AboutSusan P. Esptein Expertise I can answer questions about teen behaviors such as explosiveness, anger,distant, depressed,ADHD,Bipolar, motivation,responsibility, accountability,disrespect, school issues, juvenile justice issues,drug and alcohol, divorce and death.
Experience Licensed Clinical Social Worker private psychotherapy practice, Parent Coach, 30 years experience working with teens and families.
Organizations Advisory Council http://www.parentchild411.com
Expert Panel:http://www.FreshStartAfterDivorce.com
Expert:http://www.Schoodoodle.com
Expert:http://www.firstwivesworld.com
Publications • The Cat Who Lost Its Meow, a children’s tale about recovering from loss and grief (October, 2008, Chase-En-Point Press Publisher, ISBN 978-0-9820912-0-3).
• Are You Tired of Nagging? Get Kids to Cooperate: How to Raise Well Behaved Children”. This book was released on September 17, 2008, and is published by Shining Star Publishing Company. (Copyright 2008, ISBN 978-0-9800364-6-6)
• The Take Back Your Parenting Power System: Get Control of Your Kids in 30 Days or Less: The Secret Formula to Powerful Parenting (Copyright 2007, Shining Star Publishing Company, ISBN 978-0-9800364-2-8).
• How to Outsource Your Laundry for Free (The New London Times, May, 2008)
• Spanking Doesn’t Have to Be an Option, (The New London Day, December, 2007.)
• Laughter in the Laundry The Bank St. Magazine, (August, 2005)
Education/Credentials MSW Social Work, University of California, Berkeley 1987
Coaches Training Institute 2002
Question Dear Susan,
I'm hoping you can provide some kind of answers for me. My 18 yr old fell for his co-worker almost a year ago when he was 17. Unbeknownst to me they were seeing each other and when he turned 18, he bolted out the door to stay with her, which lasted 2 months until she kicked him out to let her 23 year old ex husband back in. 2 more months go by, the ex leaves so she calls my son to apologize how she treated him and they decide to give it another go, so he leaves again. It's been 8 weeks since he left the second time and this past weekend, he broke it off with her because he said he cant handle the drama with her kids and her snyd remarks to him. He came home and we were all there for him to help him through this and after the thrid day he caved and went back. This woman is 40 yrs old (a few years younger than me) with two teenage girls that are always in trouble and have been kicked out of school. My heart is broken that he chooses this misfit life for himself, as he wasnt raised this way. He doesnt want to hear anything we have to say on the subject. His only statement is that we dont know how he feels and that he'll never connect with anyone the same way. The second time he went back, I laid low and didnt say anything and let him forge on with his choice. When he's with her, he's not himself and he's not a very nice person. She brings out the absolute worst in him. I've made myself sick over this and I just dont know what to do anymore.
Answer Dear Julie,
The more you fight it the angrier he will get and the more rebellious. If you can stand to back off and be supportive to him
he will come around and figure it out for him self. If he has already broken it off once, he will again. This relationship won't last and will be a tremendous learning experiene for him.
I know it's tough but it's his learning ground...best that it is happening now while you are there to support him and give him kindness and shelter.
