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AIBU?

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Child deeply unhappy at school

29 replies

torially · 11/07/2026 00:12

7yo boy. Suspected adhd, possibly also autism. On a very long rtc waiting list with about 9 months to go. Hates school and comes home exhausted every day. Constantly talking about how he wants to go to another school. Says he is always told to stop doing things and that other children look at him, and teachers embarrass him. He said he wanted a drink in pe because he was hot and the teacher said no, but he felt sick and needed a drink to stop himself from being sick, but the teacher took it from him and poured it on the floor and said he won't be able to drink now. I have no idea how much of this is true, if he is exaggerating, etc, but he is clearly very unhappy. I don't know what to do. He has lots of friends but says he thinks nobody likes him. It breaks my heart watching him walk through the school gates every day with his head facing the floor. I've spoken to the school about how to support him as I feel he is unhappy and I am worried about him but they say he is fine and havr no feedback that even slightly matches what he is saying to me. Just feel very lost and feel so sorry for him. School was not built for him. How do I cope with this? How do I best support him? If the incident with the teacher pouring the water out is true, I do feel like this crosses a line into humiliating territory (they could have just taken the bottle away if it was really not appropriate for him to have a drink) but I have no idea what actually happened. I am totally exhausted by it all.

OP posts:
SassyLemonFish · 11/07/2026 07:00

Best thing is to express your concerns to the school so they can help.

Having said that, I am surprised a 7yo is talking about going to another school. Most 7yo aren’t aware of the option. When you are talking with him, are you inadvertently confirming his unhappiness? I’ve noticed, too, that it appears you condone his lies, saying it’s a coping strategy.

I’d caution against diagnosing all difficulties as proof of SEND. Sometimes sensitive little boys go through stages of angst. he has lots of friends, as you say, and what more can a new school offer? A new school is unlikely to allow him to do whatever he wants in the classroom, regardless of any ADHD. A new school is unlikely to allow him to have a water bottle in his hand while playing football, or while the teacher is trying to explain things in PE. I can guarantee you that in this hot weather the children will be given extra breaks for water, but in a controlled way that doesn’t interfere with learning.

torially · 11/07/2026 00:36

velomumhackney · 11/07/2026 00:27

is your son prone to lying? i’m surprised that your instinct is to think this event was untrue. given your son is deeply unhappy with school, something like that sounds entirely reasonable.
change school, if he’s unhappy in next school then it might be general feelings bout school, but it could be specific to this school.

Yes he has told lies before. Nothing like this but he has told lies to get his way. Not in a spiteful manner, but when he is overwhelmed he will lie so he doesn't have to do something. More often he embellishes things. Which is why I say I don't know what happened. I don't think he is lying. But he may be telling me something happened when actually it was something totally different. He only told me this afternoon so I need to ask the school about it.

OP posts:
velomumhackney · 11/07/2026 00:27

is your son prone to lying? i’m surprised that your instinct is to think this event was untrue. given your son is deeply unhappy with school, something like that sounds entirely reasonable.
change school, if he’s unhappy in next school then it might be general feelings bout school, but it could be specific to this school.

BiteSizeByzantine · 11/07/2026 00:23

Try a different school this one does not sound like a good fit.

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