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Advice please - losing control

3 replies

Toastandmarmite999 · 24/03/2023 20:29

Hi - I'll try to keep it short - it's a bit rambling...

I have zero support - no family or close friends.
I"ve raised my 12 yeard old DD entirely on my own - had to move house 3 times - its not been easy, but I've given her the best I can - moved from the city to raise her in the countryside which she loves.

However, I'm worried.
She lies to me all the time - seems to not have feelings of guilt or remorse when she's found out.
Because I'm alone, I have no one to back me up when I'm trying to set boundaries.
I've caught her looking at stuff online that isn't appropriate and now she sneakily deletes her browsing history.
She cuts home from school across the fields - I've told her not to.
She eats crap at school - I've told her not to.
She does what she likes because she can.
I'm dreading the next 5 years as she grows. I've worked so hard to instill strong values in her, but it all seems to be going wrong.

She has no close friends.
I limit her phone time and when it runs out she literally goes to bed because she has no interests - doesn't like drawing, reading, listening to music.
She has no plans to see anyone this weekend.
She isn't depressed, she's actually quite a sunny personality, but It's Friday night 8 o'clock and she's just lying in bed, doesn't want to play a game or watch TV.

I wish we had a family and friends.
I wish her dad was around.
I wish both of us had 'lives'

It's just bleak.

Thanks for listening.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Ponderoveryonder · 24/03/2023 20:41

It’s a difficult age.
You say has no interests but she does love the countryside, so what does she love about the countryside ? Because ime you have to find anything to negotiate small wins. So is she into horses/ animals ? Does she get pocket money?
Presumably she has a bit of free time on her hands but doesn’t engage in many chores etc, but could you find a way for her to earn the things she wants?
If friendships are an issue, could you try to encourage a few easy social things at your house, movies / pizza nights etc?

Defenders · 25/03/2023 10:04

Hi Op. When did the lying start and can you tell us the reason her Dad isn't around?

welshmum2023 · 02/05/2023 20:36

I honestly feel like what you’ve said I could have written. I’ve raised my daughter on my own. She’s recently started lying about everything and doesn’t listen and I just don’t know what to do.

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