Message Boards

Messages By: lynlovel

User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
July 10, 2008, 4:21 pm PDT

different strokes...

Quote From: alli0721

Absolutely!  That is how we do it.  my step son is my SON, and nothing less.  The only reason that I am the one who talks to him when he misbehaves (not hits, not spanks, but talks) is because I am a stay at home mom, and we spend our time together.  My husband wants to come home and play ball with his son when he gets home.  So I make sure that if there was an issue, it is taken care of before he gets home.  I hate the term step....why should there even be a word in front of child.  You shouldn't marry someone if you don't want to be a parent to their children.
 it'sgreatthat you some of you find that you can successfully step into the role of "parent" to your spouse's child. but it doesnt work for all blended families. ive sen cases where kids resented it terribly.this is especially true, i think, if the kid is a teenager or even in junior high. even more so if there have been other stepparents. or if the new parent wants to change the rules or discipline in the house (even if he or she is "right"). so i think most couples ahve to give this a lot of thought. and the older the kid is , the more slowly they need to proceed, as far as bringing the stepparent into a parent role, if at all.
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
July 10, 2008, 9:42 pm PDT

are you kidding?!

Quote From: ashamo

If that was my daughter  a good Spanking first, then I would her to boot camp. Or if that don't work. Grandma will scary her to reality.

 Who spanks anyone over age 10, even if they believe in spanking? How would anyone hold this girl down long enough for a spanking? And remeber,she has been physically punished by her mom-- when she was drunk or high! That's partofwhat led to this situation.Boot camp maybe the anser for some kids, but it seemd to me that soemthing else is needed here.
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
July 10, 2008, 9:54 pm PDT

parents in the middle

Quote From: nanaskas

I am still in ccntact with my parents almost daily.  They, of course are very concerned for us.  We get together often.  I know that God has a plan, but, it is difficult at our age to hear my mom say, "God must have something else for you to do."  "Our footsteps are led by the Lord."  Yes, I do believe that, but this is not His will.  There has been tremendous stress on our family for a very long time.  I love my parents so dearly.  I am thankful for every day that I have with them.  Every year they are more dear to me.  This is very difficult for them, but of course, they don't want to, and shouldn't get in the middle.  They have a tough time with my wanting to distance myself a bit.  I have spoken with a psychiatrist, and she suggested that it would be a healthy thing to do, at least through all of this.  I so appreciate your input.  I don't have anywhere to turn with this, and this forum has helped me to see that I'm not nuts.   
 I'm glad that you have manged to stay in touch with your parents. I know that this is hard for them, but you need to do what's best for you, at this point. If you don't, you will only suffer more, and I know your parents wouldn like that even less.

I don't blame them for not getting in the middle. In fact,in the end, that would probably only make things worse.

I don'tknow you, but I suspect that one of the biggest probelms, even for your parnets, is that everybody keeps expecting this to be "resolved" and maybe, for everybody to "kiss and make up." I think you all need to let go of that idea for now -- well, I think you alredy have. You and your sister each need to go on with your separate lives, etc. Never mind "closure" or any of that, at least not for now. Distancing yourself sounds good, even if your parents don't like the idea.

Maybe you need to avoid talking to them about this. I'm sure there are many other topics you and your folks can talk about, even if it'sless personal stuff like the latest movies or current politics. But even if it doesn't seem like it, I think you do have people to turn to -- that psychiatrist and the people here on the message boards.

Good luck to you.
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
July 10, 2008, 10:03 pm PDT

good ideas but....

Quote From: kimk20554

This kid needs stability and some serious consistant discipline but she's growing up in the most dysfunctional household I've ever seen. I agree, nothing NOTHING justifies the kids behavior. She's obviously manipulative. she was oh so sweet to the bishop in an attempt to make it all someone elses fault. Even then she slipped up. In describing what she thought would be reasonable rules for a girl her age when she mentioned allowing the boyfriend to sleep over as long as the bedroom door was left open and they were supervised. So in other words, she thinks someone should be willing to go without sleep, sit up all night and make sure she behaves? Oh Yes, the world revolves around her and if she wants something the world should bend over backward to see that she has it. . I've raised three kids and I may have pulled a few all nighters when the kids had a sleepover but I would never sit up to chaperone a boy that should be at home in his own bed being supervised by his own guardian. I missed hearing where he bio dad is but she should not be blaming everyone else because he's not in the picture. He's not there because of himself and it may be hard to admit to herself but she needs to face that fact, the sooner the better..

