Hey @thekidandi, thanks for sharing that part of your story. That really sounds like an incredibly difficult situation to manage and a real shame that things could not be worked out with your child being able to see their father. It seems like you have some great support around you that has been offering advice about the situation. How have you been able to deal with the stress of the circumstances? I can only imagine how frustrating and unbearable it must get at times. Do you or your child speak to a counselor or health professional about what has been going on? I know as a child I found it helpful to chat to someone who was not directly involved in the situation  ... View more

Hi @Chocolate, thanks for sharing your story here. I am sorry to hear about everything that has been going on for you and your daughter. It sounds like there has been a lot of struggle and it is so difficult to make the best decision but it sounds like you really putting your daughter's well-being first. How lucky she is to have someone like you for support. I can't imagine how big of a decision this is for you and how important it is. There is a previous thread on this topic here but I will also tag the members of the thread for support @Shep96 @taokat @sunflowermom @motherbear. Have you got any other supports that you are engaging at this time? Here to listen  ... View more

Hi @1stressedmum, it definitely is good to share. So your daughter is living with her boyfriend now or was that before she was hospitalised? It sounds like there is a lot going on for everyone and you are doing your best to try and manage the situation. If you feel like you have no rights over your daughter, sometimes it can be about ensuring they have the right support and resources around them instead. Do you think any of this is an option right now in addition to the counselor? I understand if your focus is on keeping your daughter safe at home. Maybe this might be something she could talk about with her counselor if she feels comfortable? It could help to hear it from someone else that home might be the better option for her well-being given how her boyfriend has effected her    How are you able to catch a breath for yourself during all of this? ... View more

Hey @Free2B, this sounds like a complex and frustrating position to be in. I can't imagine what it would feel like to not be able to attend school with little explanation or management plan. How have you been managing so far with all the feelings that must be floating around within the family?  You sound quite knowledgeable and aware of what is going on. Do you have any plan for your next steps? Is there an organisation or body that you can contact about your experience? Sending my best wishes to you and your family  ... View more

Social media is amazing and you are both right in the sense that once something is out there, it is gone forever and no longer private. I can't imagine how difficult it is to tread this water with teens who have grown up around the internet. ReachOut has some helpful articles and other threads that you can check out here which might provide some support. Let us know how you go  ... View more

Hey @Help_needed, awesome stuff. You have been really proactive and resilient. It is great that you have found someone who you feel like will be able to support you appropriately. Let us know how it goes as it progresses  ... View more

That sounds like it must have been a lot to deal with and I couldn't even begin to imagine what that would have felt like @Faob_1. You have a wealth of experience to offer everyone else with a lot of helpful information. You are so right in that looking after yourself in crisis isn't easy and it can feel pointless at times given it won't fix the problem.. but as you mentioned, reducing stress for even a moment is really crucial in retaining sanity. It would be unrealistic for anyone to not expect sadness or struggle even after making that decision, so it is great point that you've pointed that out. Really amazing suggestions and self-care strategies there! Thanks for sharing. ... View more

Sorry to hear about your struggle @Faob_1, it sounds like you have really taken control over the situation. You offer valuable insightful that sounds quite similar to @Tisme's situation. I am glad you recognise the difficulty in doing what you did but it sounds like it has worked out for you and your family. Each situation is different and isn't it amazing how we can all come together to talk about it and share problem solving tools? What did you do to look after yourself while you were going through it @Faob_1? It might be helpful for some other members when they are in such a tense and stressful situation. ... View more

Hi  @Picklemum , welcome to ReachOut! How lovely that you found us. Here on this forum, we are anonymous so I had to edit your post to remove any names. It sounds like you have got your plate full with a whole lot of things and I can imagine how tense things must get. I am sorry to hear about the struggles you have been having and it isn't easy to bring another child into your house. The community will comment and provide support but we also have the  coaching program     which I think would be most useful to you given your situation. It is a free session with an expert where you can develop action plans. This would be an awesome place to start if you are not sure what to do. Have you spoken to him about him wanting to hurt himself? If he might not feel comfortable talking to you, is there another trusted adult he might prefer to talk to instead? A counsellor or teacher? If you ever feel like he is about to hurt himself, then it is best to engage with 000 to ensure his safety.  I also wanted to say, I moved your post into the discussion section of the forums so that more people will see it to offer support like @taokat @sunflowermom @Tully99, let me know if there are any issues    ... View more

That sounds like a really amazing idea @Tully99. It can also be hard to realise if you are being aggravating when you are directly involved in the texts yourself. It is awesome that you are monitoring the situation and trying to teach him how to be resilient in the face of a challenge. There is the Parentsline ACT which could be really helpful for you to talk it out verbally. All the best, keep us updated . I will tag some members here for support, @sunflowermom @Happy @Beemum @Tulip ... View more

Hi @TooConfused29, the other users have commented some really helpful and supportive things. This situation sounds so difficult and upsetting for you and understandably so. I was wondering what you do to deal with all of this hurt and the way it has been making you feel? It sounds like you have been supporting this young person for some time but it is important to look after yourself too  ... View more

Hi @Tisme,   It sounds like you have tried a lot of different strategies to help your daughter. I can only imagine how upsetting and frustrating it is for you and the rest of the family. It must be difficult to understand what is going on for her as well, given her behaviour. Are there any current supports that she uses? I can tell that this has had a dramatic impact on your family and the situation seems to be quite tense for everyone.  It sounds like you are really considering her moving out.  Is this something you have spoken to her about? What support would you both need to be able to make this decision with the best outcome? ... View more

