I know a teenager who is very talented, and clearly clever in many ways. But sadly he fabricates things - and has admitted to one "offence" because he had little choice.
What he did was not "terrible", but he is a keen birdwatcher, and fabricated details of a bird that he said he'd seen at a nearby location. Had this bird been genuine it would have attracted hundreds of birdwatchers from all over the country. He posted details of it on several websites and clearly wanted to cause people to take notice. He also attached a photo of the bird which he later admitted was taken at a zoo when people noticed from the photo's details that it could not be a wild bird.
He was 15 then. When I asked him why he created the hoax he did not answer directly, but agreed it was very stupid. Rather than impress people, he has actually made a complete fool of himself. Many hundreds of birdwatchers know about this case - and few will now listen to anything he says in the future.
I am sure he tried to create the same effect once again, but this time in the third person - so a kind of double hoax.
I also know that he recently submitted a photo for a competition of UK wildlife images which he took abroad rather than in the UK. He has a number of awards already - but it seems that winning by honest means is not on for him.
I am about the same age as his parents, and I am married with no children.
SO....... my question to you is this. Should I tell his parents - or should I just confront him again myself? I am one of the few people who is prepared to give him a second chance, and I have tried to help him - but now he has lied to me.
Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.
Teenagers
Do I tell the parents of a teenager that I know he has been lying?
milvus · 26/07/2013 20:16
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