My Libra Son

He is posing an argument as to why I should allow him to drop out of school... and let him join the military *pulls hair out*

Any input or advice—?

His chart:

Moon: Cap (stoic to no end)
Ascendant: Cap (bright, sarcastic and teacher's pet)
Mercury: Libra
Venus: Virgo (no wonder he doesn't like dumb chicks)
Mars: Libra
Jupiter: Libra
Saturn: Aquarius
Uranus: Cap
Neptune: Cap
Pluto: Scorp

To top it off, he thinks his logic and reasoning trumps mine. He is soooo analytical it isn't even funny. The boy is a lawyer in the making, but doesn't want to finish school, nor does he see his strength in this area!!! (he's all about math and physics)

let him go if thats really wanna do personally i would never go to the army

and not downing his math and physics ability, he was running a pool table at age 10 never having played before. He can play chess with the best of 'em and often things in terms of mathematical equations. He can explain Einstein's theory of relativity and in terms the layman can understand with his down to earth examples. If he's trying to explain something to me and I'm not clear, he draws a dang picture to explain the point he's trying to make.

And his creative writing is amazing to beat... all around, he's got it going on!! He got an "A" on a paper he didn't even finish, it was taking a Greek myth regarding Echo and Narcissus and turning it into a story about a prostitute in NY. The teacher was floored by what he did with it.

My son is bored, he's in all honors classes and is bored....

How do I get through to "this" Libra—

Posted by lildol
How do I get through to "this" Libra—

u cant people are gonna make they're choices regardless of what u say u can only say so much.

HS 😢

he's arguing the amount of time it will take to finish HS as opposed to if I signed him up for the military (turns 17 next week). He acknowledges that it will be harder work and he will have to be "on" all the time, but considers 3 yrs in the army a better option than the next 3 yrs in HS. His logic is WAY off!!

Part of me wants to just sign him up and be done with it... but, at the same time, I think he's too good for all that crap!

He thinks that given his intelligence (yes, he knows all too well he's smart) coupled with the fact he wants to focus on computer science he'll stay state side. He has spoken w/ recruiters, so they may have told him that (and they lie!). I would rather see him go into the coast guard than the army... he's got a better shot there staying "here".

Posted by lildol
he's arguing the amount of time it will take to finish HS as opposed to if I signed him up for the military (turns 17 next week). He acknowledges that it will be harder work and he will have to be "on" all the time, but considers 3 yrs in the army a better option than the next 3 yrs in HS. His logic is WAY off!!

Part of me wants to just sign him up and be done with it... but, at the same time, I think he's too good for all that
crap!

he Better keep his ass in Hs its so worth it at a time i wanted to leave school but i finished it and it was so worth it eduction is very worth it.


And Ps my Mother wouldn't let me not in her house she said lmao.


mostly 85% of my family completed HS and College My Mom did of course lol.

Thanks TV cool user name even tho it's nasty at the same time lmao.


its nice to meet yall dude.

He's trying to be manipulative... he's basically refusing to go to school, but if I sign him up... Because of his age, truancy laws do not apply. I told him he needs to go to school and we can discuss the other options available to him (such as the alternative/adult HS and classes that can be done online through our State Dept of Ed). I've even argued that he should at least finish out the first marking period so he can get his driver's license as he is in driver's ed - if he doesn't do it there, he'll have to pay to take a course at some point (regardless of age).

If you cannot get the "because I said so" thing to work (it never worked on me when I was a kid), then beat his argument. I know where he is coming from. The way you described him is very similar to how I was. I was getting A's in honors classes while doing drugs and drinking... during school hours. I was so bored in school that friends used to see how much crap we could get away with. If I presented a logical argument to a authority figure and they replied with "I said so", they lost. PERIOD.

The good news, logically you are right. He should finish high school.

What is his actual argument?

He's bored with high school and this is a way and a way to be stimulated. Talk to a recruiter yourself because upon knowing his abilities they may not want him yet. Have him take the asvab its a military vocation assesment and placement test and there is a good chance he will score in such a way that they will only want him for cirtain high proficiency technicalfields that REQUIRE a high school diploma. He might change his perspective if it becomes clear he is selling himself short by enlisting before graduation. Do this on your own though so if it backfires you can keep it to yourself.

