Hi @missymoo13 , welcome to the ReachOut community! It takes strength to reach out for support, and your willingness to connect here shows just how resilient you are as a parent. It's clear that you care deeply about your children and their well-being.  I’m really sorry to hear about the challenges you and your family have faced and are currently facing. Dealing with family violence and the subsequent impacts on your children sounds incredibly painful and overwhelming, and I wanted to acknowledge your courage in facing such difficult circumstances. It's understandable to feel let down by systems that were meant to protect your family. Your commitment to self-care amidst these circumstances is admirable. Taking care of yourself, no matter how small the gesture, is crucial during tough times. Your tip for parents navigating the teenage years is insightful and reflective of your understanding of the importance of giving teens the space to grow and discover themselves. It can be really important to strike that balance between offering support and granting independence.  I encourage you to create your own thread here to share more about your journey and to connect with other parents who may be going through similar challenges. And I wish you all the luck in finding connection and support within the ReachOut community ... View more

Thanks Bel_RO. Will check out the Carer Gateway & also explore the 1:1 support. Thanks so much for listening. ... View more

Hey @Malena , Welcome back to the ReachOut Parent Forums and thank you for sharing your story! I can see how upsetting it would have been to hear your son tell you about the other kids attending playdates. It would be difficult for a child to not be invited to these playdates or parties, yet hear about them and the fun other kids had. I can see that it is heartbreaking to see your son’s awareness of this and feeling partly responsible for it. However, it's so admirable to see you are raising 4 children/young adults, working full time, while still able to catch as many moments as you can with your son. In addition, I want to acknowledge how admirable it is to see your resilience and optimism for your son and how he will make new friends once he begins high school. It is such a beautiful thing to hear and see.  I hope that things get better for you and your son soon! ... View more

Hi Iona_RO,   Thank you for your response. Things got much better. We've had few chats since then and I offered my advice and support whatever my son decides to do. I encouraged him to reach out to his careers support adviser, which he has, and I think it gave him more clarity. He has partially switched his degree and is much happier now.  Thanka again       ... View more