To parents of difficult children....hang in there
 

There were days when all I wanted to do was cry , and days I didn't think I could get through my son's childhood and teen years, and days I wondered why I thought it would be a good idea to be a mother. We went through everything, counselors, doctors, police, jail, lawyers, clergy, you name it, we went through it with him. Tough love, boy they named that right.
He quit school, did jail time, wandered from job to job, place to place, was homeless, penniless, jobless, aimless for years. So frustrating because I knew he was smart and could do anything he wanted to, if he only wanted to.

Today, at 27 years old he called me and told me he made the deans list at college and has signed up for more classes and a degree in the fall. :baby04: Maybe other people do it the easier way, but I couldn't be more proud of him.

Congratulations!!

Sure sounds like you earned it.

Congratulations!! You should be proud.

Wow! That's good news! What is he studying?

That is fantastic news! Bet you are dancing around the house to day with a grin like a Cheshire cat...and so you should be! Congrats!

Very happy for y'all :)

Shygal..I am so happy the good responsible times have arrived. Congratulaions on hanging in there thru all you mentioned.

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This brought tears to my eyes... So proud for your Son and for you for hanging by him..

That's wonderful news! Congratulations! I agree with the attitude to don't give up when you have a difficult child. My step-son was oppositional defiant. We had 6 years of misery with him and it almost split us up. Praise God that God works in the lives of all of us. My step-son is now going to be 15 and he is such a good kid. Where used to he & I were at each others throats constantly now we get along so well.

Ah Shygal, you must be beaming and fit to bust! What you went through sounds so familiar.....even to the happy ending. Sometimes, it seems that nothing will get through until reality has knocked them around for a bit, but in the end, all the love and values you tried to instill will show up.

Pam

Thanks everyone for the encouragement...I just keep saying, "God is not through with her yet" about my just turned 18 yr old.

Congratulations! :thumb: Sounds like he put you through the ringer and I am so sorry, but so glad to hear he is now "coming back..."

My DS started on that road, and I threw his butt out at 16. The hardest thing I had to with him. He moved in with his father and learned via the school of hard knocks. In one year, he begged to come home, then began following most of the rules, moved out just before 18. Now, has come full swing at 21, planning on becoming an EMT, then who knows... He has told me that me tossing him out literally saved his life. Doing our best, having faith, and praising God when our prayers are answered? Good for you! :banana02:

YAY!!!!!

Congrats to you, Shygal, for walking that hard road with your son :grouphug:

Engineering!
Hes pretty much a genius at math, and he breezed through chemistry, go figure.
In high school they thought he cheated at algebra, because there was no work on the paper but he did it all in his head, he finally proved that to them lol


I can't even add in my head :eek:

Thanks! I needed to hear this today! Mine is 16 and has been a challenge since day 1 but yesterday was definitely a frustrating one! He sounds like a soul brother to yours - so smart, yet doesn't give a rip about anything.

That is really great. I am so happy for you and especially happy for your son. With that kind of brain you just know he has something awesome to offer the world. I am glad he has the opportunity to achieve new and wonderful things~

Congratulations!

But... have you been reading my facebook? LOL One of my 18 yo sons is trying his darnedest to flunk out of school two weeks before he graduates.

Thank you VERY much for that post! It is encouraging.

Wow. You must be very proud - and relieved! So nice to hear a story with a happy ending!

I know that feeling so well. It's sooo frustrating when you know they are so smart and appear to be throwing it all away.
Mine is on probabtion right now and it looks like he might be starting to realize his old lifestyle really wasn't so good.
I'm SO happy for you, I know this feels like you are on top of the world now. :nanner: I wish him all the best.

Easier to flunk than have to live up to expectations of what to do next. I know, twisted logic, but logic nonetheless. Seen that one.

That is wonderful! Some of the most difficult kids turn out ok in the end.... BTDT *sigh*

Congratulations :) What great news!

you must be so relieved and proud! That is wonderful news!!!!!

I am so happy for you. We have gone through some tough times with our oldest and I know what you mean.

What happy news!! I think you've made us all feel better. Congratulations to your son.

Good for him and you. I have a 13 year old daughter who is now wanting to live with her dad she doesn't like me getting on to her when I think she is doing something she shouldn't be doing. She don't like me now. Me and her dad handle things differant. Maybe 1 day we can see eye to eye and we all get there in 1 piece. Just pray for us mothers with teens we could use all the help we can get. Cindy

Shygal, today you are my angel. I bawled through your post, really I did. I have a very difficult child and some days are extremely difficult. We have 4 and I know parenting is hard.. but he has been a severe challenge since birth and there's no real reason why. Your thread was encouraging to me.