Just Simply Holly

I try not to talk about my kids on here, first because they say that I embarass them and second, well, I just don’t. But sometimes I just get so damn frustrated as a parent of one teen and one “almost” teen, and the best way to get rid of frustration is to talk about it. And since I’m home alone today with no one but the dogs to talk to, that leaves me no one to talk to but YOU! Aren’t you the lucky one!!!! I promise this won’t be painful or very long though.

My biggest frustrations stem from dealing with my oldest child who has been diagnosed with ADHD and Bi Polar Disorder. He is 15 years old and some days can be the funniest most loving kid in the world, but on others he is nothing more than an argumentive boy filled with rage. I know and I’ve been told that he is basically a “typical” kid for his age and that many of the things he is doing and going through are just a stage and will pass. But when I keep getting reports of poor and failing grades, cutting class, refusing to dress for gym class and just blatent disrespect for the rules, it makes me feel like somewhere along the line I’ve done something seriously wrong as his parent.

Here at home or biggest problem(s) with him are unwillingness to do chores that he’s asked to do (or doing them AFTER a huge argument), mouthiness and foul language and just an overall bad attitude. But none of these are constant things, one day he’ll do great, the next day it feels like thw worst of the worst. It can even change on an hourly basis. I know part of it has to do with his mental health issues, but I’m also totally unwilling to allow him to use the mental health stuff as a cop out and feel that he needs to learn some sort of self control. I don’t have any close friends who are going through anything like this nor can I turn to my family for various reasons. So I’m coming to you and hoping that you can offer me some ideas and/or suggestions. He does currently take medications for ADHD and the Bi Polar and I also have him back in counselling, but there has to be something else I can do because these things just don’t feel like they are “enough”.

See, I told you it wouldn’t be too long, and I hope it wasn’t painful and I honestly thank you if you actually read through that! If you have any suggestions or ideas feel free to leave me a comment or you can contact me privately at holly (at) justsimplyholly (dot) com.