My 16 yr old son is lying on me to family!

JESS - posted on 09/01/2011 ( 10 moms have responded )

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I have a 16 yr old son who is forever lying on me to my family portraying his life as horrible and saying that myself and my partner are mean to him and now my own mother won't even speak to me! For four years we lived with my parents, myself and my two sons 16 & 13, while I went back to college. I graduated in May and we moved in with my gf and she has 3 daughters, 19 17 & 11, two of which live with us. She and I had been seeing each other for 6 months prior to us moving in and I asked both of my sons before hand how they felt about it and they welcomed it with open arms. NOW, my oldest is going behind my back telling my mother horror stories and she won't have anything to do with me. He even goes to the girls and tells them fake stuff about his life to sound sad and down and out to get attention and sympathy....they don't fall for it.
The whole 4 yrs that we lived with my parents, he wouldn't pick up after himself, his grades fell from A's to D's & F's, he snuck food CONSTANTLY, bullied my other son horribly and still does, lied over every little thing, was lazy, a little disrespectful but not horribly, called my mother & father horrible names to whomever would listen and portrayed life in their home as less than happy and told people that they were horrible people! He would tell me at least once a week, "mom, please can you hurry and graduate because they're so mean and we hate it here"! He has a problem with every teacher that doesn't fall for his lies. He had problems with the preacher and the youth pastor of the last church we attended.
My mother is believing all of his lies....some of it is him going to her and some of it is her prompting him....and seems to forget putting him against a wall, threatening to put him out of the house on numerous occassions and saying things such as "and if your mom doesn't like it she can go to"! She seems to be drawing a blank about all of the lies and deceit and turmoil he told and caused during the 4 yrs of us living with them. Now she believes everything he says and won't even hear my side! And she tells him stuff like, "you just let Nana know if it gets too much and you can just come live with us". So now he REALLY doesn't pick up after himself and acts a fool bc he THINKS he has an out....he would need to know that he is MY son not hers and that's that!
Now, another part of the story is that NOTHING I've done in 39 yrs of life has been good enough for my mother. She had me when she was 16. I've always been lazy, sorry, and anything else she could call me to anyone that would listen. She's NEVER liked anyone I've ever been with or any of my friends. I have accomplished many things in my life and I recently graduated from Respiratory Therapy school. She is one of those that when she "suggests" you do something she's really saying you MUST DO it that way and if you don't she gets very upset. She's a control freak. The whole 4 years my sons and I lived with them she took every opportunity to undermind my authority as a parent. My sister is petite, straight, listens to almost every word my mother says and has always been the "perfect child". I've always been the chunkier lesbian, didn't come out until I was 24, and everything I've ever done was wrong. Don't get me wrong....if my sis ever goes against her she doesn't talk to her until my sis comes crawling back either. She put me out SEVERAL times as a child and teenager and I had to live with my grandmother and 9 times out of 10 my grandmother would tell her about herself and the way she treated me.
My partner and I have a schedule for each day of the week for all of the kids including homework time, free time, shower schedules, and chores. The ONLY chores any of them have are....clean up after yourself, clean your spot where you eat, put placemat back, push chair in and place dishes in dishwasher. And before you go to bed place the cup that you have used in the dishwasher, and keep rooms clean and do well in school. We had to place a lock on our fridge....but believe me they get three good meals a day and snacks....because btwn the two of us we have 5 teenagers, and while he was the MAIN ONE sneaking food the others would from time to time also.
My mother now hates my partner, whom she LOVED before he started telling horror stories, and my family nor my mother want anything to do with me anymore either and say that "I"m choosing my partner over my kids and family". That's not at all the case. She won't even give me the opportunity to defend myself against the lies, but as I stated this isn't my first rodeo with her. It's been 5-6 weeks since my mother and I last talked and even though she won't discuss any of these horror stories with me....bc she says that would break her confidence with my son and everyone should have someone to talk to......she is discussing them with my family members and all of her friends.

What do I do? He denies saying anything to her when I ask him about it. I know he has though and because of all of his lies, manipulations, laziness, lack of conscious, blatant disregard for anyone else's feelings, bullying and everything else I can't stand to be around him. I don't wanna feel that way as a mother. I just want the lies to stop and for my mother to be an "adult" and come to me and let me have my say before she forms her opinion and cuts me off!

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10 Comments

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Pauline - posted on 09/15/2011

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I totally agree with Rhonda and Holly. I had a similar experience with my teenage son who told lies about my husband and almost had him arrested not once but twice. I had to take a stand with him and tell child welfare if he wasn't happy at home then he could go with them, it absolutely broke my heart but we couldn't live this way anymore there were other kids at home to think about too. Thankfully this never happened all my son needed was to know where his boundaries were and once he realised this he is like a different boy and now when we speak about it he cant believe what he done. I have to say I had a very supportive family who knew exactly what pain we were going through and didn't feed into his problems. So as to your Mother maybe its best to just keep as much distance as possible until you can resolve your sons problems first he is the one that's your priority first not your mother.

Nayanda - posted on 09/13/2011

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Let your mother have him then! Since she has all the answers and he seems to go to her for support it's a match made in heaven. Soon one of them will be calling you to apologize because the grass isn't always greener.

