Hey, Lacie! Welcome! Less than a week ago I had lost all hope and had no more ideas, thoughts, or suggestions for my six year old son. I Googled "parental support" and found myself registering at this exact same website. I started typing and crying. The next morning, I had replies from parents who got it, who understood where I was the night before. Since then I have made several, not steps, but leaps in (what I hope to be) a positive direction for my son and I both. I'm glad that you found your way here and even more so, I hope the words from other parents help you as well.
When I read your first line "he is my world", I quickly clicked with you. I know how your heart feels! My six year old (a few days away from seven) was just diagnosed with ADHD. He is currently in first grade and from Sept. of last year until Dec. our household was unbearable. Every single night we wiuld get a negative report from his teacher so we would have to enforce discipline for his behavior. So many hours, DAYS, of tears and fighting and dirty looks and screaming and kicking. It got to the point where I didn't even want to go home at the end of a working day. Then, our home changed in a single day. I had a meeting at school with the principle, assistant principle, counselor, and teachers. They expressed their concern about how unhappy my son was. They asked me if he seemed happy at home. It was then, when I heard my response, that I knew serious changes had to be made for my son. I told them "he has no reason to be happy at home. He is always being punished.". He gets in trouble at school and then comes home to even more. He had no safe place to go in this world. The school asked me at that point to stop punishing him at home for actions that happen at school. Allow them to handle those trying times. Talk to him about the situation, if the same thing takes place a second time, talk a little more stern, and the third time, provide a consequence. Otherwise, trust in the school to handle their situations in the moment. I immediately began doing this. Our household is loving, caring, and laughing again. Don't get me wrong, we still have school calling and our own things at home to discipline over, but not nearly as much.
I know my words aren't the answers for you and your dear son, but please know that I do understand. Hold your head high and don't take to heart his comments. You know you are doing all that you can for him , his success, and his happiness. Unfortunately, he won't truly grasp this until he has his own children. You are doing a great job and don't let him convince you otherwise! My grandmother use to say the only rule to raising children .... All you have to do is love them!
Tomorrow will be different!
