Reply To: Going off the Derech

YG1- I don’t think I ever mentioned that I wish my son would love his school. On the contrary, I used to beg my son to consider switching yeshivas, when I saw years ago how some of the kids tormented him. But even though I agree with all of you who have said that he has to get into something productive, or he should go to a different yeshiva, unfortunately it is all a moot point. First of all, at 16 years old, he is basically calling the shots on if and where he goes. I can’t force or convince him at this point to do anything he doesn’t want to do. Secondly, he is so hurt inside from his yeshiva (and I can’t seem to repair THAT particular damage), that he’s turned off to considering going to another yeshiva at this point. He’ll either stay where he is for now and continue to try to get a feeling of acceptance, or he’ll quit entirely. I just have to pray that this experience didn’t damage him so much that he won’t, chas v’shalom, be unsuccessful in his life from lack of self esteem.