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    My child has off-putting quirks that make it difficult to make friends

    2023-04-30

    I'm seeking advice on how to support my child with their social skills. My child has some behavioral quirks that can be off-putting to others, which has made it difficult for them to make friends. They also struggle to express their feelings or take responsibility for their actions, making it a challenge to help them.

    For instance, instead of a simple greeting like "Hi," my child will often act awkwardly and say "HeELlooOO" in a silly voice. They've also been making poop jokes for the last four years, which seems to be a way of avoiding more serious topics.

    While we've made progress at home, my child still has a reputation for being "the annoying kid" and is often excluded by their peers. We suspect they have ADHD, like myself, and are planning to seek a diagnosis. A therapist also mentioned that my child may have mild OCD.

    When others are upset, my child doesn't always know how to respond appropriately. They might make a joke when someone is sad or try to play around when someone is angry with them. When we try to address these issues, my child often acts like nothing is wrong and doesn't seem to notice how their behavior affects others. They also tend to deflect blame, saying that another kid was doing worse things and not getting in trouble.

    We attempted therapy, but it didn't seem to make much progress. My child refused to acknowledge any problems or feelings beyond "calm" or "happy." The therapist may not have been a good fit for my child.

    Overall, I'm at a loss for how to help my child improve their social skills and behavior. Any advice would be appreciated.

    Comments / 44
    Add a Comment
    ♡Reens♡
    2023-05-11
    God forbid you discipline him!
    Lori B
    2023-05-02
    This article is grammatically incorrect. Notice child is singular yet author keeps using “they”. Someone needs better editors
    View all comments
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