JKF
Well-Known Member
My 10 y/o (11 in a week! Where did the time go??) is typical ADHD. He's a really sweet, smart, well rounded kid but he can be soooo difficult sometimes. He's extremely unorganized, forgets homework and books almost everyday, can't concentrate in class, sometimes can't sit still, and basically has a very hard time following through on simple tasks. He talks almost NONSTOP and is very forgetful about things that don't interest him.
Lately he's been getting in trouble for forgetting homework and books. When that happens the policy is that I bring him back to school to get the things he needs but he loses TV privileges for that night. It's happened twice so far this week but the punishment doesn't seem to phase him. He's not mean or rude about it but it's just like "oh well". That makes me lose it and I find myself yelling more and more every day. I hate yelling but he drives me to the point of insanity sometimes. Yesterday he got yelled at for forgetting his math homework. Today he had newspaper club and when I picked him up he informed me that on top of his regular homework, he had a book project due for reading tomorrow. He's had SIX WEEKS to do this project and he decided to wait until the last minute! I lost it! I'm sure I was purple from yelling so much! It took him 5 hours to do his regular homework plus his project. I refused to let him eat dinner until he was done. Mean? Probably. But if he stops doing what he's doing for even a second he loses his train of thought and it's torture to get him back into the groove.
I know he can't help some of it but some of it he CAN help! He's just so lazy about certain things. He knows what he's supposed to do yet chooses to take the easy way. Or the "I have time, I'll do it later" attitude.
Anyway, I feel like a monster for yelling and screaming at him. I find myself doing it more and more lately because the calm approach isn't working anymore. When I'm calm he thinks he's gotten away with something and then does it again. It seems to sink in with him more when I yell but I feel so terrible afterwards. Like now, he's upstairs fast asleep and I feel so evil for being such a raging b**ch before! I need help controlling my temper a little before I damage the both of us! Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Lately he's been getting in trouble for forgetting homework and books. When that happens the policy is that I bring him back to school to get the things he needs but he loses TV privileges for that night. It's happened twice so far this week but the punishment doesn't seem to phase him. He's not mean or rude about it but it's just like "oh well". That makes me lose it and I find myself yelling more and more every day. I hate yelling but he drives me to the point of insanity sometimes. Yesterday he got yelled at for forgetting his math homework. Today he had newspaper club and when I picked him up he informed me that on top of his regular homework, he had a book project due for reading tomorrow. He's had SIX WEEKS to do this project and he decided to wait until the last minute! I lost it! I'm sure I was purple from yelling so much! It took him 5 hours to do his regular homework plus his project. I refused to let him eat dinner until he was done. Mean? Probably. But if he stops doing what he's doing for even a second he loses his train of thought and it's torture to get him back into the groove.
I know he can't help some of it but some of it he CAN help! He's just so lazy about certain things. He knows what he's supposed to do yet chooses to take the easy way. Or the "I have time, I'll do it later" attitude.
Anyway, I feel like a monster for yelling and screaming at him. I find myself doing it more and more lately because the calm approach isn't working anymore. When I'm calm he thinks he's gotten away with something and then does it again. It seems to sink in with him more when I yell but I feel so terrible afterwards. Like now, he's upstairs fast asleep and I feel so evil for being such a raging b**ch before! I need help controlling my temper a little before I damage the both of us! Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.