My son is delusional. Where does this arrogance come from?

[Anonymous]

He's going through this phase where he thinks he's God's gift. It's obnoxious and I feel like it could get him tormented at school, likely behind his back. He posts pictures with girls from school but their body language suggests they're sort of repelled away from him.

Yesterday he made some attention seeking post on Facebook about how thankful he was for everyone that has made him "so successful up to this point in my life." Honestly, it made me cringe. That's something a kid who just got into Harvard might say or a kid that just got a football scholarship to Alabama. By every metric he's average.

[Anonymous]

I know on one hand you want to monitor his social media accounts, but on the other hand you need to detach and log out. Most adolescent boys are arrogant and intolerable and their social media posts are going to be 100% cringeworthy. He will get past this and you need to remember that this behavior is normal.

[Anonymous]

I feel bad for kids these days that their idiocy is documented on the World Wide Web. Mines thankfully for review in a dusty box in my parents basement in a journal, as it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know on one hand you want to monitor his social media accounts, but on the other hand you need to detach and log out. Most adolescent boys are arrogant and intolerable and their social media posts are going to be 100% cringeworthy. He will get past this and you need to remember that this behavior is normal.

It's not just social media. He's in his own world, suspended from reality. Even comparing his friends' social media to his they do not do this. He solely is this cringe-y and try-hard. There are a few others in his grade that actually are supremely accomplished athletes, scholars, musicians, volunteers and even they don't act this way. How does he think his "accomplishments" warrant this braggadocio but they don't? And how do I get him to see this. I feel bad for him because he's so clueless.

[Anonymous]

Tell him to get a job and make him understand how tough life is in real life.

[Anonymous]

Delete the pictures of the girls. He may not have their permission to use them. Take away his Facebook account.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like low or stunted social IQ?

[Anonymous]

Taking pictures with girls to seem like a popular lady's man is a cringe factory.

[Anonymous]

Then coach him.

I have a child with Aspie tendencies and a heavy family history on spouse's side of Asperger's, ADHD, and other disorders affecting social behavior. He is younger than your son but really needs things explained to him in black and white sometimes. When I see some of his cousins and even occasionally my husband, lacking some basic social skills, it makes me cringe, and I don't want that for him, so we get beyond the initial awkwardness of talking about such things and discuss how we are perceived and what we can do or not do to achieve a certain image.

[Anonymous]

Do people reply to his posts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know on one hand you want to monitor his social media accounts, but on the other hand you need to detach and log out. Most adolescent boys are arrogant and intolerable and their social media posts are going to be 100% cringeworthy. He will get past this and you need to remember that this behavior is normal.

It's not just social media. He's in his own world, suspended from reality. Even comparing his friends' social media to his they do not do this. He solely is this cringe-y and try-hard. There are a few others in his grade that actually are supremely accomplished athletes, scholars, musicians, volunteers and even they don't act this way. How does he think his "accomplishments" warrant this braggadocio but they don't? And how do I get him to see this. I feel bad for him because he's so clueless.

Troll or real asshole of a parent?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like he is very insecure. Is this totally out of character for him? Is he a young teen or older. I agree with the fact that he sounds like he's missing some social cues. Also, as a parent, you should be Captain of Team Your Kid. He might have some maturing to do, but he should know you are in his corner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's going through this phase where he thinks he's God's gift. It's obnoxious and I feel like it could get him tormented at school, likely behind his back. He posts pictures with girls from school but their body language suggests they're sort of repelled away from him.

Yesterday he made some attention seeking post on Facebook about how thankful he was for everyone that has made him "so successful up to this point in my life." Honestly, it made me cringe. That's something a kid who just got into Harvard might say or a kid that just got a football scholarship to Alabama. By every metric he's average.

I'm not seeing the problem with this post. He's thankful to others, recognizing that other people have helped him in his life, and believes himself to be successful. Sure, maybe there are others who have been successful, but people should not solely compare their accomplishments to others.

He has a healthy self-esteem and isn't doing anything to hurt people.

[Anonymous]

You sound like you really hate your son. "Average"? Who decided that- you? Good for your son for not buying it.

[Anonymous]

What does he think is successful about his life?