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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Worried DS14 is being taken advantage of by boy 16

5 replies

babychicks · 09/08/2025 16:57

Reposting over from teenagers for traffic. Sorry if this is long I dont always know how to get the words right I’m autistic myself so sometimes I dont know if I’m over thinking or not.

My DS is 14 he is 15 in September. He’s autistic as well. In year 7 he was in a little group at school that met once a week to play board games and do talking stuff to help with confidence and social things. There was a boy there I will call him J. He’s about 2 years older than DS. J is 16 now and will be 17 in November.

Back then they got on and I thought it was nice he had a friend a bit older. But about a year later J got permanently excluded from school because he really badly assaulted a boy. DS said it was after football or something and the boy fell and broke his arm because of how he landed. J was sent to a PRU after that. I felt a bit uneasy but I still let him come over sometimes because I knew DS was here and safe. J would say the PRU was shit and he didn’t bother going and his mum didn’t care.

Fast forward to March this year DS met him after school and DS said J was in a bad mood and knocked DS phone out his hands and it smashed. DS said it was on purpose but J told him after he didn’t mean to. Next day J came over all apologetic and begged DS to still be his friend. DS agreed.

Since then it’s like J has got a tighter grip on DS. DS suddenly started saying J is his boyfriend. I have no issue at all with DS being gay if he is but I didn’t know before this. J wants to come over a lot and I’ve not felt like I can say no because DS gets upset. He eats tea here most nights and plays games.

The last couple of months DS has been taking money from me and I think J has told him to. DS says no but I just have a feeling. I didn’t think they were actually in a relationship but last night DS came home with love bites and when I asked he said they were just messing about. He also told me they were going to the cinema but I found out they actually went to J’s house which makes me feel weird about it. I know J smokes weed and DS has come home smelling funny a couple of times.

Other things I’ve noticed J will tell DS not to tell me stuff or say things like his mum doesn’t care what he does so why should I. Once I heard him say to DS that if he really loved him he would prove it.

I just don’t know if this is normal teenage friendship stuff or if DS is being taken advantage of and I’m scared of making a scene if it’s just nothing but it doesn’t feel right.

OP posts:
LolloPollo · 09/08/2025 17:05

I don’t blame you OP - J sounds well dodgy tbh - he’s manipulating your DS

i know because I’ve been your dad in this situation

Spanglemum02 · 09/08/2025 17:15

J may be autistic as well.but he is manipulating and taking advantage of your son. Your son is 14 and i think he needs a break from J.
Have you asked him what he thinks about J? Can your son go away (with you or to a relative)?

Do you have any supprt workers/social workers you can ask for advice? Can you contact J's mother?

Remember, you're your son's mum and you can have different rules to J whether he likes it or not.

I'm not having a go at you, i think you're right to be concerned. I think J can come over but mayge not the two of them meeting up outside your home.

waterrat · 09/08/2025 17:19

Woah. Not normal at all. If your son was a girl maybe you would feel stronger saying no to such an intense relationship at this age?

Perhaps the lines here are muddied between friend and boyfriend.

LolloPollo · 09/08/2025 17:32

I’d just give your DS PLENTY of emotional support and a happy home environment so he’s got the confidence himself to end the social link with J if he feels it’s a negative one

MyCosyNavyShaker · 09/08/2025 17:37

"DS you're underage and the relationship is inappropriate, you should not be alone at his house. You're no longer allowed alone with him ever"

Are you able to end the friendship, would DS listen to you? I'd have said he wasn't allowed over after he broke the phone, he's clearly struggling to regulate himself and your son could be in danger if he upsets him. My dd is occasionally violent and aggressive and also autistic. I would understand someone ending a friendship with her if she behaved that way

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