 

BUT this mother is so lazy that it's no wonder the kid is like this. She's let the girl get to this point because it's easier to say yes than no. Take every single thing away from this kid. No TV, no socializing, no new clothes NOTHING. If she doesn't come straight home after school call the cops. If she leaves the house, call the cops.  Let her earn all of those priviledges she never had to earn before. I'd give her one thing back as soon as possible so that I would have the leverage of taking it away again. Treat her like the bratty 2 year old that she acts like

 I'm guessing this girl acts like a terror if her mom tries to disciplne her. Maybe it'sbecause she didn't discipline her consistently in the past. Or perhaps it's because of the abuse on the drunken occasions when she did. clearly, the mom has been wildly inconsistent due to her addictions, etc. No matter, this is the situation now. So I don't think Mom is "lazy" -- more like she doesn't know how to deal with her daughter's out-of-control reactions. Easy to "take everything away" if you don't think the kid is going to attack you (or your husband). Otherwise, it's much more complex.

At this point, Mom cannot fix this alone.She truly needs the resources Phil is offering, but even then, I imagine this is going to be a long, hard road.
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
November 7, 2008, 2:03 pm PST

I agree

Quote From: binghamk19

It is ridiculous to abandon your child or children...........There is no excuse for it. I strived with my daughter but worked two jobs to take care of her..........I never used others, or never had family at all to take care of my daughter. BUT she is a teenager now and I have done very well. She is an honor roll student and is very respectful as I have taught her, no use being vein and mean in life, it gets a person no where.  Yet, I hear these stories and I wonder why these mothers or parents cannot maintain their children. There are resources that we have out there that can help instead of leaving our children in an alley way or some building left there alone. I couldn't do that to my daughter. It would haunt me til I died. I guess some people feel they have no other resources, but THEY DO!  It is sad how our economy, etc has made it that parents can't raise their kids properly. SAD!
You nailed it! There are so many resources out there. Not every parent can accomplish what you did on her/his own -- kudos to you, by the way -- but they can do it with help. Of course, the economy often makes it hard for them to find this help, as you say, which is a tragedy in itself. For that reason the "safe havens" may be the best solution for some parents and their kids -- certainly better than leaving a baby in a trash can!
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
November 12, 2008, 3:10 am PST

So True,,,

Quote From: moodymitzy

I am sorry but 14 and 16 you are old enough to know not to kill a baby. I don't care if they felt scared or whatever that is murder. Parents should be to blame also. How could they not know their child is pregnant? How could they not raise their child to know that killing a baby is wrong? Sorry but I do not feel sorry for the ones that killed their babies or left them to die. Now the young mom that is considering giving her children up I feel for.
And to pick upon the point of parents"not knowing" their teen is pregnant -- There are so many signs. It's not just about whether or not she covers her growing belly w/ "big clothes." I suppose there are a few cases where there really are no obvious symptoms, but often the parents are just in denial.

Still, I doubt most parents think that their daughter woudl kill a baby. so I don't know if you can blame them for that part. But  they should have at least paid attention to the signs of pregnancy. Too often parents say things like, "Well, the nausea could have been from a virus" and "the frequent trips to the bathroom could have meant she was drinking a lot with her friends," etc. Yeah, but when you put these and other symptoms together...
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
November 12, 2008, 3:23 am PST

About Not Judging

Quote From: hopefaithlove

I know where this mother is coming from that was on the show friday.  I have a 16yr-old step-son who has been diagnosed with:bipolar,adhd,ocd.  This child has made our lives pure h---.  At 16 he still pees the bed "because he doesn't want to get up and go during the night".  so therefore i bought him depends to wear to bed.  He threatens me(step-mom),his half brother(whom is 11).  He has made accusations towards me, my family, teachers and other individuals.  We have spent over $50,000 in doctors,therapists,medicines thats just in the last 2yrs.  we have been doing this doctor,therapist and medicine since he was 5yrs old.  My husband is in denial about his son.  My husbands family babies and protects this child and says he would never act like this.  He is now in a home for children he has been there since last january and he HAS NOT changed at all.  He is doing the same behavior there as he did at home.  My husband had an affair last september with a woman who "was just a friend for 20yrs) because he believed his son over me.  I was a wicked step-mom according to him and his family.  Let me remind you my husband drives truck and is never home to know what his son does.  and for his family his family never comes around to see what he does when there are people around this child does not aact like that because he doesnt want them to see his true colors.  There is no help in the state of nebraska for families who face these problems everyday with these children.  The cost of doctors,therapist,medicine is overwhelming.  I had to quit my job 3yrs ago to stay home because of this childs behavior.  And yet, there is another child in this home but he is pushed in the back by my husbands family because he is my son not mine and my husbands he is my child and therefore does not exist to them.

