To suspect my son is after something

[alfiethekittycat]

Hi I have a 14 year old son who never does anything without having to be told or asked at least 3 times, He just came downstairs and informed me he was gonna hoover and tidy the living room, not sure what he is after but I am scared, Should I be suspicious?

I've just read back.

Is he ok after the incident? Sorry, I'm in and out of the thread and didn't quite pay attention.

He MUST go to Thorpe Park.

He is ok now, he went to school on tuesday but couldn't deal with the comments and questions, he had told a few close friends but it had got around and he was being called dr pepper, I want him to go to Thorpe Park as well as he needs to rebuild his confidence, its also nice that he wants to do stuff for me too.

alfie - that is rotten being mugged for a mobile and a pretty horrendous attack too with pepper spray.

This happened to my nephew a couple of times (mobile and bike). Massively knocked his confidence for a couple of years and in the end was reluctant to leave the house and go to school. He is doing A levels at 6th Form college now.

Suspect your DS may be suffering a bit more than he is letting on. He is probably trying to say thanks for looking after him by doing some housework - but he might need a hug and a talk too.

Alfie, hope your son gets better... but as for the Thorpe Park crawling tactics.... MILK IT FOR ALL IT'S WORTH!!!

Get him to help you tidy his room, clean the car, take the cat for a walk....

Sit back and enjoy that cuppa he makes you too!!!

Given the distressing experience he had on Monday and how you supported him, is there any chance he might just appreciate what a fantastic parent you are and wants to help you out a bit? He loves you! Enjoy it (and be ready with the cash for Thorpe Park)!

alfie - I suspect BeenBeta's on the right track.

Ds was "half" mugged a while back (stuff handed back - bizarrely - indicating it's more about power than economics). It was a lot less grim than what your ds was subjected to - though still awful.

Ds was pretty shaken, and it was hard to be reassuring whilst not puncturing his attempts at self-reassurance.

Wrt the "jokes" at school - I think this is other children's (rather bad) attempts at coping with what is a pretty horrible feature of young people's experience now.

All the best to you and your ds.

Your Poor DS and poor you, too.

Let him vacuum and clean as he wants to. My 5 yr old DS was upset about something irrelevant to this discussion two days ago and afterwards he said "I just want to be close to you, mummy" but because I loved it!

Give yours a big cuddle, too. Poor kid.