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This post is part of a series where our team of child mental health professionals answer real questions submitted by readers like you. This post deals with topics related to parental separation. Please take care when reading.
We recently received a question from a mom worried about what might be causing her son’s recent rude behavior. Below is the question, and a response from our child mental health experts:
“My 8-year-old son is very disrespectful and rude. I am a single mom, and he sees his dad sometimes. Should I be worried about his behavior?”
- D., Michigan
I am sorry to hear that your son has been rude and disrespectful. Sometimes children go through phases where they are feeling more stress and pressure, and this can manifest as negative behavior.
The pandemic has caused significant disruption to young people’s lives. Your son has to adjust to remote learning, decreased social interactions, and several other changes that affect his daily routine.
Depending on how long this problem has been occurring, you should try talking with him.
Spend some time with your son and encourage him to share anything that might be bothering him. Know that playing a game or sport, or engaging in another fun activity, can oftentimes help facilitate conversations with children. If he is able to articulate his thoughts and feelings, you two will be able to address them together.
If you feel like your son’s behavior has been a long-term problem and you would like more support, you may want to consider seeking additional support. If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Little Otter.
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