friend issues

[stormchaser]

A bit of background- my son is nearly 17 and for all of those years we have had a lovely placid happy go lucky lad but recently all this has changed.
He has acquired a new best friend and he is totally swayed by this boy even to the point where he was encouraged to fabricate this story for his boss(he had a part time job) about a knackered shoulder which ended up with said boss letting him go.
He also encouraged him to knock 6th form and it got to the point where all our trust was gone.
Last week they fell out and it was like we had our lad back it has been lovely he has seen his other friends but not this one.
Now they are back mates and its like he has morphed into a mini version he is right now all the things i dont like.
Tonight we have had a big blow out row.
I suppose i have just come on for a moan im sorry for lack of punctuation am just very cross and gutted that he is off on one again!

sorry your having such a rough time atm. its very difficult when you think a friend of your dc is leading them astray esp if he's ended up losing his job over it, and i understand if you say you cant get him to talk about it, im presuming you tried but got the usual grunts /or shouting and slamming doors.
maybe you need to tackle it from a whole new angle and when he is in a more gentle mood just having a cuppa and ask him whats he thinking of doing or maybe suggesting if hes not sure now he can return to studies later and maybe he needs a break it could be good to encourage a time out trip abroad withsomeone or a relative where he can travel and do some work as maybe this will get him away from this charecter, maybe you need to let him know what you told us (without mentioning or blaming this friend) that he was lovely a jolly again his old self last week is something upsetting you if all else fails do you have another relative ie grandparent or aunt he likes maybe thay can take him to footie or something he likes an approach it letting him know you still love him but are very concerned hes ot ok and about his happiness, my dc's are a bit younger but i think openess without the anger showing them youve been hurt by his actions but you just want the old dc back you miss him , let us know what happens good luck