Hi @blackcatbex , thank you for sharing more about what's going on for you and your daughter.  I'm really sorry to hear about the challenges you have both been facing. I can only imagine how heart-wrenching it is to see your daughter go through such difficulties every day. It sounds like you've been doing your best to provide support and create a safe environment for her. It is very heart-warming to read.  It's great that you have found a support group and have close friends who understand and offer you support. Having a strong support network can make a significant difference in navigating life’s challenges. It's also lovely to hear that your daughter has found understanding and accepting friends who love her for who she is. It sounds like setting boundaries and removing toxic and judgmental people from your lives was a necessary step to take to protect yours and your daughter’s well-being. It's important to surround yourselves with people who are understanding and supportive. Your dedication to creating a safe and serene environment for your daughter is truly admirable. It's amazing how animals can have such a therapeutic effect, they provide such comfort and companionship too. It's great to hear that your daughter has found solace and a sense of talent and accomplishment in working with the horses. In the midst of caring for your daughter, I hope you are able to find time to take care of yourself too. It's okay to acknowledge that things are challenging, and allow yourself to prioritise self-care and seek support when you need it.  Take care ... View more

Hi @Harry_potter , I am really sorry to hear about the difficult situation you’re facing with your family. It sounds like it has been very challenging to navigate the ongoing conflict and tension between your partner and eldest daughter. Having your partner suggest that you must choose between them and your own child is undoubtedly a hurtful and devastating experience for a parent to go through. As you pointed out, this is especially concerning as your eldest relies on you for support, and there are other children also involved.  It sounds like supporting your eldest daughter is a priority for you in this situation. How has she been coping with everything going on? I am wondering if you are aware of any support she might be in contact with at all, such as friends or support services? Is there somewhere safe your daughter can stay if she cannot stay at your house?  Sometimes it can be helpful to have a neutral third party step in to help resolve family conflict. Have you considered seeking the support of a family or relationship counsellor? They might be able to help facilitate productive communication and provide strategies for resolving the conflict you are facing with your partner. Services such as Relationships Australia or Family Relationships Advice Line could be a good place to start, as they work with families to improve family relationships through counselling and other services.  It is not uncommon for conflicts to arise within blended-family units, and there are a lot of resources out there to support blended families to build strong relationships. The Raising Children’s Network has a range of resources available to you that might be helpful. It is a really tough position you've been put in, and it sounds like you are trying your best to protect and support all of your children the best you can. Know that you are not alone, we are here for you every step of the way.  ... View more

Hi @LisaMc2023 , I am really sorry to hear about your situation concerning your ex-partner and children, the abuse you are experiencing is not at all okay. It sounds like an incredibly distressing and frightening situation to be in, and it's completely understandable that you're feeling worried for what might happen.  1800respect is a domestic and family violence support service who will be able to support you with counselling and creating a safety plan for the abuse you are experiencing. I recommend giving them a call when you have the chance.  We have also just sent you an email, so please keep an eye out for that.  ... View more

Hi @Angelnewc welcome to the ReachOut forums! It's great to have you here.  It sounds like you're looking for some tips for helping your daughter to manage her ADHD and stay organised at school and home. Connecting with other parents who also have children with ADHD can be a really great way to learn new parenting strategies and feel supported. I hope you find some parents on here who you can relate to There are also some great online resources out there for parents supporting their children with ADHD: We have an article on ADHD and Teens (with tips to try) The Raising Children's Network The Royal Children's Hospital  Additude Thriving with ADHD The ADHD Foundation also has a list of local services to access here.    I hope you find these resources helpful! ... View more

Hi @MimiCoco , I have just responded to the thread you recently made, but wanted to respond here to welcome you to the community and thank you for sharing your responses to these questions with us.  It's lovely to hear that you try to take some time out for yourself to cope with the stress of parenting. Those sound like some great ways to relax and take your mind of things when you get the opportunity. I hope these forums bring you the opportunity to connect with parents who also know what its like to have a child who is neurodivergent.  ... View more

