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AIBU?

Son & PRU

1000 replies

DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 19:33

In desperate need of help and advice, I don’t really have anyone in real life I can speak to.


I am going to be as transparent as possible with this, there will be no drip feeding. So therefore it’s going to be quiet a long one.

I’m a single parent to my son who is age 13 years of age, I spilt with his father 9 years ago, because I wasn’t happy with his criminal activity, I am going to get into it now.

My sons father was jailed 2 years ago and he will not be coming home until my son is in his 20s.


He has been in prison a many times before, but charges have always been dismissed or he has gotten not guilty at trial, so his stays haven’t been long.

The majority of the time, I liaised with him and we both agreed to tell our son that he was “away” either working abroad or his native country. Which did work, because he would still provide the expensive clothes, gifts and money for days out and holidays etc from in prison.


The last two times, I refused to lie. I had had enough covering from him, and making out that he is a saint when he isn’t. DS finding out the truth did hurt him, but his father would always assure him that everything would be alright and that he would be home soon, and throw money at my son to make him feel better.


He promised my son that he would never go back to prison again, and my son believed him and that if he did, he would never speak to him and not want him to be his dad anymore.

So since he got convicted my sons behaviour has gone down hill. He has gone from that kind, humble (despite being spoilt rotten from his dad) caring and generous, to the complete opposite.

He has been permanently excluded from 3 schools, the first was his primary school. He was permanently excluded from his secondary school on the 6th week of him attending.

Fighting, bullying, being disrespectful to teachers, the last straw was him violently attacking a teacher. I managed to find him another school that would take him, three wouldn’t.


My son has always had the ability to make new friends and fit into friendship groups very easily, but I found out that at the second school, he was using money to buy friends. I was very disappointed in him, because I didn’t understand why he felt the need to do that. Before finding out from him that he just wanted to help them because their parents don’t have a lot of money.


Good few weeks, no complaints, I was beginning to think this was the start of him settling down.

Permanently excluded again, an attack on a student, teacher and damage to window.

He now attends a PRU, I am really not happy because the school is full of children with behavioural problems, so my child is not going to change.


There have been a few incidents just to name a few


  1. He went on a school trip, my child decided that he wanted to come home, I receive a phone call saying he has run away and that they’re trying to find him. I am sat at home frantic, school doesn’t allow children to bring in mobile phones, so no way off contacting him. Luckily he found his way home. Resulted in a 3 day exclusion



2. My son was rude to and used foul language towards a younger teaching assistant, reason behind this he made an appropriate comments towards me and asked my son if I was single. Which is totally unacceptable, when I raised this with the head teacher I was told that there was no one around at the time (so basically my son is a liar) my son wouldn’t lie about something like that. Resulted in a 2 day exclusion



3. Teacher wouldn’t let my son out of the classroom to use the toilet; so he climbed out of the window and urinated behind some bins in the playground (classroom was on the ground floor? I don’t agree with him doing this; but I believe he should have allowed to go. Resulted in a 3 day exclusion which I think it ridiculous and a very farfetched

4.
My son threatened to bring a knife to school and kill a teaching assistant (he has admitted) his reason behind it, said teacher is always singling him out and saying that he will not be going on the school trip, he has complained to me about this previously, I told him to ignore the teacher and that I’ll take him.


This incident happened on Tuesday was called to collect him, but due to the school strikes, I’m yet to hear back from school.


AIBU is to just withdraw him from the PRU and home school him, because his behaviour is just going from bad to worst.

Thanks for taking the time out to read this, much appreciated.
OP posts:
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Am I being unreasonable?

AIBU

You have one vote. All votes are anonymous.

KickHimInTheCrotch · 16/03/2023 20:05

It seems to me you are justifying and excusing your sons behaviour because you feel guilty for how his father's behaviour, and you lying to him for years about it, has affected him. He's reacting to your parenting.

I agree that a PRU us unlikely to improve his behaviour but he can't be in a mainstream school. Individual and family therapy is probably a good call. You need to stop making excuses for him.

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DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 20:05

@NorthernDrizzle No, he was very well behaved in school. It’s only since my his father went back to prison breaking his promise.

What do you mean by actively parent him? He is my child, I do everything for him! his happiness and mental health is very important to me.

OP posts:
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Pinkflipflop85 · 16/03/2023 20:06

Bloody hell.

I can't believe you're rewarding such awful behaviour by taking him out for a treat when he's been excluded.

You're exacerbating the problem.

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Chocadore · 16/03/2023 20:06

DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 20:03

@Nimbostratus100 Yes, it is a complete nightmare for me, I dread dropping him to school every morning, I’m anxious when my phone rings, I am always on hedge.

Our relationship is good, he is respectful towards me, helps out around the house. Cuddles me and always tells me he loves me, I am just not happy with the way he is behaving, I want the old him back.

@Merryoldgoat If I am honest; I am not doing anything, when he misbehaves and is excluded from school I’ll just take him on a day out somewhere nice. I tell him it’s ok, but I would like for him to stop fighting and bring disrespectful in school.

Jeez. Of course he's going to misbehave if he gets rewarded with going home and on a nice trip. Grow a pair, FFS!

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january123 · 16/03/2023 20:07

Did I read this right; it's only just now occurred to you he might need therapy?

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RafaistheKingofClay · 16/03/2023 20:07

I think she means discipline him but I think your previous answer has answered her question. Why the hell are you taking him out for a day trip when he’s excluded?

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Prescottdanni123 · 16/03/2023 20:07

Does your son see a therapist, OP? If not, it sounds like one may be beneficial.

