I think all kids are gonna go through that time when the parents aren't cool. And everything that can't be helped is gonna be the parent's fault. That's why you've got that support system in place in the youth group.
Interesting though... when you get through this... he'll think you're pretty cool again one of these days. Cause you're still there after all this crap.
Bein' a single mom I had a tremendous help by the youth leaders too. Our youth pastor had an awesome wife that was as much a part of the youth leadership as he was. Between the two of them they really took Myranda under their wing. Since we lived so far from town she'd spend weekends with 'em when the youth had lots going on. Now, because of them she has a real good idea of what kind of relationship she is looking for when she decides it's time to marry. She brings up lots of topics of conversation about how their relationship worked and things she has to remember. Those are things I couldn't teach her because there weren't no relationship there. Man, how many single parents miss that opportunity?
It's been interesting because all of Jr's close friends are in the youth group. He doesn't "hang" with anyone from school (although he might talk to some online). If he didn't want to play football, we'd send him to his mom's school with his buddies.
But football is important enough to him to stay where he is. I just wish he could make the connection that the reason we're so hard on him about his grades is so that he CAN play football.