like a nuisance. You may have lost the time with him when he was a kid, but don't give up on him. When he grows up things will change again.
Dude, he's 17, not 40. It's not too late. Go spend time with your son! Wether it's playing sports, or playing video games, or watching movies or something, or just talking, you can do it. He might not want to at first, but he'll get around if you keep trying once in a while.