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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Son struggling years after our divorce

1 reply

NotNowGertrude · 22/02/2024 16:59

I don’t know if anyone can relate but here goes

I have 2 teenage boys aged 16 & 13, I’m divorced from their dad & we separated over 6 years ago. He was emotionally, verbally & financially abusive towards me & we didn’t get on for a long time. It’s as if I didn’t know what to do for a while so stayed & tried to reason with him, tried to stay together but it became unbearable. My eldest son is now having symptoms of ADHD & it came out through taking to someone about an assessment that he doesn’t feel I’ve been there for him, haven’t listened to him, no one is there for him. I wasn’t aware he felt like this & obviously feel awful & literally don’t know what to do. I’ve had my own issues which has obviously affected me, how I interact with my children & I react at times but have complex PTSD for which I am receiving treatment. All I can do is get the diagnosis for him & change my behaviour going forwards. Has anyone else been in this situation? How can I make this better?

OP posts:
Nothankyou22 · 22/02/2024 17:01

I found counselling really helpful as a teen when my parents divorced, my dad raised me but had just left a 27 year military career so wasn’t the most emotionally available and I found talking to someone and being listened to a great help. I did it at school once a week

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