I'm back from my family vacation and I must tell you ..... I am SO glad we went.  The timing couldn't have been better considering the struggles we were experiencing with our youngest son.  He won't admit it, but I know he enjoyed himself.  Our middle guy, now 18, since hitting his teen years has been such a downer because of his depression over the years....never thanking us, never enjoying himself.  This time, however, he thanked us profusely for taking our family on the trip.  I am so happy that he is doing so well.  And I know our baby will get through with whatever he is dealing with.  I have a new confidence on how to parent him because of all the time I've been putting into this --- the vacation helped.  I've been doing some reading and talking with my husband.   It's been so difficult to convince him that we have to be more firm and clear AND on the same page when it comes to parenting this challenging son of ours.  I am still in the process -- reading to him directly from one of my books to show him that it's coming from a professional and not just from me.  He's a tough sell.....but I will not give up.  He is more receptive.....mainly because he's been seeing that what we have been doing hasn't been working.  So.....tomorrow we have our family therapy with our son...and I am hoping that we will get some direction.