Hi there.
If this were my child, I would wonder if he was dabbling in drugs. My daughter did by age twelve and I didn't even think kids ever did drugs that young.
Other than that, if his father has outbursts of violence, my guess is your hub has some disorder...maybe bipolar???? Does he drink? The child sounds like he inherited something from his father. It sounds more than ODD...ODD is more appropriate for young kids and rarely stands alone in being the soul diagnosis. Do you know anything about this child's early development? Was he ever in foster care? He sounds like he could have attachment issues too, which can be very serious. Does he hurt animals? Does he play with fire or wet his pants too? Was he nurtured adequately as a young infant and child or tossed from parent-to-parent or to other relatives and back?
How are his grades in school?
Is he in treatment?
I would take him to a neuropsychologist. In the opinion of many on the board, they are the best diagnosticians. Something is very wrong and, if it isn't drugs (and I think you should surprise him with a drug test, even if he gets angry) then I am assuming he is mentally ill or neurologically impaired. He needs outside help, whatever is wrong. Your other kids need to be safe and this child deserves to have a chance. And hub needs to get good help as well.
