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Somebody please help me, I really need some advice, I hate my son at the moment

22 replies

drinkmoretea · 21/04/2010 20:37

He is just 10, and I would say most of the time he is lovely, but it's not mostly anymore, he can be so loving but now he's just horrible, really horrible. He gets in a strop at the least thing, ie telling him to get out of bed in the morning when he doesn't want to, when pushed further he then gets aggressive by shouting at me. Often he then apologies sometimes after a minute sometimes a bit longer.

I've tried ignoring him and letting him get on with it, which works occasionally, I'm ashamed to admit I have also got into a shouting match with him, I'm just at a loss as what to do

Has anyone got any advice please?

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cyb · 21/04/2010 20:41

saying you 'hate him' is a bit harsh so think about disliking his behaviour rather than HIM.

Sounds like you ahve got yourselves in a negative pattern of communication.

he may be becoming more teenagery and trying his luck a bit more, and pushing you.

A couple of books that have really helped me when I have been at my wits end are How to Talk so children will listen and 'get out of my Life! ...but first take me and alex into town' which is strictly about teens but is relevent to you too I reckon.

Try to keep calm, fight fire with water, not fire

itsmeitsmeolord · 21/04/2010 20:43

Ah, I feel your pain, I have two nearly 10 yr old girls.

They are tweenies, not teens but not babies either and it's horrid!

I ignore as much as I can and try to pick my battles these days. Strops I just let roll over me unless they get very shouty. Then I tell them to go and have time out to cool down..... and ignore. If that doesn't work I try to remove myself, so go to another room and shut the door etc.
When they have calmed I let them know that I'm dispappointed because of x or y and it made me feel upset to be spoken to like that, how are they feeling now etc etc. It's an uphill battle at the moment but unfortunately I think most of it is raging hormones.
It generally blows over pretty quickly, the apologies do come thick and fast don't they.

SageandOnion · 21/04/2010 20:45

Hi drink more tea !
It sounds like you;re really having a tough time, the both of you.
Is his Dad about, in the house? I'm wondering if he is aggresive with him too, or just you ?
( I hope thats not too personal to ask ).

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

drinkmoretea · 21/04/2010 20:50

Cyb, I know exactly what you're saying but I feel like I am going past the 'not liking the behaviour' and starting to dislike him.

I always say to him though that I don't like his behaviour and that I love him but his behaviour makes me cross / sad.

I feel like I should be doing something else, or feel like I'm doing something wrong...

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cyb · 21/04/2010 20:51

try the book, they will give you that 'step back' that you need when confronted by bad behaviour and rudeness

and FWIW I love my dd(14 ) all the time but dont LIKE her quite a lot of the time too, and I;m sure she would say the same about me!

drinkmoretea · 21/04/2010 20:52

Hi sageandonion, his dad is working away at the moment, due home next week, he's not really like it with him and he's not like it with grandparents either...

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Givenchy · 21/04/2010 20:54

They always try it on with the ones they feel most comfortable with (if that is any comfort - probably not!>

nbee84 · 21/04/2010 21:04

At 10 e's old enough to sit down and work thorugh these problems with you.

Choose a time to chat when he's relaxed and in a good mood. Try tackling one problem to start with - say mornings. Ask him to describe a morning routine that would be stress free and happy. Ask him how he would be feeling if that sort of morning was happening Then ask him what he could do and what you could do to make that happen. Tell him that you will try his suggestions for a week if he will try yours.

The important bit is getting him to describe his ideal morning. For a child, visualising it will make them think about the result and will also make them think about what sort of thing doesn't get that result. Try to just chat about the positive visualisation - ignore past bad behaviours.

You can use this technique with all sorts of problems. Break things down into small steps and let them make some decisions about how they will behave and improve things.

Worth a try

SageandOnion · 21/04/2010 21:13

I think if he is controlling this behaviour, he is not like it with his grandparents or dad, then you can discuss it with him. He has behavioural issues with you and whilst thats a tough one you can take great comfort in knowing that its not 'how he is'.
I think some support, by reading, would be good.
I guess, if I was being frank, I'd say in my experince, it usually boils down to having boundaries, but I'm not an expert. Only you know if you have firm boundaries and je knows what they are and whats not acceptable.

