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Desperate for advice - out of control 9 year old

46 replies

Goldfish · 18/08/2004 14:45

My youngest ds is so difficult sometimes that I am despairing of what else I can do. For example, I was just on the phone to my sister and ds couldn't pump his bike tyre up properly, I told him I would help when I had stopped talking - it was only a short call. He then shouts at the top of his voice F off, storms upstairs and kicks his bedroom door. This sort of thing happens often. He swears a lot and just doesn't seem to be able to control his temper. Afterwards he says he is sorry and sometimes gets upset but I am not taken in by that anymore as it always happens again. I have tried everything i can think of, no pocket money, early to bed, sent up to bedroom, not allowed out with friends, but nothing takes effect. His brother is so calm and well behaved, total opposite. Ds is so good at school, polite and extemely bright his report said. At home though he reckons his life is Crp, and boring. We have just had 2 weeks in Ibiza and if we had let him he would have ruined it because he was so difficult. On the plus side, when he is good he is really good, very loving. He is really getting me down now though. He seems to think he can say what he wants, say hes sorry and thats it. I can't get him to realise that his behavour is just not acceptable inthe first place. Hasa anyone been through this and got any ideas? All advice gratefully received.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
macwalters · 31/08/2004 20:58

I have 3 boys my middle one who is 9 is an absolute pickle. My toddler thinks p... off is normal and will say it out loud in front of any crowd. He has picked this up from the 9 year old and I also don't know how to stop the 9 year old from winding him up. I dread going back to school on Thursday as the bitching from the other mothers (who of course all have perfectly well behaved kids) all starts up again, and that fear of the phone call from the head is always on my mind. If anyone has any good tips please let me know.

mvgf · 01/09/2004 10:49

Am thinking if these kids were mine I would be taking them for councelling, truly as kids grow older it/they/the pressures just keep getting worse. Heaven help you poor Mums then, they already sound rather out of control, you really need to pull the choker chain a bit tighter I feel and reach out for some help before their problems escalate, drugs etc come later on a bit so try damned hard to get them sorted out now.
They sound so ANGRY....WHY???

Good luck to you all.

kkgirl · 01/09/2004 22:22

mvgf

Your post is very interesting, but where could we go for counselling. I know Relate have special family centres but there are in certain areas of the country. I don't know how else we could get counselling.

mvgf · 01/09/2004 22:36

kkgirl and others

I would suggest you try asking your schools, sometimes they have services available. Or you could go through your doctors, they are all able to refer you on, just stick with it and ASK ASK ASK, don't give up there WILL be support agencies, churches often have available services and they don't preach to you, just help you and the family.

Bottom line, there is one hell of a lot of pressure on EVERYONE of us these, days sadly it takes on all age groups too.
Just try to keep loving your kids, I know it is hard, I have 4 and SOMETIMES I ask myself WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!

We can all only do our best.

Goldfish · 02/09/2004 16:52

Hi mgvf, thanks for your advice. I have been thinking about counselling. At school ds2 is so well behaved they don't believe me if I comment on his behaviour. He does seem a very angry person and he has always been very demanding even when he was a baby. As long as his day is action packed he is o.k. I have been very strict with him recently and sticking to my guns. He is happy today as he is back at school, no worries there and is now playing football. He doesn't stop from morning until night. I do think a lot of his problem is pent up anger and frustration. The swearing I don't know about as I rarely swear and my dh and ds1 never swear either. But I have really clamped down on that. I would just like to know where it is coming from. Whatever, even though sometimes I don't like him much I still really love him.

OP posts:
Goldfish · 02/09/2004 16:54

Sorry mvgf, got your name wrong

OP posts:
kkgirl · 02/09/2004 18:09

mvgf

We did try going to the doctor when our ds started running off and jumping out of the car. We were referred and following a chat for 1/2 hour when ds played mostly, we were told that he didn't have any disorders/conditions etc and that unless he is a problem at school, which he is not, he is the model pupil, quiet and well behaved, then the best we could do was attend parenting classes. We were both happy to do this, but it was for four hours on a weekday morning. Even if I changed my day off for it, DH couldn't have 4 hours off every week for six weeks.So we didn't go.
I would try counselling, but I don't think ds could say why he gets so upset and aggressive, he just does.

