My youngest son is 10. It's just us at home, as my eldest lives away for university. Youngest son sees his dad 8 hours a month, the rest of the time we are together. I go to work, come home and we're together constantly aside from this.
Recently, I've been having a few issues with his attitude towards me. My eldest son was home for a visit this week and ended up having a serious word with him about the way he speaks to me and ignoring anything I ask of him.
I went out for a very, very rare tea with my best friend and was gone three hours. I came home and he was instantly "hug me mummy", or "kiss me mummy", as well as "you went out without me, I don't like that." It's the first time I've been anywhere since I don't know when. He's ended up getting himself so worked up, he was sick.
I've struggled a lot the last 12 months, due to the constant overwhelm of working full time, mum life full time with no break and the constant demands and refusal of doing anything I ask. It was so nice to get away for a short time and just be me. Then I come home to the guilt and him making himself ill.
My question is, how do I handle this? It's not healthy for a child to be so reliant on a parent that they make themselves ill. He would have also have been worked up about being spoken to about his behaviour, but in honesty, he needs to be told what a hard working mum he has, and so I don't feel bad for him being held responsible for his attitude towards me.
Every day is a battle of him refusing to listen and then consequences if I have a brief break or someone defends me. I honestly feel like I'm going to crack up. Please help.