You're on your own at the mo too, so thats really tough to cope with this, without support. I do hope things improve when your HB is back and you can get a bit of breathing space.

drinkmoretea · 21/04/2010 21:35

I can sit down and talk to him about it, but as it's not one single thing that sets it off it's difficult to suggest a solution or how to change. I do have firm boundaries and do not normally have many issues, dt2 is just not like this I can reason with him...

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MySecretLife · 22/04/2010 00:53

Drinkmoretea, I saw your post and had to reply. You're talking about another taboo subject here, the dislike if not actual hatred of one's own child.

I've had experience of this myself. Though while you seem sure it's your DS's behaviour, I could feel in myself a creeping loathing for my son, and as much as I hated myself for it I couldn't seem to help it. I tried to hide it and in fact, he was indulged, as far as clubs and activities were concerned, more than his sisters. But sometimes, perhaps triggered by his 'lip', which is only natural from a child, I would feel an irrational inner anger towards him that I don't remember feeling towards any of my other children.

My son was the only boy with several sisters and was a similar age to yours when I started to take a dislike and, yes, even hate him. It was a long time ago so my memory is a bit hazy as to why this came about - it could have been his behaviour, though he wasn't particularly difficult, a bit lippy but not in trouble at school or the law or anything. I was a young single mother under lots of stress, struggling with money, all the usual stuff, though we were lucky to live in a wonderful place in the country with lots of space - no grotty, rundown inner city council estate or anything like that to blame.
I cannot say, definitively, what caused it. I loved all my children as passionately as any mother, including my son until he was about nine or ten when this happened, and I cannot even be sure my relationship with him ever fully recovered, given the the onset of the stroppy teens which changes things anyway. I don't even know if he realised himself, my feelings towards him at that time - I hope not. But even now we have a volatile relationship, and often don't get on, so perhaps it did have a deleterious effect.

It's rarely talked about but I'll bet more mothers have gone through this than would dare to admit, given that it's regarded as shameful, perverse and 'unnatural' - which is why I've changed my name for this post; I still feel shame for it though my son is now in his thirties. I applaud you for voicing this, when I am too cowardly and have never spoken of it. I don't even know if my experience is the same thing as yours but it happens and it should be aired.

What I would say though, is I wish to god I'd done something, got some advice, help, talked about it to someone - something. I would do anything to turn back that clock. I am proud of my son, I do love him, he is my son - a fine, big strapping chap. But I bitterly regret we're not close and I strongly believe that it's all my fault - I was the adult, young as I was.

I know I might sound melodramatic, but it's too late for me now, but not for you. Clearly, you have to change something, fix those fences before he grows away from you, as they naturally do in teenhood, before it's too late.

cory · 22/04/2010 07:18

great and brave post there from mysecretlife

if it is any consolation I also found my ds got very stroppy round the age of 9, though the school assure me he is a sweet and gentle little boy

I put it down to stress in his life (he was diagnosed with a condition which might have a very adverse effect on his life) but I suppose some of it might just be hormones

cyb · 22/04/2010 07:32

drinkmore do you have fun times with you ds? I find if my dd is winding me up a trip out together kind of restores our equilibrium, as the strops only seem to occur within our 4 walls.

drinkmoretea · 22/04/2010 22:06

Thank you for so many replies, especially thank you mysecretlife for sharing your story, I will def take on board what you have said.

Cory, school also say what a sweet loving boy he is... a couple of people have mentioned hormones, I guess I thought we were still a way off from them kicking in!

Cyb, yes we do have lots of fun time, I work full time so weekends we always try to do fun things together (being out does not stop the strops, he will quite often run off if I'm telling him off, as in if I say "come here" he will run away from me..

