Me again! Between my 2 kids I am going to have a nervous breakdown. Timmy has taken to lying about things and I hate it. He does not listen, he talks back. He will purposly get his sister into trouble and laugh because he thinks it is funny. (He then gets in trouble too). He is great in school for his teacher but has had a few (2) issues on the bus. Getting him to listen to me is a joke but he will listen to his dad most of the time.

Night time is the worst. He sits down for dinner and eats so fast when you ask him what he had sometimes he does not remember. We have to now serve him a small serviing of dinner time him and then repeat if he is still hungry. He will inhale his food without chewing most of it. I am so lost I feel like a failure. both my kids have problems and will not listen to me.

They can be so loving and great most of the time but man when they aren't look out.

By Anonymous on Monday, November 6, 2006 - 02:24 pm:

I am going anon for personal reasons. Tonya, you have had a very rough couple of years. I think you are probably trying your hardest so please don't take this the wrong way. I think you need to take some parenting classes with your soon to be dh. After all that has gone on in Timmy's short little life - dad's here, dad's gone, dad's living with someone else, dad's back, etc. you really should probably expect that there are going to be behavior problems. If your dh won't take them with you then go alone or at the very least go to the library and take out some parenting books. I am just trying to give you an honest opinion. I know you have tried very, very hard to make this work. I hope you succeed.

By Crystal915 on Monday, November 6, 2006 - 08:42 pm:

Tonya, I can't tell you how many times a day I feel like a complete failure as a mother. It's a million times harder than I ever thought possible, and it seems like the good times are nil compared to the bad. I don't have any real advice, especially since my kids are younger, just wanted you to know I understand how it feels, and I'm here if you need to talk. You know how to get ahold of me.
As for parenting classes with your DH (I know you aren't married yet, but close enough!!) I don't think that's a bad idea, but it's not necessarily the solution. You said he'll listen to his dad, but not you. That's EXACTLY how my kids are, they will listen to ANYONE but me. Make sure he has your back, and doesn't jump in when you are parenting, and make sure you follow through on your word. That's my biggest issue, trying to be consistant and follow through. Good luck hon.

By Pamt on Monday, November 6, 2006 - 10:09 pm:

Let's problem solve and take the biggest issues:

1) He lies, talks back, doesn't listen. What is he lying about? What happens when he lies, talks back, or doesn't listen? How do you handle it and how does he respond? What is different about the way his dad deals with him than the way you do?

2) He has poor table manners. Aside from giving him smaller portions, what else have you tried? Also, do you all eat together as a family?

I might have some ideas, but need more info about what you have tried and what kind of results you've gotten first.