I remember sneaking out from a friend’s house at 13 and getting in trouble, and we weren’t allowed to hang out anymore. It worked. |
If you have an older special needs child, you knew how much care it took. You chose to bring into your life another child that you were aware that you couldn’t take care of. Why would you do that? |
You cannot neglect a child this age for another. And you knew this older child requires it. |
If special needs child needs too much attention, how is this going to get better?
You’ll punish 13 year old and still have to take care of her older sister, continuing the neglect of the punished child. |
New school is okay, but it would be better to tell her no contact with this crowd. This is the "fast" crowd or the "cool" crowd that puts a lot of peer pressure on the vulnerable. Get her busy with sports activities that are well supervised. She probably will actually welcome more boundaries. |
Unless there is a large age gap, it is likely that she wasn’t aware of the special needs of the older child when she had the younger one. OP- PPs are being incredibly harsh and smug, wanting to believe that this would never be their kid. You now know what is going on, and it sounds like taking her phone and essentially grounding her is the right move. I agree with finding and activity to keep her busy — though not sure you can just put a 13 YO into a sport that will keep them busy all the time unless they have been playing that sport for awhile and can play at a club/travel level. |
Lots of kids don’t do this. Parenting appropriately is not smug. Op has admitted she is neglecting her child. You give a pass to op for essentially abusing her. Not okay and you should be ashamed. |
Not being aware of the special needs child when having her younger child is not an excuse to abandon the care of the younger child. |
Knock it off. You are way out of line. |
I hate to break it to you, but I’d say a large portion of the 14 year freshman at our daughters high school are engaging in the exact same behaviors. |
NP Wow! Excuse maker condemning those who are parenting and there for their children. |
And a large portion are not. |
Family therapy, stat. No punishment. Acknowledging to her that it's been really hard the past few years and you recognize that you have been ignoring her needs. Tell her specific steps you are making to change that. I also have an autistic child and a NT 13 year old. It's hard to balance everyone's needs. But this is what happens when you don't. |
Well then, that makes it okay. |
Get her in therapy and move to a new area with new schools. |