I have a 18 year old boy who has gotten in trouble with the legal system for the first time and everytime I ask a question to help him he just gets irritable with me. He's on probation and I just want to know the details. He has court fines/fees to pay and has no job nor does he bother to look. He doesn't take any steps to really look. My 16 yr old is on consent and has 21 hrs of community service, counseling, and has to be tested for drugs. He always seems like he's angry at the world and I don't know what to do anymore. I'm tired, stressed, and just want to give up. It doesn't help that I'm not working and I have a five year old girl who needs me. Any suggestions would be helpful, I pray a lot and hope God will help me with these issues.

Dear Stressed single mom, I'm sorry your post has sat here for this length of time while you are struggling. Single parenting is incredibly difficult, exhausting and the burden to raise children falls squarely on one parent, often with a weight of worry so heavy that it takes an incredible effort to reach out and ask for help. I'm glad to see that you have found your voice here on-line and I am asking other EP forum readers to rally and give you some responses so that you can get some feedback instead of more silence. YOu are getting enough of that from your older children!

Meanwhile, use your waiting time to read some of the insightful articles on the website like http://www.empoweringparents.com/Child-Giving-You-the-Silent-Treatment-Getting-Kids-To-Talk.php

Isn't it great that parents can find information, like-minded people at any time of the day on -line? Sometimes the connections made in this kind of forum and on parenting sites can make the difference between sitting frozen in a bad situation and taking some small step in the direction of finding solutions and finding support.

Is there anyone in your family or neighborhood that you can talk with today, share a cup of coffee with? MOms are strong, but when you are always giving, always caring for three children who need you, always, emptying yourself with the challenges of being a good parent-- even the strongest of moms needs to recharge, renergize, refill, so that you can continue not just giving to your children, but guiding your children.

{{{{{hugs}}}}}

i totally relate.

i have four boys, divorced, been raising them on my own for the last few years. now they are 21, 18, 18 and 16. there have been some very very difficult times. police, drugs, school problems, video game addiction, .....

today, i work the total transformation program and i work the al-anon program, and i am much better. i strongly suggest you do both. i can't explain why they work, but i know they do if you work hard at them.

good luck!