Welcome Picklemum,   What a beautiful soul you are, my parents neglected me as a child, I lived with various family and strangers. I finally found my tribe in my teenage years as it sounds like your nephew has. Life sounds busy for you with little time to rest yourself, in a good book. It's so important to have a ritual for yourself to relax. I highly recommend a book called "The Shadow of the wind" Carlos Ruiz Zafron- be prepared to get lost in its pages.   In the afternoons one of my Dads used make afternoon tea and get me involved, he worked out when I was busy with my hands and not making eye contact due to the task at hand, I'd open up and actually speak- I now use this with my own kids either in the car, gardening or making food. I hope something like this help your nephew open up to you.   You're not alone, you're amazing taking on this boy and all of the issues that come with him. To me you are a hero just like my Dads, had they not taken me on- not sure Id be here to tell you how important you are! Jump onto the coaching program and arm yourself with support x Beemum ... View more

Board games: cleudo, scrabble, uno and I spy all with the lights out and candles lit- lots of nighttime fun In the days we go exploring down by the river & through all the old buildings. Gardening is another fun one but the best is ‘ song shows’ either choose a favourite or pluck one out of a hat 🤪 ... View more

New member 🙂 Mum to three amazing girls aged 19, 12 & 8. We have a dog Jet, Snap the kitten and Hermit the Mexican fighting fish. Also an ant colony has set up traffic in my kitchen 🤪 Dad/husband is an executive and I run my own small business in Sydney. I love the great out doors, beach, bush or in the garden is where I feel at ease. I didn’t have a childhood persay and my husband is similar but a very different story. Both sides have mental health issues and varied. Reach out has given me the space to unpack some of my shame files in a non judgemental forum- where life is messy, imperfect but fabulous at the same time. Before I became a mum, I thought I knew everything.... after giving birth I realised I had only just begun to learn xx ... View more

@Breez-RO Thank you for encouraging me, first time post/responder. I think this mum is amazing and has done everything in her power to help her boy ❤️ and that really inspired me to share because I remember how daunting and vulnerable I felt as 3 years ago.... Life is full of lessons and I am truly honoured that I can continually learn from this little soul that calls me mum- especially when I thought I knew everything, that’s when I found out I have everything to learn ... View more

@Fra_27 Firstly I want to send you love and healing.... being a parent myself in a very similar situation 3 years ago, it is extremely difficult to read what you are going through. At the same time, we made it and I know you will as I can see the love and compassion in your post. I can not offer you any advice but I can share my story.... our beloved daughter always struggled through school, bullied, quiet, dyslexia and a caring heart that cared too much and got broken repeatedly. By the time we got to the HSC, she had spun herself into an elaborate web of pleasing everybody but herself. She became so anxious, she could not catch the bus- I drove her, then her primary aged sister and then her preschool sister to different schools everyday- exhausting. Finally sitting after many professional appointments- I sat and listened to her and took matters into our own hands. We dropped the atar because it’s just a number and we could get it later if needed. To cut a long story short, it’s still a process, she finished school with her ‘frienmies’, attended the formal and now works casually in retail, whilst half arsed completing a TAFE course. She wants to attend UNI next year and study psychology. She struggles, she’s combative, she’s antisocial and it’s complexed. He has all the tools to be able to help himself and I’m sure he will but have you? Being here is a great step to expressing yourself, if you see your GP ask for a mental health care plan and take care of you, that way speaking to your husband about your fears of removing your son from home- might make the conversation a little easier to approach. Your son may see you’re respecting yourself with self care and follow by self regulating healthy sleep habits, eating and joining you on your journey. Take care mumma bear- you’ve got this with your heart of gold xx ... View more

I’m here...... Two weeks late and not computer savvy - hahaha what could possibly go wrong🤦🏼‍♀️💻 ... View more