Hi @MimiCoco , welcome to the ReachOut community Thank you for taking the time to reach out and share your situation with us.  It sounds like you are going through a challenging time with your son's behaviour, it's completely understandable that you are feeling burnt out and overwhelmed. Please know that you are not alone in this, there are many parents out there going through similar struggles with children who are neurodivergent.  It's great to hear that your son has a loving and supportive parent who wants to see him thrive. It's also important to acknowledge that being a patient parent is not always easy, especially when you are dealing with challenging behaviours. It's okay to make mistakes and feel frustrated at times, it doesn’t make you a bad parent. It sounds like you are trying your best with the resources you have, and that’s all you can do.  It sounds like you have a good understanding of your son's behaviour and have already identified some potential challenges related to ADHD. Even without a formal diagnosis, you can still work with your son's strengths and challenges to help him thrive. There are resources available online on the Raising Children’s Network that can offer support and guidance on how to best support your son. There are also resources available to parents in the community. As it looks like you are based in Scotland, these two services might be near you and worth looking into: ADHD Parent Support and NHS Inform. Online communities like these are also great for connecting with other parents who have children with similar needs to feel more supported and less alone. I hope the ReachOut forums offer an opportunity for you to find such parents. If you are on FaceBook, it could also be worth searching for support groups available to parents in your situation there too.  As you support your son, it's important to take care of yourself and prioritise your own mental well-being. Do you have any support for yourself at the moment? Such as a family member, therapist or counsellor? ... View more

Hi @MrsKristicle , thank you for sharing a bit about your situation with us. It sounds like managing your son’s behaviour at home has become really difficult lately, and it’s taking a toll on your own mental health and well-being. Sounds like it has been an incredibly tough time for the family.  It sounds like you have been trying the best you can to find ways to support your son to manage his behavior, and I imagine it to be incredibly frustrating to not get support from the school or other support services in your area. Do you have a family GP or doctor you might be able to speak to for advice on steps to take? If you are interested in learning more about ADHD, we have some resources here and here. We also have an article on supporting your child with ADHD here and here.  Throughout all of this, it’s important to take care of your own mental health and well-being. Do you have access to your own supports in your life? Such as a friend, family member or counsellor? Prioritising self-care is a great way to take care of your well-being. Are there any self-care activities you can think of that you think might help you to relax and unwind on tough days? ... View more

Hi @Parenting75 , it sounds like dealing with your son's anger outbursts has been an incredibly difficult time for you lately. I am sorry to hear that his behaviour is becoming frightening. I am wondering whether you might be able to share more about how your son expresses his anger? Do you have a safety plan in place for when he has an anger outburst?  I found some articles on anger and teenagers here that I thought might be helpful to you. There is one on understanding anger here and another of tips for helping your teen manage their anger here.  Sometimes anger can look like physical violence in the home, and it can be important to know where to get support before things get out of hand (or when they have gotten out of hand). 1800respect might be helpful, as they are a service that provides telephone or online counselling support to families experiencing family violence and abuse.  I hope these resources are of some help to you  take care.  ... View more

Hi @Worriedmun  I imagine it to be quite difficult to interact with your daughter’s friend comfortably with the worries you have been having about the impact that they are having on your daughter's well-being. I’m sorry to hear that your daughter became annoyed with you for this, I can see you only want the best for her.  I found an article on effective communication with teenagers here and here that I thought might give you some tips for having tough conversations with your daughter. Do you think this could be helpful?  It sounds like you also have your own stuff going on at the moment, which I imagine isn't being helped by the current situation. I am wondering if you have any emotional supports or self-care strategies in place for yourself at the moment? It's really important to prioritise self-care, and we have a few tips for that here and here if you're interested.  ... View more

Hi @Jabit , I can only imagine how tough it has been to watch a child deal with court issues while simultaneously dealing with her mental health issues. On top of that, having a grandchild refusing to go to school can place an enormous pressure on a family. Are either your grandson or his mother engaging in any support services for their well-being at the moment? Understandably, it sounds like managing two households and caring for your family members is starting to have an impact on your own well-being. I am wondering whether you have any support for yourself throughout all of this?  Carer gateway is a service that provides emotional and practical services and support for carers. They might be worth checking out.  ... View more

Hi @KIrstyH , thank you for sharing a bit about you and your family’s journey with us. It is really nice to hear that the entire family has been supportive of your son’s sexuality. It sounds like you have a very open and honest style of communication in your family, which is very inspiring to read about. It’s clear how much you love and care for your boys - it appears that they are very lucky to have you.  We are really glad you reached out here, and hope that you get the chance to connect with other parents in a similar position to you. I am sure many parents share your concerns for the challenges that LGBTQIA+ teens can face. Keep an eye out for more events like this coming soon.  See you around the forums  ... View more

Hi @Sadmomjen74 , thank you so much for sharing. I am sorry to hear that your family is heartbroken, that all sounds like it has been a lot for you and your family to process. I can only imagine how difficult it has been to process the choices your daughter is making around her career and drug-use, as well as coming into terms with her diagnosis.  I am wondering how you and your family are coping throughout all of this? Do you have any supports, such as a family member, friend or counsellor to talk to?  ... View more

