13 year old had worst meltdown on Saturday

Post Reply New Topic

Tracker's book has a great section on meltdowns, free for download, assuming it is still available: ASDStuff.com

DW - Yes I am currently reading Tracker's book right now - amazing book and really helps me understand how my daughter thinks. I recommended to our children's treatment centre because I found it was way more helpful than most books I have been reading.

Guess what? Had our Boom! moment today - a call from the principal. Working it out now.

The only thing I remember about my early teens is guys talking about sex at school, but their language was so strange to me because I'd lived such a sheltered life. I didn't even know the proper medical terms for many things, so comprehending slang was out of the question. No one sat me down for "the talk"; I learned through porn and occasionally deciphering crass jokes from my classmates. I had health class, but most of it was gibberish for me back then. Since I was about 8 years old, I've constantly felt like a mental and emotional train wreck waiting to happen. My biggest meltdowns are usually reserved for being alone, so no one can see me cry or scream my head off for an hour or more. I would get so angry just a few years ago, and collapse in tears because I didn't want to hurt anyone.

It took awhile to get there. But I think I failed to make an important distinction...I do not request time alone for myself when they are at the breaking point or when they are upset. I request time alone when I am at the breaking point. I don't know that all parents have the same issues as I do, but sometimes I am the one who is overwhelmed and need some down time before I blow. Learning to respect this need in one another has definitely taken time, but the results are well worth it because I find that there is a lot less yelling in this house than there once was. My daughter is the worst with this, but because she is only 8, I figure she deserves a bit of a break

Let me know how your daughter likes "Rules." I am actually reading it again as this discussion reminded me about how much I like the book. I think it is really supposed to be a middle-school aged book, but I still enjoy it.

Momsparky - Don't you hate calls from the school? I am expecting one any day now because it has been over a month. Sometimes I dread the phone ringing at work.

Moviefan - I wish my daughter would have her meltdowns in private. I have tried to get her to go to her room to calm down, but it is like moving a tank.

In this together - Turns out my daughter already ready Rules last year and loved the book immensely. I guess it is different to read about it though than to live it day after day though.

We had a rough weekend with my daughter again and I don't think this week will be any better. Her twin and I are really running out of patience and sympathy and I hope we get some good days soon. It is like living with a volcano, always on the verge of blowing. We all have to tiptoe around her and try to keep her happy and sometimes we really hate it. Logically, we know she doesn't mean the things she says or does, but it still makes her really hard to be around.