So, he doesn't know whether to scold you or be sympathetic? Maybe the two of you could talk to your doc about what you can and can't control.

You know my son (he is 10) used to tell me he couldn't help it. I insisted that he could and he was only doing things for attention. Then one day he said Mom, when someone tickles you can you hold back the moving or laughing and I said no. He said that is exactly how my tics are. He also said, what about sneezing can you stop yourself from sneezing, of course i said no. He said well it's the same thing I just have to do it. When he had to explain to his class he had his teacher use a feather and brought some of the kids up and tickled them. It helped to get the point across. Maybe try that. As a parent I can only imagine what a tough time my son is going through, but also know that parents have a rough time to. A rough time because we want to help our children, to take it away if we could. The fact that we can't is frustrating to us. I would say just keep talking to him. The ability to have open communications is wonderful. My son and I talk about them, talk about his medication, how his tics make him feel etc... Try to be as open and honest with him as you can and it should help him understand it better.

Hey kiddo,

What a great kid you are to want to help your dad understand and not just ignore his lack of understanding. I think all the comments have had good advice so far. We as parent's want to make everything better for our children. With TS we know this isn't possible. For guys its even harder. A guy, being a guy, wants to be able to fix the problem and move on and it hurts them when they can't. Alot of times my husband will choose not to say anything to my son rather than sight something that might be wrong. This doesn't help my son, but helps my husband cope with something he doesn't truly understand. Try honestly going to him and explaining what it is like for you on a dialy basis. Let him know how it makes you feel when you cannot help hurting or maybe annoying the people you love. Maybe he will be able to see it from that perspective. Let him know that you love him and know he just wants the best for you. Your very compassionate as is my son are able to intuitively feel the people around you and that is a gift.

Take care sweetie and know that I am here to talk to if you need me.

JOJO

im sorry, i cant help it, it is an involuntary movement

i also have TS

Here's something to think about that was eye-opening for me... When my son started having his tics (about 6 years ago), it drove me nuts. I did EVERYTHING to stop it. The doctor said to me... Maybe it's YOUR OCD that is the problem. In other words, because I couldn't control it, then I was going nuts! (I do have OCPersonality!!) MY OCD is too long to explain, but that was an eye opener. In other words, maybe it's something going on in your dad that he can't control it--therefore he is uncomfortable. But it did take a doc to tell me this... Go to the doc WITH HIM and let him see what the doc says....