Thank you for sharing a little bit more about what you and your family are going through, it sounds like it has been a very difficult time for your entire family. It is understandable that this has been a challenging time for both you and your partner. We’re really glad that you have found us and have been able to reach out for some support.  It looks like Iona_RO has shared some great resources on positive self-harm coping skills and having a conversation with your teen about self-destructive behaviours. Did you get a chance to look into any of these and find anything helpful? I am sorry to hear that you have been feeling ashamed and guilty about what your daughters' are going through. That is a lot for one to be carrying. You sound like an incredibly caring parent who wants the best for your children. Your daughters are incredibly lucky to have such a supportive and caring parent like you.  I am mindful of the impact that supporting children with mental illness must be having on your own mental health. I am wondering whether you or your partner have been receiving any support for your own wellbeing? I wanted to share a family service called Mind Australia that I thought could be helpful to have a look at, it is a service that offers support for the whole family. As you mentioned that you and your partner have been super focused on your girls lately, I am wondering whether it could be helpful to prioritise some time to spend together, just the two of you? As important as it is to care for your girls, it is also important to take care of yourselves and your own wellbeing. ... View more

Hi @KR5555 , welcome to the forums - we really appreciate you sharing your situation with us! You sound like such a caring and supportive parent seeking ideas for how to help your daughter manage her training behaviours, to keep her safe from any harmful impacts it could have on her physical and mental health and well-being. It sounds like you have tried a lot of strategies to help your daughter get a handle on things so far. I imagine it has been quite worrying and confusing to know what to do next.  Sometimes when teens face challenges with over-exercising, this can be accompanied by challenges with things like eating behaviours, body image and self-esteem. Have you noticed any other behaviour changes that have coincided with the running program she has created?  To answer your question about whether there is someone you should take your daughter to see, it might be a good idea to consult a GP about the concerns you are having for her physical and psychological well-being. It might be a good starting point, and you can take things from there. Is this something you would feel comfortable looking into?  I am also curious as to whether there is a health/sports teacher at your daughter’s school? One who you might be able to connect with, who could support your daughter to understand safe training habits or encourage a training schedule, like the one your husband suggested?  I thought it was also worth mentioning that we have a free, one-on-one parent coaching service available to you if you are interested in getting some more personalised support from a parent coach.  Thanks again for sharing your situation with us  ... View more

Hi @KaRob! I have responded to your other post, but wanted to jump in here as well to welcome you to the forums! Thank you for sharing a bit about your family and situation with us.  We are really glad you reached out here, and hope that you get the chance to connect with other parents in a similar position to you. I am sure many parents can relate to the difficulties of managing their teenagers' screen time!   ... View more

Hi there @KaRob , thank you for sharing this with us. Managing your son's diagnosis of ODD and anxiety sounds like it has been a really challenging time for you. You sound like a very supportive parent who cares about your children very much. Though I imagine at times it can become really draining and exhausting to deal with disruptive behavior at home.  We had a professional answer a parent's question about teens and ODD, and I thought it might be a good read for you. You can have a read of her answer here. The Raising Children's Network also has an article on ODD here that might be useful to you too. As it looks like you are based overseas, please bear in mind when accessing any of these resources that ReachOut and the RCN are based in Australia.  It can be really tough supporting a child going through something, and it is just as important to take care of your own well-being as it is for you to support theirs. Is there anything you enjoy doing for self-care? Or do you have anyone you can talk to about things - such as a friend, family member or counsellor?  ... View more

Hi @asfand and welcome to the ReachOut forums! Thank you for the input you have given here. I think you are right when you say that there are people waiting for an opportunity to help you when you are in need. This is a nice message to encourage others to reach out when they need a little bit of extra support with what they are going through! ... View more

Hi @Mimi80  Thank you for sharing a bit about your situation with us. It sounds like it has been a difficult time trying to support your son to manage his anger lately. I am sorry to hear that this makes you feel like a bad mother at times. From reading your post I get the sense that you are a very caring parent who is trying their best to understand why your son might be behaving this way, so that you can support him the best you can. I thought it might be helpful to share some articles we have on managing teenagers' anger. We have info on teens and anger here, and there are tips for managing anger here, here and here.  We also had a professional answer a question about anger management, which you can read here. You might find some more helpful tips there.  Please bear in mind when accessing these resources that we are an Australian-based organisation, so the resources may not be the best for international members.  Supporting someone who has anger outbursts can be really difficult and exhausting. Have you got any support for yourself at the moment? Such as a friend, family member or counsellor who you can speak things through with?  Please don't forget to take care of your own well-being during this time  ... View more

