Parenting is not an easy job for anyone. Kids (especially boys) don't like to have to listen to mom. I am sure that you are doing the best that you can. We all come from different places and lifestyles that we learn from. One important thing that I've learnt in dealing with my child - I try to follow the advice of the doctor. My mother also says "he's growing taller" and "he'll grow out of it". I told her that she had her chance to parent. I've learnt that she was wrong about alot of things. It was hard to hear the doctor tell me that he was overweight-but if he didn't tell me, I may have thought that he was fine. After our first visit to the doctor, we went back and he lost 6 lbs-everytime he was insistent on overeating compulsively I told him beforehand that he need to go on the treadmill first. That worked for a little while, now we do tennis. I'm still working at it. Good luck