Posts by William Myers3

Is it actually possible for kids to be completely unaware of how they’re acting? Because whenever I point out that he was being disrespectful, for instance, he flat-out denies it...
I can certainly accept that he’s going through a phase of change, but there really is a limit to the outbursts I am willing to tolerate...
Punishments haven't exactly proven to be effective here in the States... Although, limiting screen time does work to some extent, because I just don't think it's normal for him to be glued to the internet all day long...
I tried explaining the whole concept of "equality" to him. Okay, fine, he wants equality? No problem at all, but he gets the responsibilities and accountability that come in the package too. 😉
I felt that was a fair approach, and it seemed to work initially, but after two days—and once a few minor chores around the house were added to the mix—he decided he wasn't actually that interested in us being equals...

His excuse for the verbal outbursts is that he just can't control himself in the moment, especially when we are arguing about something he feels strongly about...
So, I asked him if he would react that same way with, say, a teacher or anyone else... He wouldn't...
He stopped to think about it...

Nicholas King said:Think back to your last ten arguments: how many of them ended with you just handing him the win just to keep the peace? And honestly, how many times have you actually offered me an apology over the past year?

You sound exactly like one of those parents who insists, "Robert and I aren't just parent and child, we're BEST FRIENDS." Given the situation, Robert is probably losing sleep over the fact that Jacqueline might actually agree to take her bra off, yet she won't even let him touch her below the waist—even when they've had a few drinks. Do you seriously expect him to still come to you with everything?

Actually, I apologize quite regularly if I've made a mistake. It happens; I'm only human, after all... I don't find it difficult to admit that.
He apologizes too, whenever he goes too far, once he's had a moment to cool off...

I am aware that he has friends he discusses these topics with (I know his friends, I encourage them to hang out, and I'm in touch with other parents, so that part has been fine for the last year or two)...
The issue arises when he "forgets" to tell me things, like when the bank called or if there's a PTA meeting I need to attend... (And then at that meeting, I find out he achieved something significant, something the other parents seem to know about much more than I do...)
He just says it doesn't matter, or that he forgot to mention it, and so on...

hiddendriver34 said:@Lord Byron, give it a rest with the trolling. 🙂

Look, nobody’s out here claiming the internet is the sole reason teenagers act out. I only asked the author a question because of something she mentioned in her own post, but it feels like she just went off on a tangent. There’s really no point in wasting any more of our energy on it.

As for how much time he spends online when I'm out of the house, I suppose I can't say for sure... probably quite a bit.
When I am home, I try to manage his screen time or perhaps just the specific types of activities he's doing... though it's a little difficult, given that he's into programming and often works on school projects...
He doesn't play video games very much (he seems to prefer building them instead)...

I'm insisting that he stays active in sports; that leaves him with less free time for the internet, even if he has scaled back on his practice sessions lately...

Hello everyone...

I wouldn't say I have a major issue with my son; quite the opposite, actually...
He's a good kid. He doesn't cause trouble, he excels in school—definitely a straight-A student who stays busy with his hobbies—and he's social, with a solid core group of friends and a wider circle of acquaintances he hangs out with...
Everything seems fine, except for the fact that he can be unbearable at times. Our communication often feels like it's right on the verge of an argument, and it happens constantly...
We are actually quite similar, and we used to have a wonderful relationship... Over the last couple of years, he has become much more independent, which I think is great...
But too often, he just won't listen to what I'm saying. He misses small tasks he needs to handle, messes things up, gets sarcastic, uses provocative language, or acts lazy...

How do you all deal with this?
His behavior really frustrates me. It would mean so much if he just pitched in with daily chores, but whenever I ask him to do something, I have to wait for him to put down his phone or finish his video game...
Is this normal for a 13-year-old?!
I feel like he lacks respect for me, or empathy, or appreciation...
He probably feels the same way, given how hard he fights for his own rights and freedoms 🤔
As much as I love that he is independent, that he has his own opinions, and that he stands up for himself... it is just so difficult to find the right way to preserve the bond and the trust we had until recently...
I suppose I bear some of the blame here. I worked extended hours all summer—I didn't have a choice—even on weekends, and I think he just got used to being without me during that time...

We still play chess occasionally, or talk about a book we're reading, but he doesn't open up to me about everything like he used to 😢