Parents & Bipolar Online Support Group

i have always had trouble telling kids mine and grandkids what to do. i have no discipline, to much of free spirit, i do not like to see parent s hammering on kids , well i felt a trigger coming out just thinking about it, is this me or can i blame being bipolar it is a pretty scab goat, sorry if it effects others just had to put it out there. i am bipolar and grew up in family of them and am seeing it in offspring.

Post edited by: lken, at: 01/29/2012 08:12 AM

I am the same way, my mother is always getting onto me about being to easy on my kids but I have a very hard time being hard on them and saying no.

I find when i let my kids ignore me when i ask them to 'pick up after themselves' or 'walk the dog'...etc. i get triggered when they chose not to do what i ask them to do, i give them time to do it too now i'm learning new ways i'm giving consequences as soon as they disobey me with what i ask them to do, i've been leanient in the past now mommy means business. I must make sure and follow thru with these consequences i lay out to them. I need my children to start repsecting me, i sense there's a lot of disrespect going on, my kids aer 14 and 11, hubby is good at stepping in when i report their misbehaving, he supports me 100% and i'm grateful for this.

My therapist is helping me with disciplining, when i'm angry i express it now i used to walk away and stuff it, that was making me sick mentally so i'm trying now to be more assertive, but when i'm angry the kids know it but i'm controlling this anger to the best of my ability.

I'm also learning to decide what battles i'm going to fight and which ones i'm going to ignore.

sorry for the rant i had to get this out.

My bipolar ex never disciplined his children with his first wife. When he would try every now and then. The kids fighting it would stress him out,he would start to get manic. His kids would see it and push him to the limit so they could get their way. This is what they learned,I can do whatever i want and dad will let me. If you try to stop me I will create so much chaos that dad will do whatever it takes to make it stop. Mainly blame you step mom,get you kicked out of the house for a few days and bam I win again!