so before judging and degrating a person for doing something that is right for them get the story straight and give support instead of judging and degrating.  until you walk in the shoes of the parents of these children and go thru the h--- that we do yiu have no right judging and degrating.  And it really p-----/me off when the parents are always asked what did you do wrong or what could you have done differently.

when you spend every hour and every day trying to find support and options out there i do believe the parents are doing what they can.

My step-son has threatened me with a knife and my son.  He has my son so afraid of the dark, afraid of leaving my side because of the crap that he has said and done and threathened to do.

So dont judge and degrde a person for doing what needs to be done.

First, let me offer my sympathies on your situation. Also, I thinkit's a good thing that this boy is now in a special home. I am sorry that you husband seems to have turned to another woman b/c of all this, but if your stepson is truly as you describe, then you and your son are better off with the stepson out of your house. Oddly enough, he is probably better off too, b/c eventually, they may be able to help him. But if not, at least, thank God, the rest of the familyi is now spared the daily suffering.

I agree that we have to be careful about judging when we'renot facedwith the situation ourselves. And I know the mom with the 15-year-old was just trying to get some help for her daughter. In another post, I wrote how there is so much help available, but that was a genreal statement. I realize that in some states and in some individual cases, there is not so much help out there. Also, sometimes the help available costs more than the family can afford. So they have to reach out another way.
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
November 29, 2008, 8:00 pm PST

Teahcer Power Trips

Quote From: momsemi

When I was in 2nd grade, I had a new teacher named Miss Seeley. I was a fairly shy and quiet little kid.  One day a girl wore a bracelet to school and it turned up missing.  Miss Seeley made us all stay after school till it was found.  This was a new experience and many were crying.  I saw the bracelet under the owner's desk in the back of the room.  Excitedly told the teacher thinking she'd be pleased, and she said: "I should have known it was you who took it".  I was devastated.  I am now 68 and was relating this story during a gathering of old classmates. Tears began pouring down one girl's face.  "I thought she hated me" she said.  This girl had gone out at lunch time and almost been hit by a car.  She came back to the room crying and scared, and Miss Seeley not only wouldn't comfort her, but wouldn't let any of the other students comfort her.  Another girl had transferred into the school from elsewhere and Miss Seeley made her sit at a desk out in the hall.  She also thought she was hated.   This info came out from just a small group of us.  We'll never know how many others thought she hated them too.  At one point after graduation, I worked in the office at the same school and was able to look at my grade school records.. All my marks were in the 90's except for that 2nd grade year when my marks were all in red and failing.  Not sure what happened to Miss Seeley, but hopefully she gave up the teaching profession before she scarred anymore little kids.

How awful! Teachers like that don't realize how deeply they can damage a child's self-esteem, not to mention love of learning. Or maybe such a teacher is on a power trip and enjoys dominating helpless children. Dissatisfied with their own lives, they take it out on their pupils. Disgraceful!
 
User Mood
Happy

Message Emote
blank
December 9, 2008, 12:20 am PST

christmas adjustment

Quote From: noxgaak

Christmas is when this always gets us.  Even though we just by for the kids, we also include the neices, nephews.  We both come from small families and the rest of our families are having it tough.  2008 has been rough, i lost my parents this year, not even 4 months apart. I'm the youngest and my silbings more or less count on me for a lot .  I know this is off topic, but I need to get it off my chest. because my parents had no wills, doing the paper work for administrator of their estates is tough.  my siblings know there is money and they are seasonal workers, and do not have any income, as they didn't  get enough hours for employment insurance.  i've already divided up $ my mom left, and that's all gone.  Now christmas is near and I feel obligated to do for them, even though I can't really afford too. HOw do you say no to your own family.?  suggestions?
You don't have to say  "no"-- just spend less than usual on each child. If you think it will be obvious, you can let the parents know beforehand that you're doing this. They should understand; everyone knows what hard economic times we're going through. It willlet them off the hook a little, too, so they may be relieved.
 

First | Prev | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Next Page | Last Page
Return to Message Board