I am a single parent of three children. My eldest son is almost 13 and is in the very early stages of puberty ie he has become noticeably bigger, taller and stronger recently.
The problem I have with him is that he constantly puts me down and makes jokes at my expense inferring that I'm stupid, useless, can't drive, you name it. His favourite thing to say to me is that I have no friends, which isn't true, but still hits a raw nerve as I hardly have any free time to devote to my social life, and sometimes suffer from a lack of social confidence.
I have tried explaining that I feel upset when he says these things and that slipping in constant put-downs under the guise of jokes is not acceptable, but he continues.
We have had a huge row about it today, and I feel like shit. I'm the adult, I love my son, and I don't want to be putting a big trip on him, but I hate the way he treats me. Getting him to do the washing up just once a week or help out in any way involves having to have an argument so exhausting it almost isn't worth it. There are consistent boundaries in place eg if he doesn't pick his dirty clothes up off the floor or do his once a week turn at the washing up, his pocket money gets deducted, but it doesn't make any difference. He rages against me enforcing these boundaries and can really get very unpleasant at times. But it's the constant disrespectful comments and jokes about my intelligence and capabilities that really get to me.
I have started to feel incredibly resentful as well as sad. I work really hard for my family. I care for three children and run a home on my own. I work at a sometimes very stressful job in order to try to provide my children with everything they need. I've spent an awful lot of money these holidays on treats and entertainment and days out for them, and although I know that doesn't mean they owe me anything, I just feel that I have the right to expect a basic level of respect and courtesy.
Am I being over sensitive? Would really appreciate some perspective here.
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Help - feel utterly ground down by eldest sons constant put-downs and lack of respect.
Makeyerowndamndinner · 03/09/2011 18:24
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