Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhapsody
Not at all... I consider myself a good parent and I have at one time or another felt the same way you are feeling now... I think most parents go through this. My two boys are now young men (25 & 20) and I found just having a day away every other week gave me the inner peace and strength I needed to make it through another month of parenting when the boys were young and driving me crazy.
Do you have family or a good friend that you could leave your boys with for the weekend or for just for a day away so you can pamper your self.
And as well... I cant leave this topic with out asking - Why is that you think your boys are being so wild... what type of reinforcement do you use to maintain control of any given situation that may arise in the home?
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First, my mother-in-law lives with us but she can not handle the 3 y/o alone so we usually just take him with us and leave the other 2 at home with her if we have to go to the store. There's really not anyone that can handle all three of them together. I do get a break from the 1 y/o at 7pm when he goes to bed and the 11 y/o at 9pm (or 8 when hes grounded) when he goes to bed. The 3 y/o stays up with us though and will not go to bed without a fight. He usually falls asleep on the couch but honestly he is usually still up watching cartoons in memaws room when I go to sleep.
My 11 y/o gets grounded but is about to push me to spank his butt. Its like he is already grounded, having to clean the house every day, and no electronics but he still wont stop his bad behavior. He took a flash drive to school this week that belonged to my brother-in-law, lost it, and when it was found the teacher asked the class who it belonged to and he wouldnt own up. I finally got him to tell me the truth that he took it to school but WHY I cant figure out. He just cant keep his hands off if its electronic. And he refuses to do his homework. So often here lately he tells us he has no homework then gets in trouble the next day for not turning it in. I dont know what else to do with him. He was always such a good boy when we lived with my parents and I think he thinks if he is bad enough I will just send him back with them. Thats what he truley wishes for. BUT I WONT. I dont even know how long I should ground him this time, 6 weeks or 6 months. It may even be an attention thing with him because all of our attention is on the 3 y/o making sure he is not pushing the baby down or writting on the walls or stuffing candy in his mouth... the list goes on and on.
My 11 y/o was my first and only child for 10 years so I have a strong connection with him and it really causes my anxiety to go up when he acts out. All I want for him is to do the right thing so I dont always feel compelled to "protect" him. Its so hard to be strict with him because I know he truley is a good kid. But I have to be firm and sincere when I punish him or he will never learn his lesson.
Sorry this one was so long... I just really am ready to throw my hands up. I just wish my pdoc would prescribe me the anxiety meds again so I wouldnt be constantly anxious about my kids. Thanks for your reply
