DS has always been wilful, opinionated, strong minded - I don't mind it. It's who he is and that's it. There have been clashes - he doesn't like to be told ANYTHING - and I can be a hot head. But we are also close.
But the past 6 months, we have really struggled with him. He's become so...obnoxious. And when he's not acting like he knows everything (when he knows nothing), he's defensive. If he does badly in a test (because he didn't revise), he'll say immediately, well look at how well I've done in others. This is just a lapse. But there are many lapses...because he doesn't want to learn from his mistakes.
It makes having any sort of conversation impossible - about anything. He just thinks he either knows it, or we can't help him/teach him anything, takes it as criticism, or fires back insults and criticism to us.
It's exhausting and pretty depressing - even when I try and take the softly soflty approach.
Is it an age and stage? Is he insecure hence the above? I guess I'm trying to figure it out to strengthen the connection, but maybe I'm overthinking it. His sister was nothing like this.