In dealing with your special kids, do you ever feel like you are a miserable mom? When/if you get these feelings, how do you combat them?

Christine

I know this is an old post, but I feel this way today. I left my kids in the middle of our first day of school and came to the computer in search of encouragement. Here I go, starting a new year of school, and I'm not even sure I have what it takes to do this another year. I have one child with asperger's syndrome, and I don't feel I have the choice to send him to school, he couldn't make it. The other one has just developed some negative attitudes and laziness about school. I started the day excited and ended it frustrated.

I have those days too. I think Mom's have them even when their children don't have any learning challenges.
I pray and tell God how I feel and sometimes I go somewhere quiet and alone and cry. Our 11 year old daughter has hdhd and she is a challenge everyday. I wake up praying for strength. Some days are wonderful and I feel like we are moving forward and other days it feels like a war zone and I'm just surviving. It's those times that my husband encourages me and tells me to keep taking one day at a time. Our 20 year old son is in 11th grade due to some learning challenges. Some days I wonder if he'll graduate and go on to do the things he wants to. There is also pressure from relatives and other homeschooling parents and parents in general. Why isn't he driving? Why hasn't he graduated or gotten a job? We are working on it but he can't be forced. It's like baby steps and some days it is scarry and others it is tiring. I just read Christine Fields article about reframing. I needed that reminder.
Do you ever wonder if putting them in school would be better. I do sometimes and I feel guilty for the thought. It is usually after a trying day.
Let's pray for each other!

Hey Me
Welcome to the board...our children can certainly make a day a good one or a rotten one..for sure! I can relate to the ADHD thing...I have two...but also I have one child that learns at the speed of sound and the other..my son, is negative and treats me badly. He has such a negative attitude that right now he's in so much trouble; we've taken the computer and the telephone...he was heavily involved in an online game...NOT NOW! He keeps begging me to give in...NOPE! Not until his two weeks which he EARNED in increments...is over with! I gave him chances to straighten up...and each time he begs, I offer him another consequence or to just do right and the time will fly by more quickly. I applaud your tenacity to continue with your young man. SOMETIMES, it just takes TIME! So give it to him! Nothing wrong with this...but too bad they don't understand that he has needs that need understanding and love...I hope that it comes for you soon. We put our son, the same as above in public last year...yep, he learned...how to curse vile words, about 'alternative lifestyles' and about being the class clown. He was shocked at the lack of classroom management and really improved mostly in one subject...the others, he did well in...honor roll the 3 of 4 nine weeks. 100% in his last nine weeks math score!! Well, we are back at home ed again this year...last year was good, but this year...we are trudging onward and upward. YES! You are right, let's pray for each other!
blessings
cheryl

Most days my 4 1/2 yr. old is a very sweet boy, but when he decides to butt heads with his mommy, it can get ugly. Like this morning. He likes to play with tags. While I was feeding his 13-month old sister he started tearing a tag apart and letting the pieces fall on the floor. I told him to put them in the garbage can. He refused. I told him again. He refused again. We went around like this for awhile, until it turned into a screaming match and I had to literally put the paper in his hand, march him to the garbage can, and take the paper out of his hand. I did this a few times and then he did it himself, with me standing there telling him to get another piece. He knows how to put things in the garbage can; he just chose not to. It's on days like this that I wonder how we'll homeschool next year when we have to cover specific things instead of having unstructured (yet educational play) and no TV until school is over. He goes to a preschool for developmentally delayed three days a week, and I am noticing a difference in his behavior, but then he'll test me, and I doubt my ability to teach him. I realize ps kindergarten teachers may spend a month or more getting the children into a routine; I just have trouble remembering that. And before you say, "It's just kindergarten," around here ps kindergarten is very academic. Students have to be able to read a simple book with CVC combinations and count to 100.

I also don't know how much help I'll get from my family. They're opposed to homeschooling, and will probably try to subtly undermine my efforts whenever possible. They did so yesterday when I was trying to teach him not to put his feet on the table while he was eating. My husband is behind me 100%; I just don't know how much help he'll be because of his work schedule.

I've ordered some books on homeschooling the challenging child and hope I can actually remember to try some of the suggestions (and that they'll work).

Thanks for letting me vent.

Hey! I can really remember those preschool years...challenges gallore! Hopefully it's a stage and will pass soon. HOPE your day goes better!
cheryl

What I mentioned this morning is really the only problem I've run into today. But I didn't put him down for his nap, so we'll see what happens in about an hour, when he starts fighting sleep.