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LuluBlakey1 · 16/03/2023 20:07

The issues with your son come from you and his father. You make continual excuses for him and have spent years lying to him and colluding with his father to cover up the reality of what his father actually is- an habitual criminal thug. Your son is spoilt and dysfunctional.

He is only 13yrs and likely to get much worse in his behaviours.

Difficult situation but all of his own and your making. The schools and PRU have done nothing wrong. Other parents will not want your son near their children actually. He needs help but it's probably too late.

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saltinesandcoffeecups · 16/03/2023 20:07

I think you’re having a tough time reconciling at home son with at school son. The biggest thing you need to do is accept that both ‘sons’ are true. Once you do that you’ll be able to see objectively steps that need to be taken.


First thing would be some type of counciling for him. But be prepared for him not to engage. The second thing I’d look for is programs for troubled teens…positive male role models… and that kind of thing. Your son needs to figure out how to deal with and channel the aggression that he’s showing. Maybe see if you can find something for children of offenders and incarcerated parents.

Lastly you need to start addressing school son at home. He’s talking to you …good. But I didn’t see any consequences in your post. What happens when he gets excluded or runs away from school.


Homeschooling is not the answer her (most likely), because school son isn’t just that way at school… he’s going to be that way away from home in other settings.

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bridgetreilly · 16/03/2023 20:08

Have you talked to the PRU. What are they doing to help your son? How
can you help to reinforce this at home? Withdrawing him would simply tell him he’s got away wth it.

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DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 20:08

@FourFour I am going to seek therapy for him, I am pretty confident that my son would never turn on me.

OP posts:
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RafaistheKingofClay · 16/03/2023 20:09

If you don’t want the PRU, then honeschool may be your only option. But I’d suggest therapy for him and a parenting course need to happen in addition to that.

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bridgetreilly · 16/03/2023 20:10

If I am honest; I am not doing anything, when he misbehaves and is excluded from school I’ll just take him on a day out somewhere nice

So you reward him for bad behaviour at school? I think you’ve found your answer to why he behaves badly at school.

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TheNefariousOrange · 16/03/2023 20:11

Bloody hell! He threatens to kill another human and you give him a day out? What will you give him when he actually does kill someone?

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DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 20:12

@bridgetreilly they have offered one on one mentoring, and I do not see taking him out for the day as a reward, I just don’t think it’s fair to keep him in the house all day, I know the things he is doing is wrong, but me punishing him is only going to make him upset.

OP posts:
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GettingThereCharleyBear · 16/03/2023 20:13

You are massively minimising gif behaviour and rewarding his exclusions. You need a parenting challenging teens course and fast.

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PaigeMatthews · 16/03/2023 20:13

DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 20:05

@NorthernDrizzle No, he was very well behaved in school. It’s only since my his father went back to prison breaking his promise.

What do you mean by actively parent him? He is my child, I do everything for him! his happiness and mental health is very important to me.

They mean how do you discipline him. Because reading the op it lols like you excuse his behaviour all the time.

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Marchforward · 16/03/2023 20:13

DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 20:05

@NorthernDrizzle No, he was very well behaved in school. It’s only since my his father went back to prison breaking his promise.

What do you mean by actively parent him? He is my child, I do everything for him! his happiness and mental health is very important to me.

I assume she means sets appropriately boundaries and react in an appropriate manner eg don’t treat him for threatening to kill people.

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PaigeMatthews · 16/03/2023 20:14

DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 20:12

@bridgetreilly they have offered one on one mentoring, and I do not see taking him out for the day as a reward, I just don’t think it’s fair to keep him in the house all day, I know the things he is doing is wrong, but me punishing him is only going to make him upset.

And this is why people say you are making everything worse.

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Grumpsy · 16/03/2023 20:14

DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 20:12

@bridgetreilly they have offered one on one mentoring, and I do not see taking him out for the day as a reward, I just don’t think it’s fair to keep him in the house all day, I know the things he is doing is wrong, but me punishing him is only going to make him upset.

🤦🏻‍♀️

i have no words- other than maybe good luck.

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bridgetreilly · 16/03/2023 20:14

No. Punishing will reinforce that his actions are wrong. It’s not fair that he gets to go for nice days out when he should be in school. You may not see it as a reward, but that’s what it is.

If he’s excluded from school, he gets to do chores at home; no devices during school hours etc.

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NorthernDrizzle · 16/03/2023 20:15

DrainedNFedUp · 16/03/2023 20:05

@NorthernDrizzle No, he was very well behaved in school. It’s only since my his father went back to prison breaking his promise.

What do you mean by actively parent him? He is my child, I do everything for him! his happiness and mental health is very important to me.

you said he was excluded from primary, he is 13 and his dad has been away for 2 years?

I mean:
Clear routines- bedtime and get up times
Screen time, monitoring internet, limiting gaming
meals sitting down as a family at fixed times
breakfast
Saying no?

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Merryoldgoat · 16/03/2023 20:16

Sweet. Fucking. Jesus.

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Hercisback · 16/03/2023 20:16

I want the old him back

He was excluded from primary at least 3 years ago. This is a long term problem exacerbated by spineless parenting on your part.

Taking him out is rewarding his behaviour. Exclusions should be boring not rewarding.

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RafaistheKingofClay · 16/03/2023 20:17

It’s supposed to make him upset.

I’m also fairly certain he’s not supposed to be in a public place during school hours while he’s excluded so you could be prosecuted if found out.

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