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Slickbird · 26/04/2010 11:07

Drinkmore My Health Visitor told me that children are reaching puberty earlier than they used to and it's aparently down to better diets. My DD1 is 9 and is quite lanky but her breasts (well, one!) started developing when she was 8 which is why I mentioned it. I have also noticed her getting frsutrated and irate with her 2 year old sister (can't blame her, mind, toddler is a nightmare at the mo) whereas she is normally very very even tempered and happy. My point is if I can notice it in my just turned 9 year old, there is a good chance hormones are to play with your son. But I also second what someone said about having time to yourselves (do you have other children? Sorry if I missed that) and also my HV told me to make a point of telling DD1 that she can tell me anything whenever she needs to. (This was after a confessional stage which involved a lot of things I'd rather not have heard). He's maybe also becoming conscious of his body and well, trying a few things out. My DD1 had been and she was feeling really worried and guilty about it. I had to breathe deeply and tell her it's all normal. Then I went and broke my heart crying thinking I couldn't believe she was at that stage. Maybe he is? And it's all getting bottled up?

Worth a thought.

ddgm · 28/04/2010 10:18

Hi
i have a nine year old ds he is ok with his older brothers and sister and his dad but he is horrible to me. in the past few moths he tells me three or four times a week that he hates me, i spend so much time playing with him that i feel like i am neglecting my older children, he gets more than any of the others ever have, last night i played with him all night i took him up to bed and watched a dvd with him and all was lovely, then this morning i woke him up that was fine but then when i asked him whcih shirt he wanted to wear to school he told me he hated me and to get out of his room, he got dressed and came downstairs and sat in the chair saying i hate you i hate you, i ignored it like i couldnt hear it and even got my neighbour to walk him to school so i wouldnt have to. plaese help.

Slickbird · 28/04/2010 11:49

DDGM - How awful for you. Have you asked him "why do you hate me?". Wonder what's bothering him? It could be nothing to do with you but he's hitting out at you for not being psychic? I know he may not tell you but if he doesn't tell you maybe you could get your DH to ask him?

ddgm · 28/04/2010 12:57

Thanks for your response
My DH doesnt really know what is going on i know i should tell him but although he is a great dad and everything, i believe if i told him he would scream and shout and i really think that would make matters worse, the only one who really knows what is going on is my dd she is only 13.
I am dreading him coming home from school in a few hours its all i can think about, i no he can control his temper and what he says cos he will follow me out the room to tell me how bad a mother i am instead of saying it in front of everybody else.
The only time his dad did find out anything about it he saw me crying and went mad, he shouted at ds but then a few days later my ds told his older brother that his dad pushed him against the wall which he never did i know cos i was in the room so now i am even more weary of what he will say.
Really dont know what to do or say dont think i can do this until he goes to uni have worked out have got about 3000 days to go.

Slickbird · 29/04/2010 16:41

This is just awful for you. I think you should speak to a Health Visitor or equivalent - Maybe a doctor can recommend someone but you need to get help and advice how to deal with this before it spirals. There's definitely something going on in his head - the hard bit is how to get it out. Do you think there is a chance he is being bullied? Or dreaded thought, abused at all? Something's making him think and act deviously and I really think he is blaming you becausewhatever it is, he seems to think you aren't helping with it - but that's because you are not psychic! I am of course only speculating from afar so it's very hard to guess. Does he have any learning difficulties that you are aware of, say dyslexia?

ddgm · 30/04/2010 09:45

Hi
Again thanks for responding, you could never know how much of a help it is being able to tell somebody what is going on. Think you are definately correct I know I really need to do something I have been trying to ignore it and "walk on egg shells" around him for a couple of months now and I know I can't carry on like this.
I have tried to take a step back eg. getting his dad to wake him up, his older brother has started taking him to school on his way to school for me etc, I have got an appointment with his teacher on Wednesday of next week and as bad as it sounds I really hope she is going to be able to give me a reason for his recent behaviour.
We watched a programme on tv last night where people "said nasty things to each other" and i instigated a family disscusion about how saying nasty things even when you dont really mean them is so wrong. dont know if any of it went in or not but i tried.
Am sure he is not being abused (i know no one ever does)but he is never left we dont have baby sitters or any family, (both mine and his fathers family disowned us when we got together 20 years ago but thats another story)
If i dont get anything from the school next week i will take your advise and may well go to the doctors and get everything checked out . Again thanks for listening, I know I havent resolved anything yet but am for the first time in months feeling more positive.

Mummypumpkin · 30/04/2010 10:41

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Mummypumpkin · 30/04/2010 10:43

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