General Chat

Oh no! My son is SEVEN, and like that already! What have I let myself in for? Rob

Many, many thanks everyone for your hugs and support. He isn't a bad boy thank God. He has a lovely voice and was in the National Boys Choir two years in a row, but he doesn't like many people at school to know for fear of bullying. So he tries to be one of "the of the boys" and that doesn't include being hard working at school. I told him I was going up to the school Monday to see the Head Teacher and that set him off. Hopefully after a good nights sleep he will be in a better mood! Thanks everyone. Have taken on board all your suggestions and advice.

Hi Eileen Just wanted to add a bit of support for you. When they're carrying on, it seems like you're the only parent in the world with a stroppy teenager but believe me, and lots of other parents, you're part of a huge club! You've done the right thing keeping calm; I've found with my son sometimes it does them good to have a real tantrum and let off steam. He'll be sorry in the morning! As he's had his report, do you have a parents' evening coming up where you could have a chat - maybe with the head of year rather than individual subject tutors? My son had a lot of problems in his last year at primary school (11) and it turned out he had a type of epilepsy, now completely controlled by medication, and he's so much better. It's very easy not to notice this particular type, as they only stare into space. I'm not suggesting your son has this, but anything medical is always a possibility, and we have had so much support from my son's head of year. Keep your chin up, he doesn't hate you really! Sending you a hug, Mandy :)

Hi This sounds like just what i was saying yesterday. My youngest boy is 14 and we had One of Those Calls from the school about his Underachievement. I firmly believe you've got to hang on in there, use bribery and get him through the next year or so when they eventually come out of the murky tunnel. I've got another boy just 16 doing 13 GCSEs and a stepson over 20 who just gave up and didn't sit anything. I learned from mistakes made there. I have ranted with the best of them (our neighbours think they live next door to the Osborne's). Good luck to you. Have you read a book called " Get Out of My Life, But First Take Me and Zoe into Town: A Guide to the New Teenager " I found it really helpful ann

Good idea Norah. He's been up the stairs in his room since teatime. Funny thing is... with me managing to keep my cool for once he went very quiet after his tantrum, did his chores, had his tea in relative quiet, tidied up and then went upstairs where he has stayed! Maybe the answer is to keep cool while the flack is flying.

Hello Eileen It's a long long time since I had this problem, but teenagers are still teenagers aren't they. Some things don't change. What about writing him a letter, and tell him in the letter why you are writing to him rather than talking (because you only end up not really listening to each other and losing your tempers) Tell him that you love him even if it doesn't seem like it at times. Well you know best what you would like to say to him. It's worth a try isn't it. Big Hug Norah

He got his school reports home and though they weren't too bad, he is under achieving! He says he can't do some of the work and the teachers don't know what their talking about. They say he is capable of better and has to stop carrying on in class and disrupting others. He just wants to be one of the boys and can't be bothered trying. We had such a barny to day with him throwing such a tantrum and me, believe it or not keeping calm in the middle of it all!. He hates me, never wants to speak to me again, wishes I hadn't been born and so on........ Help!!!!