[CarmenMCL]

My son has started to make fun of my bipolar disorder. As in when I catch him doing smething wrong he will say " oh you are seeing things again" and just walk off. Now this is coming from a six year old and I have sat down and explained to him my problem but it doesn't help when his grandmother and father laugh about it and think it is just a joke. I am very hurt and upset about his behavior as of lately. He has no regard as to what I say anymore and when I do tell him to do finally get him to do something I can hear him mumbleing that I am crazy.
I am so sick of this! I have had so many talks with him. I have told him time and time again that it hurts mommy's feelings to say such things. I know he is going thru a lot of changes himself and I am always there for him. I just don't like being put down for something that I cannot help being.

[deepthinker]

Hi CarmenMCL :-)

Sorry to hear what your going through at the moment but it did ring a bell with me. My friend who has Bipolar has a daughter (now in her early 20's) who use to talk to her in a disrespectful way. Like yourself she was very hurt and had tried talking to her daughter many times and explaining how much it hurt her when she said mean things.

My friend realized that no matter what she said her daughter continued doing it. She finally realized why. Her ex-husband who treats her disorder like a joke always made fun of her in front of her child. Hence, her child picked up the bad nature from her father. If daddy thinks its right, then I will get away with it. She always sided with her father.

After the father and my friend had a long discussion (several times) he stopped his behaviour and the daughter stopped hers. Now her daughter is her closest friend and would not treat her badly ever.

Have you talked to your husband and your son's grandma about your concerns? Perhaps if they stopped treating you badly then your son may also.

Take care
*hugs*

[rainbow]

You have been given some good advise about talking to your husband and the grandmother. However if they do not accept your disorder they it may be hard for them to change, BUT it is definitely a good idea to try. Another idea is to get your family some information from your doctor or therapist and have them read it. Another idea would be to have them go to either a doctor visit with you or a therapist vist with you. They truely need to understand your illness and what you are going through. It will help your situtation immensely.
Your child is probably picking this all up from them and being torn down by them and them making fun of you is an abuse in itself. Don't feel so terrible about yourself because you know the truth. Just pray that they too will WANT to understand.
Keep trying, perservere no matter what.
Rainbow

[Zenobia]

I think you have done an admirable job trying to talk and explain to your son about what this behavior does to you. It hasn't worked. It is my opinion it is time to discipline him. It is wrong for him to treat anybody in that manner so he should be punished. He should spend time in the corner or doing chores or some other thing that will make him feel like saying mean things to you is not in his best interest. You may be bi-polar but that does not take away your right to be a mom and teach your child how to treat other people in a kind manner.
Take care,
I am rooting for you,
Zen<font color=blue>

Progress is nothing but the victory of laughter over dogma.--Benjamin De Casseres

[CarmenMCL]

I have disciplined my son about his attitude. I talked to my husband about this and the strange thing is that his mother has the same problem that I am suffering from. It is my mother that doesn't that want to listen to me.
My husband adopted my son from my previous relationship and I feel as though that is where some of this might be stemming from but I could be wrong.

[bptoo]

Hi Carmen,

Giving disipline to your son over this is the right thing to do, and I hope you continue to stand firm with it. He needs to understand that your disorder is not a joke, and you shouldn't be made fun of. I'm Bipolar also and wouldn't want to be treated this way by my children. But I see the root of this problem lying with the Father and the Grandmother. As long as they see his comments and actions towards you as "cute" and laugh at them, chances are he will continue with his behavior even though you disipline him. I think you need to focus on getting them on your side with this. Tell them that even if they find him amusing, they need to keep that to themselves and back you up when you call your son on his behavior. They should understand that you find his words hurtful and offensive.

I'm sorry that you're having to deal with this and I hope that you can work it out in the very near future.

All the best,
bptoo

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was
'committed'."

[Zenobia]

To add to BPtoo's post, you might have your husband and mom attend a therapy session with you so that your therapist can back you up on your request.
Zen<font color=blue>

Progress is nothing but the victory of laughter over dogma.--Benjamin De Casseres

[darkeyes]

I agree with Zen, in a situation like this it is important that the family sees the therapist or even the psychiatrist that you see. When I was first diagnosed as bipolar my therapist offered to talk to my son and husband with or without me to "educate" them about this, I think it is time you do this with your family, their ignorance is hurting you and it is unfair.
"darkeyes"