quick one for you.
DS - 7 years old. Placed for approaching a year.
Habit of telling fantastical tales, not taking responsibility for actions, deflecting blame, and latching on to mitigating circumstances, ie if DH and I say 'I know it's difficult for you because of x, y and z, next time he's in trouble, he'll say I did it because of x, y and z). Latest 'x y and z' is the multiple moves he's had.
A while ago, teacher reports he's been pushing and shoving at school to the extent 3 children had complained. 2 days later, he admits he shoved someone again. He gets very upset when talking to him about it, but crucially not upset for his actions he's upset that he's in trouble, says anything to deflect blame (so and so was doing it too. I didn't know you shouldn't (despite conversations taking place 48 hrs earlier between us where he's told he shouldn't), and the latest excuse, it's because he's had so many homes.
Got to the point where teacher was coming to talk to us 2-3 evenings a week to report further misbehaviour. So last Friday, after the latest, we said if teacher 'had a word' once this week, he'd miss out on a party he's been looking forward to.
Tonight, the dreaded 'can I have a word?' He's drawn on a fellow classmates t-shirt all over in pen. Which would be fine but 2 weeks ago he drew on a onesie. We spoke about it at the time in an attempt to understand why. He wanted a police badge on his onesie. We said that a better thing to do would have been to put one on paper, cut it out, stick it, blah blah. We also reinforced that clothes were not to be drawn on (nor skin, just paper).
His excuse to the teacher? I didn't know I shouldn't do it because I've lived in so many houses. (DH and I have recently shown empathy with his multiple moves). He got incredibly upset for 5 mins at the thought of missing his party. Now, he doesn't appear to give a toss.
I admit I'm getting frustrated and am running out of ideas how to discipline him (and offer empathy of any description when it immediately gets used as an excuse... (He really 'has form for this))
How would you handle this/what ways of discipline would you use? (please no one say time in. It's all any of the experts suggest and it does fuck all)
Sorry... I thought that would be shorter!!!
Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on adoption.
Adoption
Disciplining adopted DC
crackerjack00 · 12/03/2015 17:04
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