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I HATE my son I can’t do this anymore

387 replies

rambleberry · Yesterday 20:41

I honestly dont even know why I’m posting. I just feel like I cant do this anymore.

He’s 13, turned 13 three weeks ago. I know he’s a child and I know how bad this sounds but I hate him. I hate saying that about my own child but I am at the end of my tether and nobody seems to listen when I say how bad things have got.

His dad died when he was 7 and I’ve brought him up on my own since then. I know he’s had a lot to deal with but I cant keep excusing everything because of that. I dont know what else I’m supposed to do.

This morning school sent him home because he was sick. He’s been sick again since he’s been home but he went to sleep for a bit and seems fine now. He asked if he could go out tonight and I said no because he’s been ill and I dont want him going out and then being sick again somewhere. That was it. Apparently I’m picking on him because he’s been ill, I’m always ruining everything and I never let him do anything. He started shouting at me and calling me names. I said I wasnt arguing about it and he got even worse.

He’s shoved past me to get out of the room and shouted that he hopes I die. Just screamed it at me. I honestly dont even know what to say to that anymore. I told him to get away from me and he carried on shouting. Now he’s in his room and I’m downstairs trying to calm down and he’s probably forgotten all about it already.

This is what its like here all the time. I can ask him to do something completely normal and it turns into a massive argument. He calls me a stupid bitch, pathetic, thick, says nobody respects me and that I’m a shit mum. If I get upset he says I’m being dramatic. If I shout back then apparently I’m the one with the problem. He knows exactly what to say to hurt me and sometimes I honestly think he does it on purpose.

I know I let him get away with things. I tell him the xbox is going off and he argues for ages, swearing and following me around the house, and sometimes I just give up and let him carry on because I havent got the energy for another row. Same with his phone. I’ve taken it off him because of things I’ve found on there and then ended up giving it back because I just cant cope with hours of shouting. I know people will say I’m making a rod for my own back and maybe I am but I’m so tired. I cant spend every evening fighting with a 13 year old.

The stuff he says online worries me as well. I’ve seen messages where he’s making really nasty comments about girls at school, mocking their looks and saying things about women being good for one thing. He’s watching these men online who talk about women like they’re worthless and repeating what they say. When I challenge him he tells me I know nothing and girls are just as bad. He doesnt seem to see anything wrong with it. I’ve tried putting restrictions on his phone but he gets round them and then I’m back to another argument.

I have tried asking for help and I honestly feel like I’m talking to a brick wall. He seems to have no limit to how nasty he can be when he’s angry. He’ll say the most horrible thing imaginable and then carry on as if nothing happened. I dont know how I’m supposed to keep dealing with this on my own.

I’ve even thought about ringing social services and saying I dont want him anymore. I havent done it but the thought has crossed my mind more than once. Just saying I cant have him here, I cant do this anymore, someone else needs to take over because I’m done. Then I feel disgusting for even thinking it because he’s my child and he’s only 13. But I genuinely dont know how much longer I can keep living like this. I dont want to abandon him but I also dont know how to help him when nobody seems willing to help us.

I hate what our relationship has become. I dread him coming home sometimes. When he’s out I feel relieved and then feel guilty for feeling relieved. I dont even want to speak to him after what he’s just said to me. I know people will say I’m the adult and I shouldnt feel like this but I’m a person as well and I can only take so much.

I know I’m not perfect and I shout and lose my temper. Sometimes I give in because I just want peace. I’m not proud of it. I just feel like I’ve reached the point where I dont know what to do next.

OP posts:
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Shoobadadoo · Yesterday 20:44

It sounds like he has unlimited access to online. I would start there. Parental controls on his phone and WiFi to limit him to very basic phone access. I can sort of see how it’s got this bad - he’s being influenced by the wrong people

Trottersup · Yesterday 20:44

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LoveWine123 · Yesterday 20:46

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What a horrible comment. She’s asking for help!

HylianShroom · Yesterday 20:46

Turn the WiFi off. Take his phone away. You will only have to deal with the arguments for one evening until he understands that you mean it but you can’t back down. Think about how awful he’s going to turn out if you carry on down this road.

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · Yesterday 20:47

You won't be able to just hand him over to social services so don't consider that an option. However if you contact Early Help for support they may be able to help with some repair work for your relationship, some parenting support for you and some emotional support for him. Teenage boys are often horrid, yours is extra horrid because he's emotionally scarred by his life experiences and you're lacking resilience because you're doing it all on your own. You need to ask for help. Do you have any family who can give you some support?

