[AmyAnne]

Sorry. It's been a bad 24 hours.

So, yesterday morning, I woke up at 7:00 AM and I am not a morning person. I put Austin in the car and drove his butt 4 hours to VA so he would be able to play with his best friend from our old neighborhood before school started. So they played 4 hours. I picked him up. It was rush hour, so I opted to have us eat supper, which he refused to eat, and then go to my old dance group for an hour of practice before hitting the road. His lack of listening and following rules was abysmal. Got him in the car, where he whined for an hour before falling asleep at 9. I drove until after midnight, put my child in his bed and crashed.

Today he's been a BRAT. I had to leave the grocery store without groceries because of his behavior. He's made his best friend cry. He's made me cry. He's been rude. He's shown complete lack of remorse for any of this. he's deliberately broken rules.

I'm done. And it's only 3:30

[lucyjoy]

OH my. Sounds like darling son needs an early bed time so mom can get a break. Give the child some peanut butter and send him off to his room. He can try again tomorrow.

[AmyAnne]

Seriously, I'm considering it. I do not have the energy to do this today. I really don't. I'm inclined to spend the rest of the afternoon in a sobbing ball on the couch

[lucyjoy]

Well, maybe that's what you need to do. It won't hurt him to have to spend a little time in his room once in a while. I'd tell him that mom needs to rest as he's drained all your energy, feed him and send him off to his room for the night.

[AmyAnne]

Well I just lost it and screamed at him. He's back in his room

[Lylac]

I agree with lucy, he needs quiet time, so you can get some rest and regroup. Hugs!!

[Barksum]

Aww (((hugs))) I think most parents, and particularly those who've adopted older/special needs/RAD/etc. have those 'curl up in a ball on the couch' times.

I second the suggestion about having some rest time. Rather than yelling (and I feel a little absurd saying this...kind of a 'plank in my own eye' situation!) calmly give hm the PB&J sandwich and let him know that he's going to spend some FOB (flat on bunk) time. I know, I know, now comes the struggle to keep him quietly in his room without destruction or anything going on!, but at leat it is in HIS room, and not all over everywhere.

[AmyAnne]

Well I finally let him out of his room at about 5. We played basketball for 15 minutes and then hubby came home (I had sent him an email saying "I don't ask for this often but I need you to come take the wheel for a bit") He's been helping hubby clean the basement.

Also one of my friends called to see if I want to go with her to pick up her wedding dress from the seamstress tonight and hubby was like "You're going. Go." SO she'll be here in an hour.

[bajj]

(((((((Amy))))))))

I don't have a RAD kid, but I have had those types of days, and had one just recently. I emailed some friends just very frustrated and one of them emailed back saying, "maybe you should just lighten up on the clothes thing."

Well, pulling the clothes out of the drawer was the LAST straw for me. WE had been over it again and again and no we do not "stir" the dirty clothes with the clean clothes so I have to rewash it all.

The clothes wasn't the big deal to me. It was the entire attitude and disobediance we had.

I'm glad your hubby came home and am hopiong you are (or will enjoy) your time out with your friend!

[sunnyandi13]

That's the only thing I can think of. At least that's what I've told myself the last two nights as I've laid in bed crying and trying to sleep. After seeing every hour on the clock last night, I'm blaming it on the full moon that was so cheerily shining in my window.

I completely sympathize with you. Our two, that we're in the process of adopting, suddenly forgot all the rules and we've had three days of h@ll to pay. Disrespectful attitudes, deliberant disobedience, physical aggression, breaking things - you name it, they've tried my and my husband's patience.

It's really harder on us as the parents, I think, to be able to rationally and calmly deal with all this. So don't feel guilty for yelling - and do reclaim some "you" time. Can he go to gma's or a sleepover one night this weekend to give you a much needed break? Don't ask - demand some time for yourself before you get completely overwhelmed...

[AmyAnne]

He's much better today. the aftermath went like this:

Hubby came home and played legos with him while I got dinner on. Kiddo was ticked off that we did not have spaghetti and meatballs with homemade sauce, but this was because we had to leave the store without getting the meatball ingredients.

Then I went to the store alone. Kiddo had to help hubby clean the basement until I got home to pay us back,

He has lost the privillege to play outside without an adult unless I can see him from a window until things blow over with the friends. Even after things are ok again he's lost the privillege to play at their homes, they must come HERE, indefinitely.

Once hubby gave me time to get to the grocery and I had an hour with my friend, some ice cream and a hot bubble bath, I felt much better. Oh and hubby also provided a shoulder rub

Today has gone okay, even with a trip to Target.

[Lorraine123]

Amy - I am so glad you got the opportunity to take care of yourself. One of the toughest things for us moms is self-care. But this is essential when parenting these kids who suck the life out of us. My daughter currently is in her room (for the second time today). Is that therapeutic? No. Is it necessary for me? Yes. Keep up the good work.