Hey @Nervous, thanks for bringing this to the forums. Sorry to hear about how difficult things have been. This sounds like quite a hassle, if only the timelines could line up. I will tag some members below for some support although I imagine that home-schooling may be different depending on which state you live in? We do have some international members who may not have advice relevant to the curriculum but can at least provide peer support @taokat @sunflowermom @hippychick @softballmum. There is also a homeschooling thread here that might be helpful to you.  ... View more

Awesome stuff and welcome aboard @Motherslove333! Sorry to hear that you are struggling right now. Please feel free to make your own thread to discuss your emotional struggle whenever you are ready. If you need any help navigating the forums, just leave a comment and anyone will be happy to answer  ... View more

Awesome stuff @sunflowermom.. I think it can be an embarrassing time for an early teen when initially bra shopping given that their body is developing. I agree in that you can focus on comfort for your daughter which might motivate the new bra choice. How do you feel about it @lovethevoice? ... View more

Welcome to the forums @lovethevoice and thanks for sharing your story here. Awesome suggestions @sunflowermom, what do you think about these? I really agree in that it is about focusing on health rather than weight! I think this is really important in allowing children to care about their health and feeling good rather than just how they look. ... View more

Hey @tteegg, that sounds super difficult and frustrating. Situations like these are difficult to manage and we only try our best but it doesn't always feel successful. Is this something you have experienced before? Are there any external supports that could help you in this situation right now? Sending best wishes your way  ... View more

Great reflection @sunflowermom and @Town625, everyone here is full of resilience and empathy. Dealing with these things are not easy and it is great to see that we can recognise the need to look after ourselves too. It isn't an easy thing to do. Some days are better than others and that is okay too. ... View more

Hey @sunflowermom, sorry to hear that things are not going smoothly at the moment. I can hear how much compassion you have for your daughter and you are always so proud in acknowledging her achievements. It is only natural for this then to hurt when you see her struggling. It is great that you are seeking more support for your daughter and for yourself as well! I hope the joy rubs off too. Keep us updated  ... View more

Hey @tsuwei, I replied to another comment you made on a different thread. Are you looking forward to your time away in nature? It sounds like it can be difficult to bring things up with your daughter at times especially when things are sensitive. You can only try your best and learn about how things could be done differently. Please fill us in with this longer version when you are feeling up to, it is great to have you here on the forums  ... View more

Sounds like your idea of sign language has created a chain reaction and everyone loves this idea here at ReachOut. Rightfully so, of course! It sounds like scheduling has worked for a few and that seeing a counselor is a really difficult thing to approach. Does everyone think that the same reaction would be had to helplines or web-based counseling services? @sunflowermom, @taokat, @Percattay ... View more

Hey @Deezzee, it is great that you have a way of managing your feelings. Often parents can forget that they need support and relief at times too! It sounds like there has been a lot of change recently.. but an overall improvement in the situation given that you are getting along better? So lovely to hear how willing you are to support your son although you might not agree with his decisions, which can be so important as they get older. Jealousy is a natural feeling and it may come from wishing you had that relationship with him. It is always a difficult situation in these cases and again it could just be the different relationship dynamic, e.g your son might feel comfortable telling you that you are interfering (as you are his mum), compared to his girlfriend's family. ... View more

Hey @tsuwei, a therapist might sound really helpful right now. It can be really hard to believe how easily children can be influenced especially if it is involving negative experiences. Do you think your daughter communicating with this young girl is benefiting her in anyway? In the meantime, some time away from technology and focusing on something else might be really beneficial for your daughter. Let us know how you go! ... View more

Hey @Langus, the insight and support that has been provided so far has been awesome, so I have little to add. I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for posting here and voicing your concerns. These issues sound really important to you and you sound super motivated to improve the situation. We do have coaching here at ReachOut which is one-on-one tailored support. This might be something else you might find helpful to try, keep us updated :) ... View more

Hey @Chell47, that really is a difficult situation to be in especially when someone is not acting like themselves. Have you found any of the advice in this thread helpful? Just remember it is important to keep an eye on yourself, you are important too! Do you think it might be worth having a conversation with her dad/family members although it might change their view of her? There is no reason why you should have to shoulder it all alone. ... View more

Hey @sunflowermom, that does sound like a rough go but it seems like you have handled a difficult situation really well. It is definitely all about the baby steps but it is a major thing for both of you and sounds like some important progress. Did you let her know that you were proud of her or do you feel like that might be unhelpful in the situation? It sounds like your daughter is going through some pretty scary changes right now but it seems lucky that she has you guiding her.. doing meditation together is beautiful!  ... View more

Hey @Tulip, glad to hear that you were still able to have fun with your sister despite the incident with your daughter. I can only imagine how hard that must have been for you. It is a lovely feeling to know that those around us care about our wellbeing so it can be disheartening when they don't inquire. How have you been managing your feelings around this and is there any action you plan on taking? ... View more

Hey @Madmacca, that sounds like a really terrible experience where you have been treated unfairly. We really like to give people the benefit of the doubt, even if our instinct is strong. I am sorry that this is something that you are going through but as @Mum2018 says, it does not sound like a really healthy and happy workplace to be apart of. I just wanted to encourage you to create your own thread as well so it can receive more support (you can tag members you would like to respond), as this area is mainly for positive affirmations and could trigger other people. We can even move your current posts so you don't have to start over. In other news, I am wondering what you have been doing lately to help with the impact that this has understandably had on you? ... View more

Hey @molata, what has been going on at school? Would you like to tell us some more? ... View more

Hey @Ashestogolddust, that would be a really difficult situation to be in. It really is hard to put aside your own feelings but it sounds like you have recently had a good repairing moment with your daughter. I agree with @Tulip in that self-care is really important because we can't look after others if we haven't looked after ourselves. We are really glad you appreciate it, we are here to listen and support. Is there anything you've thought of doing for yourself lately? ... View more