Hi @Mjr67 , welcome to the ReachOut Forums, it’s really great to have you here 🙂 I am really sorry to hear that your daughter is struggling at the moment. I imagine it has been really difficult to see your daughter face such challenges. Would you like to share more about what is going on for you and your daughter at the moment? Feel free to comment back here or create your own thread. We hope you find some other parents on here who you can relate to and chat with as well 🙂 ... View more

Hey there @KariBJ! Welcome to the ReachOut Forums, it’s lovely to have you here  Thank you for sharing a bit about your family and situation with us, it sounds like things have been tough over the last few years. It's nice to hear that amongst it all, you have learnt a few things about yourself along the way, like how strong you are! We hope you find some other parents on here that you can relate to. Please feel free to create your own thread if you’re looking for advice or to talk about anything in particular  ... View more

Hi @ashhh, welcome to the ReachOut forums, and thank you so much for sharing what is going on for your  family at the moment. It sounds like your brother is going through a really tough time, dealing with a lot of worry around cleanliness. I can only imagine yours and your family’s concern for your brother when you see your brother go to such lengths to avoid situations of uncleanliness, it must be really difficult to understand why he is behaving this way. I can understand how this would be affecting you and your family, as all any of you want is to see your brother’s mental health improve.  I am wondering if your brother has any support for his mental health? As we are based in Australia, we limited in our ability to recommend services that provide mental health support in the Philippines. However, I have found these two services that might be worth looking into, and would encourage you to look into any other mental health supports for your brother that may be available in your area National Centre for Mental Health Philippine Mental Health Association You mentioned that you and your parents have been experiencing troubles with getting your brother to listen to your advice. I found this article on how to effectively communicate with teenagers here, I wonder if this could offer any helpful tips for talking with your brother? I just wanted to thank you again for reaching out to the forums. It is clear how much you care for your brother, and he is incredibly lucky to have such a supportive family looking out for him during this difficult time.  ... View more

Hi, thank you for sharing what has been going on for you and your son lately. I am sorry to hear that you are feeling at loss with how to get your son through his schooling. It sounds like it has been a difficult time for both you and for your son. Something that struck me when reading your post was what supportive parents you and your partner have been for your son. It is evident that you care a tremendous amount about his well-being and future, and you have the utmost belief in him and his capabilities.  I was wondering whether the school has offered any support around your son's struggles with school? I am also curious to know whether there is any specific support at his school for students who are looking to pursue music?  You mentioned that your son has never really thrived in the school system. I can definitely understand your son’s struggles with conventional schooling, it can be really tough for children that have other ideas for education and career pathways. ReachOut has put together a video clip for parents that talks about when school just isn’t working for children, which I thought might interest you.   While it sounds like you have thought of many possible avenues, I thought it might be helpful to share the resources we have on our website on school refusal and things to try when there are problems with school. I wonder if any of these might give you some ideas?  Thank you again for sharing what has been going on for you and your son, it takes courage to reach out. We are here for you :) ... View more

Hi @Riannyn1, I have just read through your posts and wanted to chime in and say thank you for sharing what has been going on for you at the moment. It sounds like the news of your daughter coming out as non-binary and lesbian has been quite challenging for you to process. It is understandable that it has been really difficult for you, wanting to understand your daughter as they explore their identity and ensure they are supported while doing so. You truly seem like a parent who is doing your best to support and be respectful of your daughter and their needs.  It is really important that when someone tells us about their gender identity or sexuality, we validate that and support them in the ways they need. To be supportive of your daughter, some of the things you can do is try your best to use the correct preferred pronouns and to support the way they express their gender through what they wear. It might also be really helpful to keep the line of communication open by asking how else your daughter would like to be supported by you. Are these things you would feel comfortable supporting them with? Another way to be supportive of a child coming out is to educate yourself about gender diversity and sexuality. Did you have a chance to read through any of the articles that @Courtney-RO has shared?  I also just wanted to let you know that I have removed your first name from your original post to ensure that your posts remain anonymous.  ... View more

Hi @jalago, welcome to the forums :)  I understand you have some questions around how to approach a conversation with your daughter about her relationship with her first boyfriend. First relationships can be tough to navigate both for teenagers, and for parents who are there supporting them through it. We have an article for parents on romantic relationships and teens on our website here, do you think this might help answer your questions? ... View more

