Every time I look at my son, I think of a little banty rooster prancing around, showing himself off to the hens (ladies).  He acts just like one at times.

Rance is fifteen.  He thinks he is God's gift to women.  Always showing off, taking crazy chances, trying to win their hand to go on a date (but not succeeding very well).  He has a mouth on him that makes a Dumpster look sparkling clean ... and an attitude to match.

Just about every day my husband and myself get into shouting matches with Rance because we don't like the way he smarts off at us or thinks only of himself instead of others.  According to him, it's his way or the highway; if you don't agree, he'll do his level-headed best to run you over!

Rance used to be a good kid.  Then, when puberty/adolescene hit, hoo-boy!  He changed dramatically!  From a sweet, compassionate child who attended church and helped others, Rance turned into a grouchy old polar bear with a lion-sized chip on his shoulder and has since closed the world off (unless it revolves around him, that is).

Both Doug and myself are butting heads because we don't know what to do about our son.  We've tried counseling more than once; that went over like a lead balloon.  Rance threw a duck-fit and said if we ever tried it again, he would kill himself.  So we gave in to him and let him be.  Wrong thing to do; we are now paying for it in spades because Rance is worse than ever.  He yells curses at us, hits his mentally handicapped younger brother (Ian; he's six), kicks the cat, and probably smokes or drinks; sometimes when he's come home, we've smelled the unmistakable odors of beer or cigarettes on his person.

We are seriously thinking of enlisting him into military school because it's obvious to us (and others) that the boy is in sore need of discipline or a major attitude adjustment!  This little banty rooster has pranced around for the last time; now is the time to pluck some feathers out!