Final answer:
Struggling with mathematics due to an excessive focus on personal interests and experiencing excessive guilt and inability to concentrate on tasks are two signs that a boy may not be in control of his life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two indications that the boy is not in control of his life could stem from various contexts provided, such as academic struggles overshadowed by personal interests, as seen where an eight-year-old son is failing math because his focus is solely on baseball. This suggests a lack of balance and prioritization abilities, indicating he may not be steering his own life effectively. Another indication is when life's pressures create excessive guilt and hinder someone's ability to concentrate, like Jarrett's case, where he feels guilty for neglecting his other obligations and struggles to focus on the task at hand, reflecting a lack of control.
Mental turmoil and difficulty maintaining life's demands, such as parental stress or work overload, can contribute to this notion. The case of a parent worrying over her teenager's dangerous behavior and low self-esteem is an additional example of a situation indicating that the boy might not be making decisions beneficial to his life trajectory. When a child's actions or reactions parallel these tumultuous experiences, it can hint at a loss of control in their life.