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

Hi @Maxliberson  Thank you for sharing your experience with us, it sounds like there's a lot of difficult family dynamics happening with you, your partner and stepson. It's really great to see that you are reaching out for some support.   You mention that you haven't spoken to your stepson for nearly a year, does he live elsewhere now? Has he been violent to anyone else in your household?   I can understand that dealing with all of this must be very frustrating, but would like to acknowledge that threatening to be violent towards a young person is never OK. Do you have any strategies in place to help with the anger you feel when he becomes aggressive towards you? Do you have anyone you can talk to or give you support around this? Lads & Dads looks like a really great community that you might like to have a look into.   I imagine this must all be having an affect on your relationship with your partner too, which must be hard to cope with as well. How are you feeling about that side of things? ... View more