SadieSue29 · Yesterday 20:49

This is really a hard age. I used to wonder how my son hated me so much when all I did was try to help him
snd be there for him. He’s 15 now and things are much better.

You need to get a grip of what he is viewing online. It is really hard to be consistent with boundaries but you have to do it.

Does he have any positive male role models? Does he play a team sport?

Bushwoolie · Yesterday 20:49

Restrict his access to the internet and harmful materials.
Put your foot down.
Speak to pastoral team at the school see if you can be referred for family support. They do parenting courses for all sorts.
Therapy. For both of you, joint and single. He clearly needs someone away from you to talk to and process all his grief and teens angst.

It's ok to not like our children sometimes and I think what's happened is you're lost and don't know what to do for the best.

Step one is taking responsibility as the parent and making the changes you both need.

Boreded · Yesterday 20:49

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This is disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself for posting that.

The OP is being abused by her own child, and he is causing problems for women and girls online too…why can’t the OP be honest about how she feels, she hasn’t told him to his face.

SadieSue29 · Yesterday 20:49

Also another thing, my dad once said to me when my son was awful to me. You have to stop taking it personally, it isn’t personal it’s their age.

Slugtamer · Yesterday 20:51

Ask your local services for help, talk to social services, he is being radicalized online, is vulnerable due to suffering the loss of a parent. You are burnt out, ask for help, there will be charities who can support as well.

Asiana · Yesterday 20:51

I feel for you. Parenting alone is so hard, and he's looking for male role models, unfortunately finding the worst ones. Can you ask ss for help as in guidance, support, or is it 'all or nothing', they will just take him away? Your feelings are valid. Its a response to being verbally abused. I hope there is a way out of this for you both.

PrittySticky · Yesterday 20:52

Shoobadadoo · Yesterday 20:44

It sounds like he has unlimited access to online. I would start there. Parental controls on his phone and WiFi to limit him to very basic phone access. I can sort of see how it’s got this bad - he’s being influenced by the wrong people

This is absolutely the best place to start.
I think you will see a dramatic difference in his behaviour for the better within a week.

Did he have any professional support after the loss of his dad?

ParsonMaybold · Yesterday 20:52

He’s been through the worst thing a child can experience.

Would you consider counselling for you both? You need to fix this.

Fieldmiceears · Yesterday 20:52

Take his phone and xbox away. Stop giving in to the tantrums. Is there anyone you trust to be home with you for your own support while he tantrums in his room?

Ohdearwhatashame · Yesterday 20:54

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What an incredibly ignorant thing to say.

MrsAnon6 · Yesterday 20:54

Can the school or G.P help him access counselling? It sounds like he needs an impartial outlet for his feelings and anger.

hattie43 · Yesterday 20:55

There seems to be an awful lot of threads about nasty teenage boys abusing their mums . I wonder how much misogyny he’s watching on-line . As others have said set parental controls and limit his viewing .

AccidentallyWesAnderson · Yesterday 20:55

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Get off the internet and take a good look at yourself.

rambleberry · Yesterday 20:56

I know it’s awful and I know some of the things I’ve said sound terrible but I’m honestly exhausted. I’ve been asking for help ever since he started year 7 and the issues really started to arise but nothing has actually happened. I feel like I’ve been trying to get people to understand how bad things are and nobody listens until something really serious happens.
I’m single parenting two boys with a small age gap and I’m just completely worn out. I’m trying to keep everything going and deal with all this behaviour on top of it and I feel like I’ve got nothing left in me. I know he’s only 13 and I know he needs help but what am I meant to do when I’ve been asking for it and getting nowhere? I cant keep doing this on my own.

OP posts:
MrsAnon6 · Yesterday 20:56

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Iftheskywasbkue · Yesterday 20:57

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You are a nasty piece of work and woefully ignorant.

SomethingYum · Yesterday 20:58

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You’re an idiot

GrrrrEnergy · Yesterday 20:58

Considering the type of content you've said that he's accessing online, I'm baffled that you've not put an immediate stop to this... You're going to have to ride out the shouting. You can't let him continue accessing harmful material and abusing girls online...

Thehabbsareintheho · Yesterday 20:58

ParsonMaybold · Yesterday 20:52

He’s been through the worst thing a child can experience.

Would you consider counselling for you both? You need to fix this.

Yea, and the op who is being abused has no human rights whatsoever now because she chose to become a mother?

I think it disgusting, backward, ignorant and cruel that women who are being abused by their children are shamed for it and given full responsibility to sort it out when their nervous system is being hammered by abuse.

SlashBeef · Yesterday 20:59

Internet ban. Ride out the inevitable kick off.
Therapy ASAP.