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    Failing relationship with Son

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Relationships
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    • L Offline
      lynntan15
      last edited by

      maybe try letting him taking up some "sports", like badminton, tennis or squash.


      Instead of gallivating around, used the time for sport with his "best friend".

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • I Offline
        ImMeeMee
        last edited by

        Mummy on a Budget


        It is not my intention to judge, but just sharing what I have learnt.

        I have 3 gals, the youngest of which is a special needs child. My eldest gal is P3 this year, and she is artistic by nature - a lot of doodling, craft and dance. At the same time she day dreams a lot. She takes longer than usual to eat her meals, take her shower, complete her tasks cos she tends to be get distracted a lot. She is also stubborn, and has her own mind about things. Because of this, she challenges a lot of things, even simple things like doing her school work, doing chores and eating vegetables. Basically she wants to have her own way, which at her age could be unfeasible or inappropriate in my perspective.

        We clash quite a lot, and I have my fair share of shouting, coercing, persuading, coaxing, explaining and negotiating. Recently I have added caning to my bag of tools cos she really tips the scale at times. Our relationship is push-pull – at times I feel that I am pushing her away when she really provokes me to the breaking point, other times I pull her back by initiating things that she likes and bond with her. I am grateful that my DH is very involved with the kids and I sometimes fall back on him when things get too much to handle.

        It can be really tough to manage when there is still a middle child who learns from the elder one, and a special needs youngest whom I need to devote a lot of time to (which is a totally different story in itself). I have not found the right balance with my eldest gal yet, and I still make a lot of mistakes when dealing with her. Many times I am laden with frustration, guilt and anger when I deal with her. But other times I feel happy and at peace when we share joyful moments together. I am not a perfect parent, but I refuse to think that my relationship with her is failing. Focusing on the good helps me maintain my sanity and gives me the drive to want to do more and learn more.

        Sometimes giving ourselves and our children some space does help. I am learning to let go of certain things, and not to be too uptight. It can be very tiring, but that is parenthood.

        Hope this helps in providing another perspective to your issues. My two cents worth.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S Offline
          Sweet Joy
          last edited by

          Write your son a letter. This will help you and your son to see things from other perspectives.


          Give some time and space to yourself and your child.

          Take care and this episode will blow over soon.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • M Offline
            mummy so kiasu
            last edited by

            I am sorry to know about your falling relationship with your son. If I am not wrong, your boy did well in P5 & he is in the top class this year. Could it be too much stress given by the school & yourself? Try to talk to him to find out his concern. Counseling might help to a certain extend. Try to sort it out as soon as possible so that he could focus on his PSLE.

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            • JohnYeoJ Offline
              JohnYeo
              last edited by

              sweetbaby:

              :hugs: Your DS is lucky to have a mom who cares so much and never gives up on him. Have you tried the school counsellor and AED LBS? Hopefully your boy sees that everyone are on his side and open up to talk about why he is acting out.
              I think the challenge comes in \"getting your child to see\" and \"getting your child to open up\".

              At the same time, similar thoughts would have gone through the child's mind hoping that or expecting that the adults can \"see from his point of view\" and \"get the adult to open up and accept the behaviour of the child, without being judgemental.\"

              It's not easy and it takes time and it takes both hands to clap.

              Plus, it takes both side to \"see each others' perception\" and \"to open up to new and more effective way of communication.\"

              I'm not going to say what your child did is right or wrong. I want to further explore, at a deeper level, the thoughts that have led to these behaviour.

              \"We think and so we act out this way.\"

              And most likely, the emotional tank which only parents can feel is depleting and the current behaviour may be one of the ways to substitute what is being lost or not being gained.

              Personally, I always recommend this book \"The 5 Love Languages of Children\" to my parents...it's really interesting and it explains what kind of emotional support children need.

              You can read it at the amazon home page. Here is the direct link to amazon website.

              http://www.amazon.com/5-Love-Languages-Children/dp/0802403476

              I found this great 2 pages summary online.
              http://crcpeninsula.org/Five_Love_Languages_of_Children.pdf

              Or you can borrow from the library.
              http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?fullRecord+17974+3002+14289536+1+0

              My 2 cents,
              John

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              • A Offline
                ammonite
                last edited by

                mummy OnABudget:


                The ongoing issue of not wanting to do homework fighting in school going gallivanting with his best friend has made me reach my peak of anger till i burst out shouting then crying then asking him what more u expect from mummy have done so much for u with all your teachers we are trying to help u and yet u are not even helping yourself what u want us to do.

                His teacher and me have setup a way to stop the gallivanting is when he reaches school he has to call me within 30mins from the time he leaves home and he has to call the teacher with the home phone when he leaves school and after every home work is done he has to report to her.

