Kids and parents alike...

I'm a mom of a 12 year old daughter. From birth we have had a very strong bond. Life as a parent hasn't been easy for the both of us. We both have Bipolar Disorder that has been treated. However, we are two strongwilled people and something we clash. Now that my daughter is a teen, we don't spend much time with each other. She has her own little things she wants to do and I have mine. We argue and fight at times, but we still have that strong bond. My daughter is very honest with me and I know about everything that goes on in her life. Her friends call me "Mom" and want to spend time at our house. I'm called the " coolest mom" although I don't know what I do different. Well, yeah, I'm a little different. I'm still young at heart...LOL
But what I wanted to try to get at is how is your relationship with your child or parent???

Well I'm 17 years old, and my relationship with my parents isn't that great. My mom & dad both raised me to be an independent person. And by the time I turned 13 my mom pretty much tried to control me even more. We clash A Lot, and our opinions are definetly not similar. There's a huge age gap with us (she's in her 50's), so a lot of the time I feel like she doesn't understand me at all. She doesn't try to like the same stuff as me, or pretend to. She just doesn't understand me at all. And I definetly cannot Wait until I go until college.

Heather, sometimes I think it has to do with being a parent. I remember when I was a teen. I use to tell myself all the time that I wouldn't never become my mom, but heck, I'm my mom all over again...LOL I think we as parents get so over protective over our children and just want the best for them. My daughter drives me nuts, but I can thesame things she does now that I did then. Weird huh??? Hope your relationship with your mom eventually gets better!

Well, I think you have a great relationship with your daughter, and a relationship like that is something not all Moms can say they have.

I'm 14, and my parents are divorced. Which doesn't bring too much happiness in the picture, either, for either parent. But I do have a stronger bond with my Mother. We are close, but on the level that we just can have fun. But never talk on our emotional sides, I don't the we are close in that aspect.

As for my Dad... I hate him. Nothing more. He is out of my life, and I wish for him never to be back in it. But... that has to deal with circumstances other than just the divorce, so I don't think it would be anything anyone could fix.

I'm a divorced too but have an awesome relationship with my ex. That makes it a little easier on all of us. It is still good to hear you have a good relationship with your mom.

I live in the states now and my connection to my mum is as strong as ever. We've always been close and I'm the one whoacts as a shoulder for her to cry on, gossip at and everything else. I think it's because I'm the independant one of my brothers and sisters and what she says will never get to them. I guess it's about trust as much as anything else.

Good thing we both know how to a computer! I recommend Skype to anyone who wants a good voice chat (voip) program to talk intercontinentally.

My relationship with my mom will definetly change when I go to college... but I don't know if I want to get closer to her. We're just two completly different people.

Well my relationship with my parents has improved since I became a mother myself. Mum and I never had a close bond but that was ripped apart even further during my own adolescence as I was caught upin the hype of pushing the limits and trying to find my own feet, my identity. Now I have two boys who are both very young, one is my step son. We have a much better relationship than I can say I remember having with my mum I make time to listen, play and laugh with them we try to ensure one day a week is spent together as a family doing something we can all enjoy. I think alot of parenting relationships depend on making that time, dedicating yourself and being young at heart. My Dad and I are two peas in a pod, we are very similar in personality and temprement so when we fight my goodness do we fight, but thankfully now I have grown out my teenage angst stage I dont actually fight with either of my parents any more. Dont get me wrong we often disagree but we have this new mutual and unspoken respect for each other ever since I settled down and became a mother myself. I think only when we have our own children does the reality and respect of the trials and tribulations of parenthood really make sense.

Hey Nancy! I'm very glad to hear that you have a strong bond with your daughter. Let me tell you, I am seventeen. My mother and I have once had a good bond together, but it faded after a while. Now I always stay in my room and my parents and I barely exchange a few words a day. Sometimes my mother or father tries to come and talk to me, but in reality it is such a worthless effort...Don't ever lose your relationship with your daughter, because if you do, nothing will ever be the same again. I don't understand how my parents could abandon me as they have when they were caught up in their own affairs, and then later on in life expect me to spill my heart out to them. It doesn't work like that, and so I hope you know that your daughter may stay in her room all day, doing her thing and you, yours, but trust me when I say, daughters always long for their mother's companionship deep in their hearts. Always stay close.

