While celebrating Christmas in Michigan over the weekend, I had the chance to spend a little time with my 14 yr. old nephew. I pretty much only see him once a year, so we hardly know each other.
Let me tell you, he is starting to scare me. He is mean, violent and is acting very strangely. Since last year he has gotten involved with some kind of weird group of friends. He wears all black clothes, shirts with violent sayings and wears black nail polish. I could probably look past all that, but he admits to torturing animals for the fun of it, and also has threatened to stab my SIL (his mother) if she "didn't get off his back". When he looks at you his eyes are just cold, as if he's looking right through you. My other in-laws (who DO spend a lot more time around him) are very worried as well. They say that he and his small group of friends are really outcasts, and spend a lot of time on the internet. I swear, the Columbine killers kept going through my head when I saw him. It is very sad to say, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did do something violent someday.
My husband tried to talk to his sister about her son, but she blames it all on her soon to be ex who has never been a real father to this kid. She also admits to being worried about him, but doesn't know where to turn. He won't listen to her and he refuses to go to counseling. He's a really big kid too--over 6 ft. and about 200 lbs. His sister kept saying that she hopes it's just a phase and things will get better eventually. I just could not forgive myself if something horrible happens and I could have somehow prevented it. I do know that it is NOT normal to torture animals. There's no way you can tell me it's just a phase.
Any thoughts or suggestions??
Let me tell you, he is starting to scare me. He is mean, violent and is acting very strangely. Since last year he has gotten involved with some kind of weird group of friends. He wears all black clothes, shirts with violent sayings and wears black nail polish. I could probably look past all that, but he admits to torturing animals for the fun of it, and also has threatened to stab my SIL (his mother) if she "didn't get off his back". When he looks at you his eyes are just cold, as if he's looking right through you. My other in-laws (who DO spend a lot more time around him) are very worried as well. They say that he and his small group of friends are really outcasts, and spend a lot of time on the internet. I swear, the Columbine killers kept going through my head when I saw him. It is very sad to say, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did do something violent someday.
My husband tried to talk to his sister about her son, but she blames it all on her soon to be ex who has never been a real father to this kid. She also admits to being worried about him, but doesn't know where to turn. He won't listen to her and he refuses to go to counseling. He's a really big kid too--over 6 ft. and about 200 lbs. His sister kept saying that she hopes it's just a phase and things will get better eventually. I just could not forgive myself if something horrible happens and I could have somehow prevented it. I do know that it is NOT normal to torture animals. There's no way you can tell me it's just a phase.
Any thoughts or suggestions??