                And yet he still thinks he can get away with things am sending him for another behavioural assement i have even told him u are making me feel like jumping down the block and just dont care anymore.
                :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:
                I have a few thoughts - do you know anything about his best friend? Must understand the partner in crime, and who is the motivator, your son,or the friend. Or some kids when they get together, they just egg each other on. You may need to distance his friend by introducing more positive influences, or co-opt the friend by inviting him home. Find out more.

                Are they clever boys feeling aimless and sick of school? Or stressed out boys feeling sick of school? Feel aimless - introduce new hobbies, activities. Stressed out - find ways to relieve stress. Take concrete measures. Words don't help.

                Do they know what they want after PSLE? Do they have good relationship with the teachers? Or have they already been labelled and condemned by family and school?

                If they don't know what they want, time to sit down and ask them t think about future careers. Do not tell them - if you do badly you end up in some low- wage jobs. They already know that. Give them a beautiful vision to work towards.

                Teachers? At p6 you have to face them day in day out. It has to be at least bearable.

                Labels? If they have already been condemned, there is nothing to lose even if they go gallivanting or have one more fight.

                Create a new space in which they can grow. A place where they can have a new start. It can be taking up sailing - wind, wave, discipline - rock climbing, something \"manly\", adultish, suitable for their temperament and energies. When you reaffirm their identities, they will settle down. It may not be in time for PSLE, but it will still be a very valuable year that shape the rest of their teenaged years. Worth sacrificing some A's for.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • JohnYeoJ Offline
                  JohnYeo
                  last edited by

                  ammonite:
                  mummy OnABudget:



                  The ongoing issue of not wanting to do homework fighting in school going gallivanting with his best friend has made me reach my peak of anger till i burst out shouting then crying then asking him what more u expect from mummy have done so much for u with all your teachers we are trying to help u and yet u are not even helping yourself what u want us to do.

                  His teacher and me have setup a way to stop the gallivanting is when he reaches school he has to call me within 30mins from the time he leaves home and he has to call the teacher with the home phone when he leaves school and after every home work is done he has to report to her.

                  And yet he still thinks he can get away with things am sending him for another behavioural assement i have even told him u are making me feel like jumping down the block and just dont care anymore.
                  :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

                  I have a few thoughts - do you know anything about his best friend? Must understand the partner in crime, and who is the motivator, your son,or the friend. Or some kids when they get together, they just egg each other on. You may need to distance his friend by introducing more positive influences, or co-opt the friend by inviting him home. Find out more.

                  Are they clever boys feeling aimless and sick of school? Or stressed out boys feeling sick of school? Feel aimless - introduce new hobbies, activities. Stressed out - find ways to relieve stress. Take concrete measures. Words don't help.

                  Do they know what they want after PSLE? Do they have good relationship with the teachers? Or have they already been labelled and condemned by family and school?

                  If they don't know what they want, time to sit down and ask them t think about future careers. Do not tell them - if you do badly you end up in some low- wage jobs. They already know that. Give them a beautiful vision to work towards.

                  Teachers? At p6 you have to face them day in day out. It has to be at least bearable.

                  Labels? If they have already been condemned, there is nothing to lose even if they go gallivanting or have one more fight.

                  Create a new space in which they can grow. A place where they can have a new start. It can be taking up sailing - wind, wave, discipline - rock climbing, something \"manly\", adultish, suitable for their temperament and energies. When you reaffirm their identities, they will settle down. It may not be in time for PSLE, but it will still be a very valuable year that shape the rest of their teenaged years. Worth sacrificing some A's for.

                  Well said, ammonite. You sound really experienced šŸ˜„ Are you in the helping profession too?

                  I think the challenge for most parents is that they are enmeshed in this situation and it can be really blinding. Let's say if I'm in this mom's shoes, I think I won't be able to think rationally and sensibly too...hehe...

                  Maybe the mother needs a third party (maybe a social worker or a trusting relative) who she can trust and can work with her so as to alleviate the situation?

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • S Offline
                    smartmummy
                    last edited by

                    when my son not ready for open up,

                    Me: I love you
                    He: really?
                    Me: yes, of course
                    He: why u love me
                    Me: cos parents love their child without any reason, if they did anything wrong also parents love them

                    He: do you love me or my sister more?
                    me: i love both of you.you are my two eyes.

                    he is not satisfaction with my last response.he expected that i have to love him more than his sister.

                    then he started to cooperate.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • NebbermindN Offline
                      Nebbermind
                      last edited by

                      It's time for some man-to-man talk!


                      Where is your hubby all this while??!! :scratchhead:

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • JenniferJ Offline
                        Jennifer
                        last edited by

                        Nebbermind:
                        It's time for some man-to-man talk!


                        Where is your hubby all this while??!! :scratchhead:
                        Not all fathers can talk to their children, might make the situation worse.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0

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