I am on the waiting list for the book, and might try the Little Angels book which has been listed on another thread

poppyh · 02/09/2004 19:07

Hi,
My friend is a primary school teacher.I have spoken to her regarding DS and she says you have to be referred for counselling via your Gp.
Trouble is that my DS wont talk to the GP.We've been to our gp to discuss any anger or pressures he feels, but he will not open up to anyone.
I think my Ds feels the pressures of school and life more than some of his peers, I know I did.
All I can do is be firm,be supportive and loving and remember that I came through it.I can remember how rotten I was,its scary!!

kkgirl · 02/09/2004 20:24

Poppyh

Yes, my ds sounds like yours. We did go to the GP and were referred on, but ds wouldn't talk about how he feels, I'm not sure he would be able to explain how he feels himself. I have found that if I can ignore the bad behaviour and behave in a calm manner and not let him see that he is winding me up, it is easier. The running off is obviously meant to shock and frighten us.
He does respond quite well to a good behaviour challenge, for example, we will say that we know he has been good, but we are sure that he couldn't be good all morning or something. We say it in a joky sort of manner, and he will try very hard then, but you have to make sure to overdo the praise and keep repeating it. Difficult to keep going all the time especially when you have others to see to.

poppyh · 03/09/2004 09:43

I know how you feel.This summer he has really improved and my dh and I are taking him to Spain for a weekend without little DD so we can spend some time just with him.You are right, I find if I can keep calm and ignore him it is easier.

kkgirl · 05/09/2004 21:48

Just to report that dd and the ds's have been brilliant today. Well dd and ds1 went Ice Skating, DS1 and I skated while DD was a an Ice Skating Party and DS2 was playing football, but even when they were back together from 5 on they were really good, no fighting or bickering at all.
And we actually had tea all together around the table at the same time, unknown occurence in our house

Goldfish · 06/09/2004 15:56

Hi kkgirl, Glad to hear you had a good weekend. So did we actually. I have just got a letter from the library to say that The Explosive Child is in
so I will read that with interest.

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kkgirl · 06/09/2004 16:06

Goldfish

Let us know then if there are any good tips.
I haven't heard from our library but they did say that it would take a while to get it.
In general mine seem to have calmed down a bit since starting school last week, definitely more subdued anyway

Goldfish · 06/09/2004 17:27

I will let you know kkgirl. I don't know if I will get to the library until Friday though as I am working a few extra hours this week, and after school we have a lot on. Ds2 definitely is happier at the moment. He does enjoy school and seems to be popular. He is already sleeping out next weekend and someone else wants to take him out for the day. He does have a lot of friends. He is off to football in a few minutes so is busy today. I do hope he stays happy. My dh goes away to work on Wednesday for 2 weeks. That is usually when things get difficult. We shall see.

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kkgirl · 08/09/2004 08:24

Hi

Just wondered if going back to school has helped your children.
Mine are so much better now, its almost like they need the routine to keep them calm.
There have found it a bit hard adjusting again, a few tears from my dd, someone saying nasty things about her, which I have told her to ignore and my ds saying someone hacked him down in football, but there is none of their wildest behaviour. Even a few days rest from refereeing them all makes everything feel so much better, actually enjoying being with them and my stress levels are a lot lower than over the summer holidays

Goldfish · 08/09/2004 22:45

Ds2 does seem better now he is at school. We had a bit of an episode after school yesterday and my dh took over that time which done ds2 good and today he has been very loving and calm. Both dss get on very well at school. They are both in the top groups for everything and seem to enjoy learning. I will see what happens now as dh is away. Hope you carry on feeling happier.

OP posts:
SueW · 20/09/2004 18:19

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Freckle · 20/09/2004 18:23

I've got it but not read it yet. Tbh, I was rather put off by the initial blurb which seemed to indicatee that it was all do to with parents who were afraid to say "no". This is definitely not the case here as a lot of the major arguments with DS2 is because of his behaviour when we do say no.

Do you think it's worth persevering? If only to find something out about myself??

kkgirl · 01/10/2004 21:00

Have just picked up "The Explosive Child" which I had ordered from the Library.
I can't imagine how I am ever going to have the time to read it. It looks very intense, and not the sort of book which you could pick pieces out from.

WedgiesMum · 02/10/2004 20:46

kkgirl - hope you are not put off by the book and have started to read it. It is actually quite accessible, or at least I found it to be, and the language used isn't too off putting either and there wer lots of good examples. Just a quick message of support really..

kkgirl · 03/10/2004 08:35

Wedgiesmum

Thanks for the support. I must admit I looked at it, felt really daunted, and thought when will I ever have the time to read all this!!!

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