Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice and support.
I’m autistic (late diagnosis), and both of my twins are also diagnosed. My son has high support needs, while my daughter’s needs are lower. Lately, I’ve been struggling with my 11-year-old daughter and how to manage her attitude towards me.
Over the past year, her attitude has changed a lot, something I know is common for preteens, but it’s becoming really hard to cope with. She often speaks to me as if I’m one of her friends, ignores what I say, and when I ask her to do even small things (like making her bed or having a shower before bed), I’m met with a lot of attitude and sometimes verbal abuse.
I’ve tried sitting down with her to explain how her words and actions affect me, and while it seems to help for a short time, the cycle repeats. I’m generally a relaxed parent and don’t put a lot of pressure on her, so my requests are minimal.
We are still very close, and I’m grateful that she feels comfortable sharing her worries with me and asking for help. But alongside that closeness, there’s also this hurtful behavior that’s wearing me down. I don’t want to snap at her (even though that’s my first instinct), so I’m biting my tongue as much as possible, but that’s taking a toll on me emotionally.
Has anyone else experienced this? How did you navigate it? Any advice would be really appreciated.
