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AIBU?

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Help with my 8 year old who is controlling me!

27 replies

MistletoeAndWine24 · 07/12/2024 14:43

Good afternoon,
I am here to seek some genuine actual advice not to read comments full of judgement so please if you have nothing constructive to say, do not say anything. This is stressful enough and I am now at a complete loss hence why I am coming on here pleading for help from strangers.

My son is 8, his dad was very controlling of me for the duration of his life, very abusive physically and mentally. I left that relationship 14 months ago now and have been a part of a womens refuge since. We do not live in refuge accommodation but a safe house. The refuge have done some 1-1 sessions with him, as have barnardos to no avail.

My son now displays all of the behavior his dad did, when I want to go out without him with friends he becomes very nasty verbally and displays behaviours that are concerning. I am going out this evening with my aunt and friends so he proceeded to say he is going to be naughty for the baby sitter, got a butter knife and began stabbing his leg and said 'i better answer my phone when he calls me' 'I better be home at 10 o'clock' This happens every single time i go out without him, day time or evening. Gp referred to CAMHS who said it is anxiety and referred for anger management. I just do not feel like professionals are hearing me and are missing the point that his behaviours are getting worse. I am now going to cancel my plans of going out just to save my baby sitter the evening from hell.

Please can anybody suggest what I can do? I take him out a fair amount and do not go out every week, I make sure he knows where I am going and who with so he knows I am safe but this has no effect. I just want some time to let my hair down without it being a battle😢

OP posts:
MistletoeAndWine24 · 07/12/2024 14:51

@Yarrrrr barnardos wont help any further as they said they have done everything they can. We do not have a social worker either since may, I have self referred back but they will not help either because i completed all the work necessary and all the necessary referrals has been made in reference to the CAMHS service. I'm banging my head off the wall nobody wants to help but this is not normal behaviour

OP posts:
Yarrrrr · 07/12/2024 14:47

I really wouldn’t cancel the night out - that’s classic reinforcement that his behaviour works and surely can only embed it further. It sounds incredibly hard, I’m sorry. Can you ask for more help from barnardo’s / the NSPCC / his social worker? Imagine you would qualify for one given the extensive history of DV if your son doesn’t already have one. Sounds like he needs it

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