New here. Need advice

Jennifer8

New Member
So tonight has kind of been the last straw and now I've found this site. Hopefully, y'all can help or just let me vent.

Two kids. 14 yr old son, 13 yr old daughter. Both diagnosed ADHD but only son is being treated (daughter not really showing signs for past year). Anyways, my son. I know I need to keep a schedule with him and let him have time to process things. But anytime I tell him he needs to stop a current activity (And I give him a time limit), he BLOWS up at me. Starts yelling about how I'm so rude to him and I've been yelling at him all day (even though I just walked in the house). Then starts the "You all hate me!" when I start taking away privileges or get louder than him. We do this dance every day, multiple times a day. He doesn't get violent so I'm not worried about that. I'm just so tired of him acting out like that and I worry about him handling the real world (I'll keep that for another thread). I just need advice on how to talk to him and reassure him (he's the quiet type so it's hard to "talk" to him).

Thanks
 

runawaybunny

Administrator
Staff member
Hello @Jennifer8

You are on a difficult parenting journey right now. You are doing your best in very complicated circumstances. Hang in there.

I just wanted you to know that I read your post and offer you my support. Hopefully other parents will come along to offer you their support too.
 

ksm

Well-Known Member
I don't know if it would work now, but when my kids were younger, we used a kitchen timer. If they got 30 minutes on the computer, we would set a timer... Then when it went off, depending on the game...5 more minutes to finish up.

That way, the timer interrupted them...and not me.

Sometimes we would do chores... And set the timer to see if they could pick up toys before the alarm went off... A little childish for the age of your son, but worked for mine.

You will probably need to find a time to talk with him, and explain changes...and maybe rewards for those changes...or consequences if things don't change. Good luck.

Ksm
 

LittleDudesMom

Well-Known Member
Good Morning and welcome,

I agree with Ksm when she says you need to find a time to talk with him, and explain changes...

Our kids with ADHD suffer with poor executive functioning which comes into play with their ability (or inability) to organize their thoughts through transitions. I dealt with this issue(s) with my now 21 year old son who had real difficulty with transitions - especially when he was "hyper-focused" on an activity he enjoyed.

What worked for us (by worked I mean keeping the home calm and the situation from escalating) was reason during the calm times. When he was relaxed and calm we discussed actions and consequences - over and over until it became ingrained in our house rules. He was much younger than your son because these issues reared their ugly head at a much younger age!

No engaging in his defiance or arguing is also key.

You set the rules, you follow the rules. No discussion.

It's tough to hear those "You hate me" words - but these kids and young adults spit out words before they engage their minds.

I think it's also important, especially given your son's age, that be able to set some guidelines or make suggestions as you navigate this.

Nothing happens overnight, it takes time, but in the end a calmer home and better relationships can be the outcome.

Sharon
 

susiestar

Roll With It
I am sorry things are so difficult. I used to have a tough time getting my children's attention. I hated being yelled at so I found a way to get it that involved something they liked. It was strange to other people, but it worked. I used dessert.

Yes, you read that right. If I needed my child to stop something and listen, or to do something else, especially when electronics were involved, I would say something like "chocolate chip cookies" or "chocolate pudding".

It all started because I noticed I could be talking to anyone about anything and my son would not notice anything but if I mentioned ANYTHING about a dessert, especially anything involving chocolate, he immediately knew. Often he thought I had promised him chocolate even if I had just mentioned wanting something chocolate for myself. I decided to use this rather than just being frustrated by it.

When I started it, I gave them the dessert item EVERY time I mentioned it. Then after about 2 weeks I gave it every other time for a couple of weeks, then it was on an irregular schedule so they never knew when they were getting the dessert. If they didn't pay attention to it, they for sure were not getting it. It may seem counterintuitive, but an irregular pattern of rewards is the most reinforcing pattern, so this really works for long term success.

I used this for a decade with my kids and it worked. It was almost a joke in the family by the end, because it could make the kids laugh, and of course my parents thought it was hilarious, but they also thought it was genius. Of course at first they thought I had lost my ever-lovin' mind, but what did they know? I had one child who might physically attack me at the end of a movie or if I turned off a video game because we had to go to do something or it was time for bed, even if he had been given warnings and all those things the therapists told us to do. Chocolate chip cookies or Cheesecake or whatever dessert was his favorite at the time worked a whole heck of a lot better, especially after a couple of months when I only had to give it to him a few times a week!

Find his favorite thing, especially a portable thing, and make it your commodity. Use it as a reward for transitions the way I used dessert foods. Heck, use dessert foods if he loves them.

My other suggestion is that if what he is becoming so verbally violent over is video games, then eliminate them. Just take them away completely because he cannot handle them. If he is so unable to handle himself when asked to stop using them that he behaves that way, he clearly cannot continue to use them. I did have to do that with my son at one point. He just did not play video games at all. I would not allow anyone to treat me that way. We did not play video games as they are fun but not a necessary part of life. It eliminated a lot of confrontation. The first couple of days were awful, the rest of the first week was bad, the next week wasn't fun, and things just kept getting better from then on.

I was shocked at how much imagination came into his world in the weeks after we took his screens away. It amazes me how screens really do impact imagination for our kids. I wouldn't suggest taking away all screens for your son, just the video games at this point, but if he is aggressive over limits on using other screens, it is something to think about. My son lost screens because he kept getting aggressive physically over time to stop using anything with a screen, even in school at the end of class. It was a real problem, but not one you are facing right now.

You can try re-introducing video games after a month or two, if you feel that is enough of a break and he is ready for a limited trial. Explain that if he is yelling at you when you tell him it is time to stop, then they will go away again. It isn't fun being the one to take things away, but these are not things that are essential, or even things that are beneficial. There are tons of kids that don't play these games and grow up just fine. No matter what your kids tell you to the contrary.

I hope one of these ideas helps.
 
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