My 14 year old daughter Dawn with L/D is driving me crazy. I am a single parent and have been for the last 12 years. Dawn has always had an aggresive streak but lately she has become unbearable.It has got to the point where I do not want to go home after work.We moved house recently as dawn was constantly falling out with other kids and became to demanding. I moved nearer my family for support.In the last 3 months she has caused trouble on numerous occasions with her bad attitude towards other people. I realise she is a teenager and teens go through this phase.I feel drained and Dawn knows this, I am constantly trying to please her by spending quality time, trying to talk to her etc.But nothing works.She is just so demanding,she does not care about anything at all. I decorated her bedroom and thought she would like to help me paint, choose colours etc, but no and so I chose everything. Her reaction when she saw the finished result was YUK! If I visit freinds she will not let me talk to them, she wants all the attention.She is an only child and has never had to share me. I have not had a relationship for 12 years. I may sound selfish but what about me and my happiness.She has told me she never wants me to have a boyfreind.I am sick of trying to make her happy and am frightened of starting to resent her I know she has L/D but is this behavior linked to her L/D or is she just naughty.Maybe it is me!
Cheryl
Re: HELP please!
You don’t share what your daughter learning difference is. Is it ADD or ADHD?
Whatever it is, if it is making you feel as if you don’t want to go home at night, it does sound unbearable. Teenagers are difficult but Dawn sounds more than difficult and you sound as if you’re feeling at the end of your rope. Maybe it’s time to visit the family doctor or your daughter’s pediatrician and discuss if there’s anything to be done. That’s never a bad first step.
Re: HELP please!
I agree about the counseling. It sounds like Dawn would really benefit from it herself and you need the help in understanding how to be with her. I’m a firm believer in counseling; I’ve seen it really turn kids around.
First I would say you are not being selfish for wanting some time for yourself. Second, I know teenagers are hard to handle even without additional stuff going on. Might I suggest counseling for you both? You would have someone to vent to(you are always welcome here too!) but could also help with strategies for dealing with your daughter. It might not hurt her either to have a non family member third party to talk to also. You deserve to be respected and the opportunity to be happy. I am not a single parent but sometimes I get a little crazy too if I spend too much time with my guys.Please seek out some support, you need it and deserve it.