Disrespectful Child Attitude: What's a Single Mom to Do?

by Dani
(NV)

I'm dealing with a child attitude problem and I need your help. I am a single mom and my husband only sees our eight year old son occasionally. Even though these visits are few and far between, as my son grows older, I notice that he is acting more and more like his dad. In other families, this might be a good thing, but in mine, it means I'm being treated poorly by my son.

Some of the child attitudes I have to deal with on a daily basis: disrespect, talking back, defiance and violent tantrums. I work hard and am tired by the time I pick up my son from his after school program. I want to spend time with him and I want us to connect, but it's difficult when I'm met with a bad attitude all the time.

For instance, if I tell him to clean up his room, he rolls his eyes and then ignores me until I threaten to take away his privileges. In the past year, I can't ever recall a time when I have asked for his help and he's pitched in without complaint.

After reading some of your articles, I know I need to get a handle on this disrespectful child attitude now, before my son becomes a teenager and is bigger and stronger than me. (I'm 5'2" and my ex husband is 6'5", so I know my son is going to be big.)

Can you recommend a solution other than therapy or counseling? I don't have insurance right now and just can't afford it.