Hi @Savan90,  Welcome :) We are so glad that you have found your way to the forums, we’re here to support you. Thank you for sharing a little bit about your situation with us. It sounds like it has been a challenging time for you while you adjust to your partner’s children living with you full-time. Blended families can be really challenging. Although in saying that, step parents can also be such important figures in childrens’ lives, and it really does sound like you are someone who is dedicated to being the best step parent you can be.  I can hear that things have really been taking a toll on your relationship with your partner, which makes things feel all the more difficult. I imagine it’s especially hard during the times when it feels like your partner isn't having your back when it comes to making decisions as parents. I’m wondering if you have been able to talk with your partner about how this has been making you feel? I thought it might reassure you to know that you’re not alone in feeling this way, we’ve had many posts on the forums about step-families sharing frustrations similar to yours. We had a psychologist respond to one of these posts in our Ask a Professional section, if you’re interested in having a read you can find it here. There might be some helpful tips.  ReachOut has some great resources on how to navigate being a step-parent here, and another on blended families here. Another great website is the Raising Children’s Network, they have a range of articles on blended families, have a look here if you’re interested. I wonder if any of these articles might be helpful to your situation?  I thought it might also be worth mentioning that ReachOut offers free one-on-one support with an experienced professional for parents looking to navigate parenting. You can find more information on this service here if this is something you might be interested in.  With the challenges you have been facing recently, I am also wondering if you have support for yourself? Is there someone you can talk with about this, such as a trusted family member/friend? Talking to a mental health professional such as a counsellor about this can also be really helpful, is this something you have ever considered? Please feel free to let us know if finding a mental health professional is something you would like guidance on :) Thank you again for sharing what has been going on for you, it takes courage. ... View more

Hi @FlorenceSamuels , it’s nice to hear from you again. We really appreciate you taking the time to reach out and share what’s been going on for you. It has shown a lot of courage :)  I am sorry to hear that your son had a falling out with his friend, that can be really tough for a young person to go through. It’s such a bummer that the club in your area doesn’t offer the Explorers group, I wonder if there are any other clubs or activities in your area that interest your son?  You mentioned that you found a run club/counsellor service in your area, and that your son isn’t too keen on engaging with them at this point. I found this article on things to try when supporting your teen getting help here, I wonder if any of these tips might help with this?  It’s really positive to hear that you have been able to establish a routine around screen time, it sounds like routines work really well with your son  You mentioned that some adults haven’t been speaking in a very supportive way about your son, and I’m really sorry that you had to experience that. It sounds like the comments made were really hurtful, especially coming from family.   With everything that is going on, I am wondering if you have any support for yourself? Supporting someone through a tough time can be tough on you too, and it’s important to take care of yourself just as much as it is to take care of your son. Is there anyone you trust to talk about this with? Such as a friend/family member or a counsellor?  I want to remind you that you’re not alone in this, we are here to support you. ... View more

Hi @TassieMama! Welcome! We are so glad that you have found your way to the forums, it’s great to have you here. Thank you so much for sharing a bit about your two daughters and your situation at the moment. We appreciate you taking the time to reach out - it can take a lot of courage :)  I am really sorry to hear that your daughter is facing some challenges with getting to school. May I ask if you have had a chance to speak with your daughter about what it is about school that is making it hard for her to go?  While it sounds like you have tried lots of things already, I thought I'd suggest some articles that might help you find some things you might not have thought of yet. You can have a read of one about school refusal here, and another one about problems at school here.  I thought it might also be worth mentioning that ReachOut offers free one-on-one support with an experienced professional for parents looking to support their child through a tough time. You can find more information on this service here if you’re interested. I really like your approach of keeping the stress down by singing and moving your body, and I think you’re totally right, these challenges won’t last forever. You have done such an awesome job already reaching out for support. Your daughters are really lucky to have a caring parent like you.  I am also mindful of how tough it can be to support someone else going through a tough time. I was wondering if you have any support for yourself? Anyone you can talk to about this?  Thanks again for sharing with us, we are here to support you  ... View more

Hey @DK2690 , thank you for sharing your situation with us, we are really glad you have reached out for support. It sounds like it has been a challenging time for you having your partner's son move in. Sounds like it has been a very tough position to be in. I can hear that things have been taking a toll on your relationship with your partner, which makes things feel all the more difficult. Have you been able to talk with your partner about how this has been making you feel? We want you to know that you’re not alone in feeling this way, we’ve had many posts on the forums about step-families sharing frustrations similar to yours. We had a psychologist respond to one of these posts in our Ask a Professional section, if you’re interested in having a read you can find it here. You may find some helpful tips.  We have an article on our website about blended families here. The Raising Children’s Network also has a heap of articles on this too, have a look here if you’re interested. I wonder if any of these articles might be helpful to your situation? I am also wondering with everything going on, do you have support for yourself? Is there someone you can talk with about this? Such as a counsellor or a trusted family member/friend?  We appreciate you opening up about your feelings, it takes courage! We are here to support you.  - I also just wanted to let you know that we have sent you an email.  ... View more