Sorry to hear this has been so terribly mismanaged. I can really understand your anger at the situation. Good on you for taking the right steps quickly and looking at your options.  ... View more

Welcome @Moronea and @Mumofthree, please feel free to introduce yourself here! ... View more

Hi @Mumofthree, firstly thanks for joining and welcome to ReachOut Parents! This is such a tough situation for modern parents. Navigating the imapct of online sexuality in teens is incredibly difficult. We have some other parents here who have experience in this field so I will let them offer advice but you've done the right thing by asking for advice. It sounds to me like you have a fairly open relationship with your daughter so perhaps the best course of action is a discussion around the differences of online vs offline relationships as well as age differences.      ... View more

Welcome @Rubysixseven and @MumEJ. Can't wait to chat more around the forums! Feel free to start a new thread if you have any questions about your specific situations! ... View more

Hi @LovingThruBlue sounds like things are positive on the assesment end.   Why was this week so bad? How are you coping? ... View more

Hi @MumEJ and welcome to RO Parents! It sounds like you're a really loving and caring mother and have always worked really hard to maintain an open and honest relathionship.    It's hard to know how best to proceed but some of the other parents with similar experience will be able to offer some guidance. I think it's important to remember that your son has expressed he doesn't want someone to take a father role and up until now he has always respected your wishes so perhaps it's not a mans opinion he needs? I say this as a man who had a very close relationship with his mum.   It sounds like he is just testing the boundaries as we all do at that age (we can be so rotten at that age!) so perhaps if you show him you respect his wishes while being a little harder leaning on him he will respect yours. ... View more

Tiring ... View more

Wow, that sounds really tough @lovingthrublue but it sounds like you're aware the low is temporary and its a bit of a roller coaster. It's really important to practice some self care and try not to get too deflated at set backs for your own sake too!     ... View more

@Concernedmum that sounds like such a difficult sittuation.    It's interesting that you state she seems to have lost interest in things and isn't showing empathy like you're used to from her. As you said it's definetely worth talking to her once she is settled back. Sounds like you're very switched on to her emotionally though which is great.   So sorry to hear about your dogs accident too! Hope the pup is on the mend! ... View more

Hi @johneriffic, how has your son been doing lately? Have you been able to get much from the school or apply any of the ideas mentioned? Would love to hear how it's going for your family ... View more

How has everything been since this coversation @Crossfitmum?  ... View more

I only just added my mum on Facebook. Only because she already had my partner.    A social network is like any network - who wants their mum with them when they're at the pub with their friends etc.    I remember my parents were awfully worried about messenger apps and forums like this one  when I was in school and they were all super basic and just another way for an awkward kid to communicate! ... View more

I think what @Sbaussie said is so true.    When I was a child I always had friends at my house and they never invited me to theirs. I took it personally but found out years later they were just embarresed about silly things like the food their parents made or their neighborhood or anything and everything! ... View more

What a great article.    I think for me the biggest take out was in teaching children how to manage stress and deal with mental conflict and how that set's their whole life up with those skills. I know many adults who clearly weren't taught these skills by their parents and it still effects them greatly. I had always just taken those skills for granted but the more I study my upbringing and compare it to others the clearer it becomes ... View more

Welcome to ReachOut Parents scooty-dog_, feel free to join in here and let us know a little about yourself! ... View more

@Mitzi Sounds like you've raised a very lovely grounded young man. Unfortunetely break-ups can bring out the worst in even the most rational adult as I am sure we can all relate to! I can understand your protectiveness and upset with the young lady mentioned but perhaps there is more to the situation than it appears - we all deal with break ups differently - I know I've dealt with plenty of break ups badly over the years. Let's hope she learns from the experience too!   I can't imagine how hard it must be for children these days with every different social channel parading their lives in front of them post break-up. ... View more

exciting ... View more

Hi @Concernedmum, sounds like you're already in the right head space with trying to help your daughter and noticing changes in her behaviour which is great!   Early teens go through so many emotional changes it can be so hard to tell where they are at emotionally. Luckily it seems like you have a very open relationship with your daughter and she is happy to talk to you about her emotions, perhaps you could continue the conversation from her mentioning bipolar? She might be open to you taking her to get proffesional guidance?   Is she coming with you overseas? That could be a nice break away from all the home pressures and social hang ups - this would be a great time to spend qualitiy time together relaxing and also talking about her emotions and setting you both up for some positive change and professional help upon return ... View more

tiring ... View more

@Workinghardmum sounds likes you're doing all the right things at the moment and as @Mitzi said you deserve a pat on the back!   This process can be hard on everyone and there is no easy solution to feeling better but have a look at the thread mitzi suggested and hold your head high, you're helping your child and supporting them. You too will get through this ... View more

Hi @goingcrazy and welcome to the RO forum!   That really sounds like a tough situation and you seem to be going about it the right way by seeking advice, researching and expressing concern. It can be so hard being a parent when caring and reaching out is only met with withdrawall and moodiness. You've done the right thing though by noticing these things and trying to help. I don't have a fix all answer for your issues unfortunetly but there are lots of parents with teenage boys here on the forum who will be able to relate and share with you some of their advice. ... View more

Hi @messylife and welcome to RO. That sounds like a really tough position with some big choices ahead of your. There are lots of members here who have had or are having similar situations in their households so I am sure they'll be able to offer you some great insight/advice.    With my limited understanding of the situation in mind I am wondering if it has to be so cut and dry, it sounds like you have built a wonderful home with your new wife and children, with work such as the psycotherapy perhaps you can slowly work on having your daughter from your first marriage as a big part of this 'new' family. It seems like you have already invested a lot on this pathway and it appears to be working albiet slowly. ... View more

I was an addicted child and that was over 10 years ago when you had to work at addiciton, it must be hard for children these days with so much tech.   For me I found that the games I played were mentally stimulating (something my limited rural school wasn't) and it was easier to be social online than at school as it reduced anxieties around social situations.    @Panda what does your son use the laptop for - is he chatting with friends, gaming etc? There may be no underlying thing he might just love playing games or chatting online but I'd try to talk to him about what he does on his computer and why - it could really help to understand the addiction. Bearing in mind I spent Sunday night being told off by my elderly mother about my overuse of my mobile phone at the dinner table so some things just never change I suppose! ... View more