I skipped a few posts before replying. I think you can handle the not going to school issue by making even entertaining his military aspirations conditional uppon his going to school. I would go further than that by taking his phone car and every other expense you provide away and telling him if hesh not going to school he's got plenty of tine oon his hands to work and he can buy his own stuff. You support him by paying those things so he can focus on school.

@nicodemus: If only he had a phone or car to take away!! Only things I have left to take away are the computer and TV and would need to remove them from the house all together. In any event, maybe you are right about me talking to a recruiter myself, then bring my son in to speak to that specific recruiter as well - this way, I can get the recruiter on my side 🙂

@LibraSid: Yeah, no, the "because I said so" is not a rational argument so that does not work. The basis of his argument is the length of time it will take to get his HS diploma through traditional means. He should be moving forward and upward in life and not wasting his time sitting in a classroom when, through other options (be it the military or alternative HS) he can much more quickly obtain a diploma - or, a GED. My concern with the alternative HS is he won't be motivated to complete the program. This concern on my end ties into his military argument, that he won't be able to just drop out. IDK, maybe he feels he needs that structure.

@TV: unfortunately, being 'the parent' holds no water with him - he knows it all! Of course, it didn't with me when I was a kid either.

Before you let him in on your involvement with the recruiter you can take away his ability to turn it into a situation of rational argument where libras enjoy power by letting telling him if he's not willing to show concern in what's important to you by going to school then he should not expect for you to do the same in for him in assisting his military aspirations. In other words make it a relationship issue.

The other good thing about getting involved on the recruitment side is if he decides to do it himself when he is 18 there will be an established influence to help ensure he makes the right choices going in.

I just re-read and noticed you said he has three years of HS left but will be turning 17 very soon... what happened? I was 17 when I graduated HS.

Also, while this may sound bad, a GED is not as good as a HS diploma (which by itself isn't worth much to begin with). A lot of people will tell you it is, but... no, it just isn't. If I get a few resumes and one guy finished HS and went onto college and the other dropped out got his ged and joined the army, I am taking the first guy. Even though it may not be true, the second sounds like a trouble maker who couldn't even hack it in HS and quit only to be forced into service due to a lack of options. First impressions are very important. It doesn't matter how smart he is if he doesn't look good on paper too.

If he is concerned with moving onward and upward in life the best way to do it is finish HS then go to college. While he has a few years left in HS he should he focused on straight A's to help with scholarships for college. If he really wants to do military service, they will help with college as well.

having a late Sept bday puts him behind the 8 ball in school age wise... then he failed out of 9th grade the first go around because he refused to do his homework. Last yr I thought we were making headway as at least he was doing the work.

And, part of the problem here, which he may not be bringing, is that he may be concerned about his age upon graduation as. If he stays in he'll only be a few months shy of his 20th upon graduating.

If it makes you feel any better amethyst is right. I was a tornado of pain in the ass when I was a teen but instead of cap I have a heap ton of virgo and taurus in my chart. Positive reinforcement doesn't work and neither does negative and both parents would have to be a gemini and aquarius to have a chance at even tying an argument with a teen libra male. Even if you win on reason we know use the tactics of disengaging. Were a nightmare when we get an ember up our ass.

Libras gotta find tehre way, be independent and serve. you can still in the in reserves and go to school ya know.

well, werhe are you from?

Personally, I'd let him go, and then tell him he's responsible for everyting he does.
Then set some deadlines, and get him to compromise. Like if he hasn't achieved xxxx within year 2015 (or whatever), he needs to come back to do (insert criteria here).

Or, he can finish HS then do what he wants. Go through with him the details, and show him the time he can save. He'd probably pick out the one that fits all nicely without wasting more time.

Posted by lildol
To top it off, he thinks his logic and reasoning trumps mine. He is soooo analytical it isn't even funny. The boy is a lawyer in the making, but doesn't want to finish school, nor does he see his strength in this area!!! (he's all about math and physics)

If he sees no use of typical schooling and is all about Math and Physics, I think you have a brilliant mind on your hands and you need to get out the way and let him do his thing.
High School will do nothing for him but slow him down.

and to add...if he has the kind of capabilities you say he has and he joins the military, they will see that through testing and they more than likely will keep him off the front lines and behind a computer or a lab somewhere.
Just because someone joins the military doesn't mean they are just handed a weapon and sent out on the battlefield.
He won't be a grunt, he'll be used best for his capabilities.

Show him pictures of dead soldiers and pictures of what is going on in the Middle East.