Oh yeah, I've failed.

[Dj13Francis]

I've got an 18 year old stepson, who I've known as long as I've known my wife, which is a bit over three years. He barely made it through high school, by the slimmest of margins. He's got no motivation except to spend as little time at home or with us as possible. He has no interest in anything his mom or I have to say. In his eyes, we are supremely uncool, and thus far I've been able to deal with that. Teenagers. I was one once...

But then tonight, he comes home and starts telling us about how this lady (who my wife well knows; his friend's mom) was talking to him about politics and apparently told him a lot of things which made a lot of sense to him. And these things were progressive in nature. And I agreed, and my wife said, "Yeah, she and Dave are pretty much the same politically." And he looked at me and said, "aren't you a republican?" I paused, mouth agape for a moment before saying, "NO! Of course not!!" Then he said, "I thought you were a Tea Partier." I said, "No, hell no, I'm a member of the GREEN party." And then he said, "oh, well whatever, same thing."

So I'm thinking in three years this kid has completely tuned out every damn word I've said. Gotta say, not making me feel like step-father of the year...

[Skittles]

1. you want I should kick his ass, Dj13Francis?

LEMME AT HIM

[JVS]

2. LOL! Mistaken for a teabagger! How unflattering.

[lunatica]

3. when he gets older he'll remember everything you ever said to him.

He'll even tell you of a couple of things you said that you won't remember until he describes how and when it happened. Then you'll feel the exact opposite of how you feel now. You'll know you didn't waste your breath.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

4. Aren't most step kids like this with their step parents?

I've never had a step parent, but the dynamics I've seen have never been family-like. They've always just regard each other as people who are "there". Kinda sad really. This doesn't surprise me.
Duckie

[angstlessk]

5. Well, my son by UTERUS birth and I got into an debate (argument)

about if he should get a job for the summer..and my vote was YES...cause he would see what WORK was like and probably go back to school with a vengeance..but...according to him...

IF I WANTED HIM TO WORK....HE DID NOT WANT TO WORK...Not his decision but mine...he NEVER KNEW!

[aquart]

6. Never mind. He's listening to someone on the good side!

Which means the country and his community will win in the end. And isn't that what we hope for our children?

Looks like nobody failed with this kid.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. He's a kid. Just starting to "get out". Give him a free pass this time.

And give yourself a free pass too. Sometimes stuff makes sense when someone else says it.

[peace13]

8. Maybe he thought you said ,,,Green Tea Party. : )

[Edweird]

9. No, you haven't failed. It's like that.

You're the guy 'doin' his mom and taking her
attention away from him as well as
dramatically altering their relationship dynamic.
And, of course, you're "not his dad".
I've been there and it sucks big time.
My last serious girlfriend had a teenage daughter.
I'm never going doen that road again if I can help
it.

[Terra Alta]

10. Your stepson believes in progressive causes.

Sounds to me like you succeeded. He's just a kid now, but when he gets older he will thank you.

[walerosco]

11. but he is failing in school

Thats not success. The failure is not communicating with your stepson for 3yrs. Family dinners anyone?

[Logical]

12. I feel your pain! n-t

[ecstatic]

13. That's very telling. nt

[Welibs]

14. Oh no, I don't think you failed at all! I think he heard what you said, ignored it

heard a person he considers cool maybe or respects, and something clicked inside. His ears heard what she said and he liked it and it's a good sign he has formed a political opinion even though I don't think he understands what the green party is. I would think you'd be happy he has awakened, his mother must be ecstatic.

Now take him to a computer and get him onto some political blogs like here and HP, TP etc. Introduce him to the low down dirty rats in the government and explain the structure, then let him go. Young people are always interested in the dirt first so take him to republicanoffenders.com. It will stir up even more passions. I'm sure he knows how to create an identity so he would be off and running in no time and when one or two kids do stuff like this and find they have a voice.

Don't forget to teach him etiquette for the various sites.

YOU MIGHT HAVE FOUND A WAY IN MAN, DON'T FOIST YOUR OPINIONS ON HIM TEACH HIM TO THINK FOR HIMSELF, SOMETHING HE HAS ALREADY STARTED.

NICE WORK, FATHER OF THE DAY!