I've become more shouty with my pre-teen and I hate it

[MissStrawberry]

Really I hate myself.

He is 12.6 and for the last year he has been hard work.

Can anyone give me any coping strategies for ignoring him when he is ride/disrespectful/arguing/taking the piss out of me (ie ignoring him for longer than 10 seconds and then cracking) as I am making us all feel crap.

I know he is normal. It is me that is the problem.

[Salbertina]

Marking my place... Struggle too. You have my sympathies!
I have that How to talk so kids listen... book, good but often forgotten Might be worth a read? Other than that, earning screentime, money etc thro good behaviour.

[MissStrawberry]

I have tried so many times to read it but I just can't take it all in and remember it. Once I took to writing a big I on my hand to remind me to ignore as much as I could.

[InternationalPower]

This is going to sound bonkers, but I had exactly the same problem last summer. I hated it and I hated me for it. I work term-time and before the holidays were half over I was desperate to get back to normal, even though I'm not that excited by my job.

During the course of this year, for various reasons, I have given up refined sugar which has completely solved my mood swings, made me a far nicer person and now I'm enjoying the challenges my two pre-teens bring. The problem was me not them iyswim. Now I'm able to breathe deeply, walk away and come back a few seconds later with a punishment/sanction/solution.

I'm quite sad that the holidays are over this year.

[MissStrawberry]

I don't really eat sugary things but I will bare it in mind, thank you.

[Salbertina]

Op- ikwym about the book! simple but not easy- to the extent that i actually noted down the 5 key points for me from it and then forgot a timely reminder for me also:

1. Describe problem-" it's getting late." "Your hmk's due tomorrow"

2. Say with one word "bed"
3. Talk from the " I " re my feelings "i feel frustrated when I'm interrupted"
4. Write a note eg on iplayer - "have i done my hmk? Maths first! " etc
5. Offer choice - when/how

[Salbertina]

IP- agree, sugar highly toxic and was hard core about this last year, low carbing in big way! Great effect on mood, weight etc. Fallen off wagon rather since.

[MissStrawberry]

I have no patience at all. Currently it feels like nothing is going right. From devastating news last week to the iron leaving dirty marks all over the shirt I spent ages ironing as the iron is shit but clean . I am close to breaking point with everything and the kids being PITA is not helping. Seriously considering getting something from the GP as I will be in a complete fog but maybe I will care less about everything that is currently pissing me off.

[Salbertina]

Well you've just had the challenge of the long hols, haven't you? So sure patience in v short supply.

[MissStrawberry]

Just saying the same stuff over and over again. DH just shouted at the boys and he never shouts.

Both boys have started saying no punishment will work.

[NoComet]

I shout always have, always will, doesn't bother me.

If DD2 doesn't hear me shout, I politely remind her that my taxi driving skills can be withdrawn at anytime.

We live in the arse end of nowhere with no busses, this is a real threat!

[MissStrawberry]

I just take it all so personally and it feels personal when they don't do it with anyone else. They will try with daddy but no where near as bad.

DS1 takes the piss and makes fun of me.
DD answers backs and argues repeatedly.
DS2 answers back, says he won't do X and says no one loves him. He ran away a few weeks ago because of it.

Have all been sniping and each other all day, awful to DH and I. Currently upstairs playing nicely and talking nicely to each other. DH and I feel like we've been fighting a war and are close to break down.

[MissStrawberry]

Spoke too soon. DS1 just said "no one likes you DS2. Go away."

[MissStrawberry]

It all is such good advice but it doesn't work . I have tried looks and they just say "what?". Today with DD I even said "did you mean to be so rude?" and I got nothing back.

They argue constantly if we say no, if we say they can't do certain things, they have to go to bed now, what we are having for tea etc etc etc.

They say hurtful things. Apparently no one loves DS2, DS1 has had no fun and done nothing all holiday, they never get any treats and on it goes.

I am going for ignoring everything but then they complain I don't love them then if I don't tell off X for doing Y to Z .

One to one never really happens that often. More kids than parents was a stupid idea when you are shit at being a parent.

[MrsTwgtwf]

Honestly, get something from the doc's to help you cope. You sound really down. Fwiw, there's a version of that book mentioned above, called "How to talks so teens will listen, and listen so teens will talk". I have it...haven't tackled it yet...

[MissStrawberry]

I have the toddler taming book but from 5-12 years old. Just having found the time to read it yet.

I need patience, to ignore, to not give in, to stop feeling so resentful and realise I am the adult and I should grow up. This is my life now and it is tough shit if I don't like it.

[MissStrawberry]

If I could switch off from them a bit I think I would be a much better parent [[couldn't be much worse.--

There have been times when I have been almost indifferent to them because of something they have done and I found I coped better with them and they responded better to my requests to behave .

I love them too much. I am trying too hard. I am too invested and involved. They are too much my whole life.

I have been depressed for the last 26 years with varying medications and none/counselling that didn't help and tbh I don't believe I will ever me normal or better.

But tomorrow is another day and I am going to try harder not to be such a fuck up.

[MissStrawberry]

I would love to lock myself away but they have injured each other in the past .

[MyBoysAreFab]

Oh, can I join you? My DSes are 12 and nearly 14. They can be really sweet and funny but also are both strong willed and hotheaded, and not getting on well atm. Some days all that seems to come from our house is screeching and bickering with me yelling helplessly in the background.

I sometimes hear myself banging on and even whilst doing it am thinking "I wouldn't listen to me either"! I am always wise after the fact.

[MissStrawberry]

Your last sentence rang bells, Maryz. We struggle sometimes as our boys lie and now they are older we can't trick them into the truth so it feels like you either punish the innocent one and the guilty one or you let the guilty one off.

DS2 has been nicking food without asking for years. Always treat stuff. Usually eventually I get it out of him. Today he admitted it sooner but when I asked why he didn't tell me sooner he said he didn't want his siblings hearing. I have a system so anyone can own up without others knowing but he obviously doesn't believe that. Today it was he had nicked my smarties eaten them all and hidden the tube under his drawers. He tried to blame the cat. I made him pay me back 2 x the cost of the smarties. Before I knew who it was I said I wouldn't bake this week and there would be no nice after school treats. Now I know who it is, and he has paid me, do I still go ahead with the no baking etc?

I have taken to hiding treats in my room as he nicked stuff last month too but didn't work this week. He took them Friday and I discovered they were gone last night.

[Fraxinus]

They sound rude and ungrateful. If any of us were in a position where our children were being consistently rude and ungrateful it would grind us down and make us feel unable to make any strategy work.

So I don't have it that it is YOU that is the problem... Just you are in the middle of the downward spiral.

Have you told them, individually, how they are making you feel?