busywend - I dont know - difficult child he has certainly detached from us. Is it considered detachment on part of the parents if they dont force treatment on their difficult child? The difficulty that husband and I are having is on many levels:
I am depressed I know its way past time for me to seek help & medications but in addition to being depressed I hold a PhD in Procrastination. I am angry with just about everyone (husband for not taking charge, for not finding difficult child & beating some sense into him instead he just takes the position of waiting - difficult child 2 for being oblivious to what is going on right before her eyes; her lack of empathy my friends for not being better friends - difficult child 1 for choosing this way of life, for throwing away his opportunities, his family, etc., and angry most of all with myself.
In addition to feeling like a failure as a parent (having your 16 y/o runaway 5x, turn to drugs, drop out of school, and have ZERO direction) I feel like double failure for not forcing him into treatment AGAIN and AGAIN till something clicks. As MidwestMom mentioned she wouldnt detach from a child under 18, I feel like the entire world views our inactions as neglect. I typically dont give a hoot what the world views or thinks but I gotta admit this is different. Sometimes I agree that it is neglect on our part for not dragging him wherever and other times I agree with- husband.
Does that make any sense?