Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) Support Group

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) an ongoing pattern of disobedient, hostile, and defiant behavior toward authority figures that goes beyond the bounds of normal childhood behavior. When a child cannot seem to control his anger or frustration, even over what seems to be trivial or simple to others, the child will often react in violent or negative ways to his own...

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Children's Mental Health
/ Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) Support Group

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Mom2016
Mom2016

I'm a foster mom getting ready to adopt an 8 year old boy who has ODD. I love him to death he is the sweetest boy when he wants to be. We adopted him in 18 day and he is so happy and excited. I'm not sure if what my husband and I r doing is the right thing when we  discipline him. Any help would be awesome. He is very bossy and loves to tell me and my husband what we will and will not do. Things r much better but I don't want to  screw him up any more than he is. 

doiadoptodd
doiadoptodd
Hey there,
We are condsidering adopting an 8 yr old with odd. How is it going? Should we avoid it? What is the good vs bad?
suz181
suz181
I am have a 17 yr old bio son with odd and adhd. It was a journey to say the least. I wouldn't trade him for anything. When someone would ask me what Odd was, my response was a parents worse nightmare. Motivating kids with odd is extremely difficult. Make sure you follow through on any threat of loss of privileges, time out., grounding. My son was younger when I found out and used a chip bank. Concentrate on when he follows directions and earns a chip. We made a coinciding chart where he could cash in his chips. Game of choice, small toy, movie trip depending on how many he earned. . If he misbehaves he either doesn't get a chip or you can take them away depending on severity. I love my son with all my heart and will soon find out if ODD will affect his future as he graduates in June and is talking military. He is extremely smart but lazy. He only does good in what interests him. Best of luck in your journey. Kids with ODD next a special parent. There will be meltdowns. Always Remain Calm or it escalates.!
deedeebee
deedeebee
My son is 13 years old, and he has ODD. I agree that it is "a parent's worst nightmare." I think it's important to realize that a child with ODD usually has another mental illness as well, such as ADHD, depression, bipolar, or anxiety. My ODD son also has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

So that you are prepared, you should know that ODD kids can become violent. My son can be loving and sweet and kind and funny, but he has also verbally and physically attacked us and threatened us with weapons. There was a time that I was very worried for the safety of my older son. My older son had to spend most of his time locked in his room. Once, my ODD son threw three baseballs, one right after the other, at my husband's (his father's) head. ODD kids have a hard time with rules and limitations and the word "no." These things can spark a violent reaction in them.

Sometimes, I feel resentment towards my younger son. He has to have his way always, or he will make everyone's life miserable. His outbursts have torn our family apart and prevent us from doing things as a family. My older son refuses to go out in public as a family anymore, because of my younger son's behavior. It's very sad.