I have 4 great boys, but it can be very hard sometimes indeed!
It is very difficult to know how hard to push kids at times. My oldest just turned 15. Some of you met him before. He is a great kid, very loving, fun to be around, etc. But, trying to get him to do his homework can be extremely hard sometimes. I don't want to come across as a hard a$$ with him about it all the time, but I don't know that it does him good just not to bring it up at all. To me, it is hard to find the balance. At times, I just want to be his buddy and be 'cool' about that stuff. other times I think, well, he needs to buckle down and work harder.
I am lucky though, he is not drinking, smoking, drugging, sexing it up or anything. As an ob/gyn, I know good and well what other kids his age are up to. But, I know that since he is in the 9th grade now, his grades really count now.
Harder sometimes to be a parent than I thought it would be....
Paul