[67 Convertible]

I wish you luck. I have 5 boys, 3 biological and 2 stepsons...all grown up now, the youngest is 24.

I was having trouble with one of my biological sons. Attitude, smoking some pot, doing bad in school, school suspensions, even expelled from one school and just giving people crap. I can tell you the family counseling did not work. Meeting with therapists and social workers didn't work.

What did work: My buddy was youth officer in a neighboring town. We set up a date that I would meet him with my son at the police station. We both hopped in the police car and drove to a prison about 45 minutes away. We were given a "tour" of the prison, with inmates screaming and harrassing us from their cells as we walked down the hall. We then went to a conference room where there were two inmates waiting for us. The two inmates were "lifers". They proceeded to "talk" to my son for about an hour, kind of a tough love scenerio. (My buddy and I were with my son at all times.) I have to tell you, that even I was scared crapless! My son was in tears, he was about 14-15 at the time. They basically told him that he would end up like them, doing time unless he straightened out. But it was REAL dramatic and truthful.

I had a complete turn around with his attitude after that prison visit. It worked immediately. He's now 27, has his own place and girlfriend and a great job. He grew up to be a nice, respectful young man. I admire how he turned things around. I'm very proud of him and love him to death.