My son (6) has not been formally diagnosed - the waiting list for diagnosis is very long (e.g. 18+ months) where I live - but we've know that he is neurodivergent from a very young age. We suspect ADHD. He's a wonderful, funny, smart, and very sweet little boy but he is also exhausting: doesn't listen, argumentative, deliberately provocative, lies, doesn't engage in school work, is disruptive at school etc. He was also hitting, kicking etc a lot. until recently; he still has issues with anger but it's so much easier than it used to be. I'm struggling to cope with his behaviour and am completely burnt out. The last four years, in particular, have been really, really hard. There were some points, during the pandemic, when he was three that I just (I'm ashamed to admit) wanted to leave. My husband is neuro divergent (also not formally diagnosed but has all the common 'traits') so has a better understanding of our son's behaviour. He is not as worried about our son as I am. I love him so much but I don't think I've been a very patient mother to him. I don't know how to deal with him, although I'm really trying, and I don't know how to help him to thrive. I just want him to have a happy life. I don't want everything to be a struggle for him. All my friends children seem so easy in comparison, and they are thriving at school at beyond, and I just feel like such a bad parent, especially when he is aggressive with other children, or demonstrates 'naughty' behaviour.  I'm not sure what I expect from joining this forum/starting this thread, except that I just want a place to be honest. I feel lonely and isolated. Thank you. ... View more