Hi @FarGoneConcl    Thank you for joining us on the forum!   This sounds like a new situation for you and it seems like your son is going through some major changes. When you say your youngest son is acting up, what behaviours are you seeing? And what is doing that you can now tell he thinks his brother is the favourite?   I’m sure that you are well aware of both your sons' behaviours over the years and that you have supported them with their individual needs and personalities in mind.   Hopefully some other members can provide their experiences shortly. Thank you for sharing this! ... View more

Hi @Bjkski162   Thank you so much for sharing what is going on for you. I can hear that this has been something causing you a fair bit of stress.   Like you have also noted, it sounds like your son is going through a tough time trying to sort out many personal things. It sounds wonderful that you have been in his life and have a good relationship for him to build that trust.   I think taking a cautious approach and trying to understand why your son is using weed daily or what this relationship is really providing him are good steps to start with. I’m hearing that he is looking for someone who understands him on a deeper level and this relationship is meeting some internal need for him. Considering some of the struggles he faced during his childhood that she can relate to, has he received any ongoing mental health support?   I understand that you are focused on his future and doing your best to get him into a good career path to set him up for his future. It sounds like you are also getting support from others in your life and are really trying to understand your son. It can be a fine balance trying to talk to him, but he is also an adult that is starting to make life choices. How is he taking the idea of moving across the country?   I hope our community have more to add, but we hope to hear more from you! ... View more

Hi @rozelle   We are just touching base to see how you are doing.   We have sent you some emails with resources that may be available in your area. Have you had a chance to look into them?   You have mentioned that your son sees a clinical psychologist. Have they been able to make any recommendations for your son’s studies or maybe for some social groups he can participate in?   We can hear your love and worry for your son and are hoping you are taking care of yourself as well. ... View more

Hi @28Birdwood    Welcome to the forums, we are so glad to have you here. I would also like to really highlight the kindness that you have in being concerned for this young person and their wellbeing, especially considering their lack of family support.   How old is this young person?   It sounds like your son is someone that they listen to, and suggesting seeking mental health support would be a wonderful idea – addressing it at the right time and tactfully can be difficult depending on their relationship.   Are they connected through any school, education or groups? It is also worth considering your son’s safety if this young person is aggressive when they drink. How comfortable does your son feel with the situation?   Thank you so much for sharing this, and we hope to hear from you. ... View more

Hi @Anonymous    Thank you for joining the forums, we are grateful to have you here.   Whilst I wouldn’t know the average number of fights boys get into at 9 years old, I think it may be useful to know what happened for this fight to break out.   Did your son tell you what happened leading up to the fight? Also what happened afterwards?   Part of developing and growing up is in learning how to handle conflicts and talk through issues as part of building healthy relationships and boundaries. Apart from the physical damage that can happen during fights, there can be a lot of emotional turmoil.   I can think of two articles from Kids Helpline that may be able to assist with talking through respectful relationship here. and with handling conflict here.   Why your son is fighting and what the impact for your son and the other child?   Others on the forums may have other insights on this, so thanks for sharing! ... View more

Hi @Hrafnir    I’m sorry that you have been going through so much recently. It would be incredibly scary seeing your child go through a suicide attempt - you and your daughter handled the situation as best as you could and I’m glad to hear your child is now receiving the support they need.   I am concerned about you, what support and help do you have at the moment?   Being that you are not located in Australia, I am not able to advise you of any local services but are you able to speak to the mental health facility to see if they have any services for parents or referrals to help support you?   Whilst you mention being weak, in pain and desperate, I would say that you are incredibly strong, loving and compassionate. You have done what you could for your children for this long and are still striving to. We are thinking of you and your family.   Also, I’m just letting you know that I have had to edit some details from your post as they may be distressing to other community members. ... View more

Hi @Baileydog2020    Thank you so much for posting. I hear how difficult it is for you as your relationship with your son is not as warm and loving as it once was. I wanted to ask, are you receiving enough emotional support for what you are going through?   Changes in teenagers can be tough, and it’s a difficult relationship to manage when there are also other responsibilities. Are there any conversations around co-parenting between you and your son’s father?   What might be useful is having a talk with someone at a Parent Helpline, a list of lines for every State or Territory is available here   Thank you for reaching out to others for support – we hope others in the community pop in to share their experiences and advice. ... View more

Hi @MTK96559655,    Welcome to the forums!   It sounds like you really care about your son and miss him and how he used to be before his relationship. It seems like this is all quite new and exciting for him, and it’s good to know that his girlfriend is a nice person. Whilst as a parent you can see that things may not be the healthiest for him, I understand your fear of possibly pushing him away.   As your son is growing older and going through different changes and experiences, how are you feeling about it all? He may not always make the best choices for himself, and part of that might be a process of growing up and finding out what’s right for him. It sounds like you love him and will support him if he needed it. Have you discussed this situation with anyone other than your wife?   We hope our community will also discuss their experiences! In the meantime, our website has some articles that may be worth reading here    Whilst you are going through this (and possibly other issues in the future), we hope that you receive adequate emotional support, are there others you can confide in?   We hope that you can still spend some quality time with your son and your family and continue to nurture the relationship whilst he explores his new romantic relationship. ... View more

Hi @An259    Welcome to the forums. It sounds like a very frustrating situation you are in, as you care about your son’s eczema and wellbeing and he does not seem to be doing his best.   It sounds like you have made several efforts to get your son support from specialists for his eczema, has he discussed with you how he feels about his eczema and why he doesn’t want to ease the symptoms?   There may be many reasons but trying to understand where your son is coming from and focusing on your relationship may be a path worth going down. Ultimately you can only help your son so much before he needs to take responsibility for his own health. Are you receiving help or support from any other friends and family members? ... View more

Hi @Sparkles85    Welcome to the forums, we’re so glad to have you here with us.   Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the efforts you have been making for your family and am so happy you are receiving support for your own mental health issues. Being open about your mental health is unfortunately still sometimes stigmatised, so I want to commend you for your courage in recognising the importance of your own wellness and having the strength to ask for help and support.   I am so sorry that you have been going through such hard times with your son. I hear that this is an issue that you’ve tried to get support with previously. From the worker you spoke to, would you know if there are any additional resources they could refer you to? They may know of more services or resources in your area.   I hope other members will pop in here and be able to provide their insights and advice as their experiences may be insightful. ... View more

Hi @Snowyben10    Thank you for joining us on the ReachOut Parents forum. We hope that you receive a lot of insight from other families.   I’m sorry to hear that things are difficult for your family and want to commend you on the strength you have to support your daughter and keep her safe.   Whilst we wait for others to contribute their experiences, I just wanted to know how you are coping. Are you receiving enough support yourself whilst assisting your daughter through her current struggles? ... View more