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AIBU?

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To punish or not to punish? **MNHQ adding a trigger warning for violence**

129 replies

PleasenomoreIcanttakeit · 02/09/2019 23:23

More of a WWYD really. Been on here for donkey's years, but NC as this may be outing. And posting here for traffic as I need to make a decision tomorrow morning.

DD1 (11) is a bright, beautiful, intelligent girl with ASD. She struggles with social interaction, reading body language etc.

For months now her behaviour has been off the charts - she's threatened to kill herself numerous times, threatened to kill DD2. We have a family support worker and I finally, after years of trying, managed to get mental health services involved. They did a 90 minute chat a few weeks ago with me and DD1 - DD1 obviously being on best behaviour, and wrote to say they have no concerns and the file is being closed.

She shouts at us almost 24/7 - she starts shouting at me before I've even gotten out of bed in the morning. She doesn't talk, she shrieks. She hits and punches DD2 (and has hit me in the past). School was stunned when I told them this, as apparently she's an absolute angel whilst there Hmm. The past 7 weeks school holiday has been a whole new level of hell and today I just reached breaking point.

We had planned to go ice skating today (over an hour's drive away) - it is something she's always wanted to do, and I wanted a nice family day out (knowing full well it probably wasn't going to happen). Her behaviour all morning was so bad I said DD2 would be allowed to skate, but DD1 would have to sit and watch. In the end I turned the car around and went back home. I said that, if her behaviour was good this afternoon/evening and she redeemed herself, we would go tomorrow and she would be allowed to join in - this was her final warning. However...within 30 minutes she was screaming at me again. I gave it to her in writing that she would not be going tomorrow, and arranged for her to stay at her dad's for a few hours while DD2 and I went. She had a massive meltdown, once again screaming that I'm an awful mother, how much she hates me (I hear this on a daily basis), I never do anything nice for her, she might as well kill herself as that would make me happy etc etc. I snapped. I got a big knife, gave it to her and said, very calmly, that she had a choice to make. Kill herself or kill me. Either way she would be rid of me as she hates me that much. I pointed to my heart and said here, just stick it in here and you'll be rid of me. She started crying and saying she loves me so much and doesn't want me dead. After a while I went to my bedroom and ignored her shouting and screaming.

She came to me a while later, in tears - apparently DD2 had told her that she would rather lose her sister than her mum, but that she realised I would rather die than let her kill herself. She said she hadn't realised how much her behaviour had been hurting me and DD2, and that she was very very sorry. We had a long cuddle and a good chat. I told her that it broke my heart to see her so unhappy but that I just don't know what to do any more. I have done everything in my power to try and get her help but nothing works.

She promised (not for the first time by any long shot) to try and change her behaviour - she says something comes over her and she can't control it. A few seconds after the chat, she asked if I could please change my mind about the ice skating. Now I know a big part of the apology was because she wants to go skating, but for the first time in her life, I actually felt her apology was genuine, and I know that she's majorly stressing out about starting high school on Wednesday and this is reflected in her behaviour. However, DD2 and I have had enough.

So my WWYD is this: Do I follow through and not let her go skating, which would damage our relationship even further, or do I allow her to go skating, thereby undermining myself, and knowing full well that once the skating is over so will the repentance and better behaviour?

I honestly don't know what to do. She needs to face the consequences of her actions, but this is supposed to be a final treat before starting high school.

So...WWYD? What should I do. I am so tired and drained I can't think straight. I am fully aware that my behaviour today was very bad and unacceptable, but I had reached breaking point.

OP posts:
CSIblonde · 05/09/2019 17:05

'for months now' suggests there was a time when she wasn't like this? Can you talk with her about her rages & get to the root of it? You'd be surprised how much this could help her build coping strategies & learn to address anxieties so that she doesn't go from anxiety to acting out rage in a milesecond. Then, you need a plan for if you reach breaking point again, a time out for you both, even if it's you sit in the garden with a cup of tea etc til things are calmer. I wouldn't take her but I'd do a one on one thing she likes regularly & build in communication time to it regularly even if it's just home mani pedi on each other.

tobypercy · 05/09/2019 17:20

It's turned into a viscious circle. I can totally understand how you've got to this place but she isn't choosing to kick off, it's something she needs help with. She has promised to control herself and it sounds like she has tried but she finds it very hard. I could promise to fly but it doesn't mean I'd manage it.

Have you tried the book called the Explosive Child by Ross Greene. I think you'll find a lot of it familiar and it might help you.

PleasenomoreIcanttakeit · 05/09/2019 18:09

@CSIblonde - she's always been volatile and angry, but it has escalated dramatically over the past 9 months. We moved house, they started at a new primary school, had to make new friends, hormones are coming into play and now starting high school all in the space of 9 months.

DD2 started her period today and is quite upset and in tears. All hell broke loose because DD1 is not the centre of attention right now and is trying to make it all about herself. The fun just never ends.

Thanks for the suggestion @tobypercy, I will look into that. I've had a lot of suggestions of books to read Smile. Someone suggested 'Starving the Anger Gremlin' which looks like it's really good, but...on the cover it says from ages 5-9, so I know for a fact she won't even open it, as she's 11. She's very black and white.

OP posts:
BraveGoldie · 05/09/2019 18:38

Op, I am really glad to hear your update about the help you and your daughters are getting and sharing fully what happened. I admire you a lot for that. I know it must have been very hard and wish you all the best of luck in building a happier family life in such challenging circumstances.

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