Self-Injury Support Group
Whether you or someone you know or love struggles with self-injury, this is the community to discuss your experience, find support, meet others going through the same, and get advice on how to stop. Working together, we can help find alternative coping skills to reduce the urge to self-harm.
My 16-year old son ran away from home about a month ago. He didn't call for a week, and I was worried sick about him. To make a long story short, he is home now, but not with me. I'm a divorced mom whose made alot of mistakes, but me and my son haven't been having any sort of problems at all. Even he will tell you that. The thing is, when he got back home, he wanted to go live with his step-dad till he turns 17 and then he says he's leaving again, 2500 miles away. I have the empty nest syndrome going on and I feel like I'm the worst mother in the world because my son doesn't want to live with me on account of "there would be too much drama." Now my ex-husband's family is telling my friends and family that I'm a drug addict who doesn't care about her son. They told Rodney, my son, that I cut myself and that he was better off with them. They said I didn't want him anyway. The only reason I let him go stay with his step-dad (for he has no legal rights), is because I wanted my son safe, and I didn't want him to run away again. I thought if I let him live where he wanted, he'd change his mind and stick around. I love Rodney, but I'm about to reach a breaking point here. Funny thing is, the whole time he was missing.... I never cut. I was too afraid I would go overboard. But now that he's safe... that's all I can think about. Sorry for the rant.
deleted_user
you shouldn't be sorry for a rant like this. it seems important to get off your chest.. and i know what you mean when you say you're feeling lonely.. however seeing as i'm so young i don't know whats it's like to have a child around and then not have him around.. i know it must be hard. maybe if you could talk to him every once in a while while he is with his dad, maybe you too could become closer. 16 year olds are always hard too handle theyre at the age where theyre just changing into mature independant minded people. i think he would appreciate you confiding in him a little and he might confide in you.. hope this helps. if not i'm really sorry and i hope you feel better!!
deleted_user
My daughter went to live with her dad when she was 13 and that is when I had to start taking xanax. She didn't like it that I was marrying another man. We get along great right now and it has been 9 yrs. We started getting along shortly after her living with her dad.
susie3g
Thanks for the encouragement. I guess it's just I feel... that my ex is the last one who should be raising a child. I've always said he was a good father, and by that I meant... he tried to teach right from wrong, told him I love you every day he was with him, quick to hug, and short to temper. But the stability has never been there. We moved over 15 times while I was married to him, and he held at least over 20 jobs in that 9 year span. I just dont want my son to run away again. I know I should just used to this. I've tried calling my son every day. He answered twice, talked about 5 minutes each time. I want to see him. And I feel like my ex is downgrading me to Rodney and turning him against me. Could I just be thinking this because of my "mental incompetence"?
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