Take care, Sarah.

Hi Sarah,
My daughter has the computer in the livingroom so she has to spend time with me...LOL I guess it is a little bit the age tho. I was very lonely as a teen and I liked it that way. Music was my passion and that was what I use to do. Listen the whole day to music if I wasn't at school. Although we don't really convers much, we do things together like taking a walk. We have usually so much fun and I enjoy her company.

lol great. I'm glad to hear that. Stay well. xxx

hmm... i hate my father. just to let you know. ^_^ with a great burning passion. for various reasons. but i'm bonded greatly with my mother. she's my rock, and i'm hers. we keep each other up. manic depression/bipolar disorder doesn't bother me much when i know my mother's always there arguing with my mentality. hahaha. because she's been there before. sadly, it pisses me the hell off! but no matter what, i love mother for showing her support, and she loves me since i support her. ^_^ i'm the eldest and i'm 17, and we rely on each other because my bastard father decide to be... well... a bastard. ^_^

around age 13 14 and 15 I used to fight with my mom a lot, and we still often have our disagreements but we actually handle it maturly because we are closer now that I'm older. I know I'm not a mom but I hope that helped you somewhat and gave you a bit of hope that thing's will eventually get better?

My mother and father have been there for me for as long as I can remember. And however much my dad has enforced it, I know that after their time comes to leave, they'll still be with me.

I understand what your saying though, Nancy, about having arguments with your daughter. I mean, I NEVER have and NEVER will argue with my mother- I've grown to realise that’s not the way to settle disputes, especially with the one who brought you into this world. But I do find it terrible just how young girls advantage their mothers, and the examples are certain girls in my class. For example, those girls would be ashamed to walk along footpath with their mothers, but why? What’s to be ashamed about? I would willingly link arms with my mum and walk with her. With all she’s done, I'd be proud to do anything for that woman. And you know what, Nancy. Your daughter may quarrel with you but it looks like she will always respect you due to the 'strong bond' you say you have always had with her.

The point of me saying this is that everyone should thank God they have parents. And, for those who don’t, treat your guardians or whoever looks after you, just as you would treat your parents.

God bless,
-Elysium.

I completely and whole-heartedly agree with you, Elysium. I cannot imagine life without my parents and I dread the day that I move out to go to college because I will be so far away from them. Fights happen, and as awful as they are at least you will have the freedom with each other to say what you want and how you feel. I love my mom so much and I honestly don't realize how much she has sacrificed for me and how much she loves me, even though I know it's a lot.

Thank you for bringing that to our attention Elysium. I think I've always known it in my heart but have never actually thought about it.. as wierd as that may sound lol.

=)

You worded it so beautiful Elysium. Yes, my daughter and my argue, but we do love each other a lot. Sometimes she just comes up and hugs me telling me how much she loves me. It really brings tears to your eyes. Kids grow up so fast and sometimes there is no room left for the hugs or the cuddles. I use to love cuddling with my mom, however she did not often do this due to the fact that she hated me!! I'm the complete oposite. I love to cuddle and just running my fingers through my childs hair.

Both my daughter and me have Bipolar Disorder but we both have a pretty well under control. I know it is not easy to live with but with the right meds, you can have a really normal life!

im 13 and i live with my grandmother. my father abandoned me before i was born, and my mother just doesnt care. she shows major favoritism to my sister, who constantly lies about everything. my mother remarried after my father left, and her second husband was very abusive towards me, going so far as to molest me when i was 4 or 5.

both my grandma and i are bipolar and i deal with it much better than she does. i can cope easier. mostly this is because i spend a lot of time alone with my music because it makes things easier for me. my grandma gets mad at me for staying alone so much and not spending any time with her, but i can deal with her being mad at me if it means that i can cope better. neither me or my grandma are on medication for bipolar disorder, and neither of us want to be. my grandma was on it for a long time and she knows what it's like, she says it's better to find a way to cope without it.

i never had that strong bond with my mom, because she was never around. i was always with my grandma, and i dont mind or resent that. i dont wanna turn this into a religious matter, but a couple weeks ago i went to church with my friend and got prayed for, and it truly has helped me stay calmer for longer amounts of time.

>>>Lost†In†Eternity