Holly - posted on 09/04/2011

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I agree with Mardi, I think that your son needs some male interaction. He needs a father figure in his life. If his father is not available, find a Big brother or mentor program. Give him the ability to be with a healthy male role model. I am not trying to disrespect your lifestyle choice, but I do believe that children need both the father and mother relationship in their lives....some more than others. Does he have a grandfather or an uncle around that will give him some time?.... He is probably confused about what it takes to be a man growing up without a man to show him how. Your lifestyle choice can be confusing to kids when their home life is so different from their friends ,and while he loves you and respects your choices, it doesn't mean he is handling it emotionally. Kids act out in strange ways when they don't know how to deal with the real situation. It just might be manifesting itself in his lying. For some reason, it doesn't really matter where he lives, he is not happy at home. Why? That is the crux of this problem...find out the real reason he is unhappy at home, whether it is living with you and your parents or you and your girl friend. He probably doesn't even know why he does what he does. It is just an angle that you might think about. When it comes to your mother...well it sounds like a train wreck relationship that has been hard from the beginning. It may never fully resolve itself. I think that maybe it isn't really the problem with your son, it is just a byproduct of a hormonal emotional young man who is not getting the emotional support that HE needs. And remember, this is not about you, it is about what he needs. I am not trying to hurt your feelings, that you may not fully be able to give him what he needs, but I have 5 kids of my own and I know that my boys would be a mess if I were the only one teaching them how to grow up to be a man. How can I do that? I'm not a man and neither are you. Kids in homes without a father period (could be due to death, or teenage pregnancy or divorce, etc) often have the same issues. Just a thought. I could be totally off base.
Good Luck!

Mardi - posted on 09/04/2011

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You cant change your mother, you have said she has been like this for years, what makes you think she will change???
You have a 16yr old testosterone pit who probably thinks he's the Alpha Male (in a house full of Lesbians...lol, sorry, I find that funny). Sounds like he's got too many woman in his life and needs a bit of Male downtime.
Ignore the lies, your mothers and your sons, dont give it the time of day, if others say something, just make a comment like, "You beleive that drivel"? Turn and walk away. Do not engage, dont give it a life, just get on with yours.
This age is hard enough, throw in hormones, growing up and all the other teen angst, and your situation is ripe for your son to make the most of it, play it for everything its worth. I'd say at his age, its time you let him know, his actions/words will and do have a consequence, and while he thinks he's in control, he might want to be careful what he wishes for.....hey might just get it..

JuLeah - posted on 09/02/2011

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You are describing a very disfunction/addict DV behavior family.



I am not saying anyone drinks or drugs - but several behave like additcts



Yes, there is one that is ALWAYS believed - it stuns me everytime - it happens everytime



People can forget that 6 months ago they were in ICU because of what this person did ... now are defending him



Yes, crazy making!! But, if it were not making you feel crazy, what would that say about your sanity?



When it stops making you feel crazy and starts to make good sense ... yah, check yourself in somewhere



I had this image pop into my head the other day ... my attempting to 'get people to see' 'if they would only' 'if I could just figure out how to explain' 'if they only remembered ...' 'if they could only ...'



There I was with a feather duster in my hand, dusting away, frantically, all the while sinking in quick sand



Doesn't matter how fast I dust, how skillfully I dust, what kind of degree I hold in dusting, how many agree I dust well ... it doesn't matter, I am still sinking in quick sand and all my effort is making me sink faster



So, drop the duster ... yes, they are gonna say and yes, they are gonna believe, and yes they are gonna do ... but you don't be driven insane watching it all happen



Have you heard of Al-Anon? Look it up - GO ... all meetings are a bit different, so try six different ones before you make a choice about if it is working for you ... then try six more



Not enough to go, get a sponsor, work the steps ....



You can't make people act less then crazy



You didn't cause this, can't cure it, can't control it .... you only have power over you



Perserve your primary relationship and life with your other kids ... your son is on his path and he will walk it as he sees fit



What seems like a bad direction to you, now from where you stand, might in fact be the direction he must walk to learn/do whatever he is meant to learn/do



What about your gf? Does she support you? Is she in the same boat? Focus on the positive poeple in your life, try to let the rest go. Focus on what you have control over and can change, and let the rest go ... we each have our path to walk



Ohh, I will add that when we get healthy and start feeling sane again ... we are much more effective in our efforts with others - we are better able to see what we need to see and hear what we need to hear ... if there is a way you can help, something you can do ... you will be able to see that when you are sstanding on solid ground - so, really to help your son, you must help yourself

Rhonda - posted on 09/02/2011

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Jess, it sounds like you are caught in a difficult situation. On one hand, you are faced with the challenges of being a parent to a teenager, as well as dealing with challenges of being a daughter. I think you need to deal with them separately even though your son seems to be the common denominator. Kids, in general, push boundaries and do things to see what they can get away with. Your mother has given your son an audience, so now he feels comfortable to perform. The only way you can establish a strong household is to break away from others and allow everyone in the house to rely on each other. Block out all negative outside influences that can potential break up your household. If your son thinks he will be happier with your mother, let her have him. I think they will drive each other crazy and both come running back to you. Now your mother issue is different. It sounds like you are still trying to get your mother's approval, exceptance and love. Now that you are an adult, you may have to face the reality that she may never love you the way you want her to. Continue to establish and maintain strong love relationships with the people who truly love and except you. Your mother will either come around or she won't, you may have to just live with that. Continue to offer her whatever love she's willing to take from you and leave it at that. A wise psychologist once said to me, "If they never acted like your parents, why do you keep expecting that to change and be your parents now?" Just a little food for thought.

Heather - posted on 09/02/2011

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The only comment I can make on all of this...you need to seek family counseling. With your children, all of them. Start with you and yours and if you and your GF are planning on moving forward with them eventually. Your son seems to be rebelling and that is a very common thing at his age but he may be trying to communicate some feelings that he doesn't have the tools or words to. A good family counselor will help you and him work out some of these immature issues before they get brought into his adult life. Seek out counseling for the 3rd party point of view.
Best of luck.

Sam - posted on 09/01/2011

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No offence But there are always two sides to every story and he may or may not be telling the truth but if your partner has been mean or anything to him then well........