I have 2 daughter's aged 12 and 14.
I'm having huge problems with my older child. The last few months have been a whirlwind of her drinking, drug taking and being rude and argumentative.
I've had to stop working due to school refusal and reduced timetables and pretty much all my friends have basically 'run away' as if its catching.
I feel utterly alone and have nothing in my life anymore other than the kids. Even their dad had given up on my oldest child.
The only 2 things I do each week are a parenting course on a Tuesday which I sent myself on hoping for inspiration (turns out I'm doing everything they suggest anyway). And a counselling group on a Wednesday to try and stay sane.
These 2 things add up to 4 hours a week that I do something 'for me'.
In these days she has to walk herself home from school which isn't far.
This morning when I reminded her she was walking herself home she went into an immediate strop, she didn't see why, I told her I was going to my course and because it's raining she started.
She said her coat isn't water proof and she was going to get soaked (she has 4 coats, 3 of which are waterproof). I told her this and she said she didn't have a waterproof coat and it wasn't fair she asked me what I expected her to do about it. I told her she should wear a coat and other than that there was nothing I could do.
It wasn't so much what she said but her attitude when she said it, like I was being totally unreasonable for expecting her to walk. She also didn't just say it all once, she kept on and on about it.
In the end I cancelled my course and told her I would pick her up.
She then got the ump with that and told me I shouldn't have cancelled. I told her it was too late and that if pick her up.
She went off on one and told me I was guilt tripping her and that I always do it. She said she didn't feel guilty and I shouldn't bother trying to make her feel it either.
Apparently it's all about me.
Was I guilt tripping her? Am I in the wrong here?