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5 replies

deafsymphony · 01/05/2021 16:51

I am a deaf mother, and I trying to grow up my children. Both of my children have hearing difficulties because I couldn’t provide enough stimuli for their ears because of my deafness. Well, firstly, my 1st child [name removed] has eating disorder, drog addict, gambling addict with Borderline Personality Disorder, and I know the reasons: I suffered from postpartum depression after my first childbirth, so my first child's father, who was abusive anyway and likened my condition to childhood tantrum and said I wasn’t even good as a mother... he abused me physically and emotionally as well in front of my first child's eyes from her age of three months to her one and a half years: therefore, I couldn't be enough supportive and warm.. as children needs it. But I did heroically which I could do. To this day, I blame myself for my parental incompetence and my deafness and that I can just communicate with sign language. My children learnt sign language. So, when [DD] was one and a half years old, I finally went to court, who sentenced the father to prison. I haven't gone to court before because my deafness made it difficult for me to find an intimate partner and / or a judge at all, and I felt that even an abusive father was better than having to raise a child as a deaf person alone: however, the abuse had escalated greatly by then, which has already endangered my life. I got and able to keep his house instead of my first child's father, citing and referring my disability and presenting the supporting documents. Three-fourth months after my daughter's father went to jail, I was fired from my job. After that, I attended a class meeting where one of my classmates helped me out because in exchange for her money, I chore, and did housework in her house and gardening in her little garden, and I lived from benefits (unemployment benefits, social assistance, family support, childcare allowance, disability benefits for the deafs). I recovered from postpartum depression when I turned to a parenting counselor for help and eventually got a job. In 2008, borned my 2nd child [name removed], he has with Asperger Syndrome and ADHD and outbursts of anger. In 2012, our son's father was tired of this difficult life and he moved suddenly after New Year. But I write about DD: my 1st child began self-harm at she was 14 years old, and, when she was 15 years old, she has been unclassified eating disorder. As a deaf person, it was also difficult to find a psychologist or nutrition counselor because they had to understand sign language, and therefore I hired a sign language-speaking interpreter from the association of the deafs. Finally, [DD] and I went to a psychologist and nutrition counselor too, with more occasions too, but the treatments didn’t really work out, just to short time periods. I felt that I waste my money, but I did everything. We cried together at home with [DD] while 4-5 year old [DS] was playing on the computer. [DS] barely eats because computers are her favorites and he is busy with them all day. I know our situation is very difficult, but no one understands us! Healthy people can only imagine how awful it is to be deaf and raising children who I can’t heal with just one magic word. My life is also very problematic as you see, and I strive with superhuman energy every day to raise them. Anxiety is commonplace with us, and DS's conduct disorder is getting more and more severe: I feel like I torn in two between my daughter and my little son, I feel like I can’t give either of them what they really need. Plus, we live in New York, where the Coronavirus is strongest: I dread every day, I try to support my children beyond my strength during this difficult and very stresful time for me too, so I think I’m just asking you to support us emotionally and cheer for us. Please pray for us! Thanks for this webpage allowing me to describe this. Blessings to you!

OP posts:
RedTen · 01/05/2021 20:07

@deafsymphony I didn’t want to leave your message unanswered but that all sounds very tough. I hope it helped to write it down. No words of wisdom but I will pray for you tonight Flowers

deafsymphony · 01/05/2021 21:53

I had to be and it should do mentally strong instead them too during the ordeals. Why, what would have happened to them if I had die or given up? Would they have gone to the orphanage? In the 21th century... In these difficult times, moreover, with such serious ilnesses, disorders and conditions, no orphanage would have accepted or took or taken them, at least not in the long run for sure. They have a hard life for them too. I have to be persistent, I am their mother. Gathering courage, strength, and faith that I am sitting at the steer of my life-ship with God. Because I am able to nurture and care for them. I have to exist for them, not for myself. I pay close attention to them, as they have already suffered enough because of my bad life decisions and my maternal incompetence too. I am devoted to them. And after my faith in God and my country, they are the most important to me: through my self-sacrifice and patience, they can be who they are. Perhaps others would be happy to have such a great mother who protects her pups while she herself is injured and / or disabled: I think people with disabilities have learned to fight, stand up for themselves, represent and express their interests and needs and wants and desires because no other healthy person can really understand them, only they can themselves. I didn’t want to belittle what you write with this. I only wrote in general and I am grateful for every word you have written. Thank you for your prayer and your words of praise, we also pray every day and night. God bless you!

OP posts:
RivkaMumsnet · 01/05/2021 22:07

Hi there OP, we're sorry you are going through such a difficult time, and we hope you find some support here on Mumsnet.

We are going to remove your children's names from your OP, just in order to protect your identity and theirs.

Best wishes Flowers

deafsymphony · 02/05/2021 05:39

Hi, thank you for the words. And I’m sorry, I just wanted to ease to understand, I don’t want to expose my two children to problems because of their names. I'll pay attention to this next time! And I thought this was not a problem as I did not write their surnames. Thank you for your support, and that you have warned me that my children may have trouble having their names appear or if I do that. And yes, it is very supportive and warm community this. I am glad that I find it.

OP posts:
FussyLittleFucker · 04/05/2021 11:56

You are dealing with such a lot, OP. If you use Facebook can I suggest that you join a private FB group called 'Parenting Mental Health'. Lots of parents on their going through similar things who can offer help, advice and support.

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