8 yr old suddenly difficult

[guenivere21]

My 8 yr old son has suddenly become violent ( at home not at school ) and is also not wanting to go to school.. It has always been a battle to get him to school on and off, but not like this.. He just flatly refuses and becomes violent screaming if I insist..It is the same if it is bed time or when I ask him to get off the play station.. Also  I am wondering if I need to put away the play station for a while.. But I'm afraid he will throw a tantrum.. And his Dad wont help as when he goes to visit him he will just give into him.. And when I say he can't play the play station or that he has to go to school or even at bed times, to go to bed, then he screams and becomes violent yelling that he wants to go to his Dads. I am thinking of seeing a Dr or a Psyciatrist. And of talking to the school..I wonder if video games are affecting him.Or if he has autisim or worse, schizophrenia.. He has only recently become like this. He's always been difficult, but not like this.. He seems unlike himself lately and I am so up set and worried about him.

[guenivere21]

Thank-you so much for your reply and comment..I really appreciate that.. He is actually the youngest of five, three are grown up. He has a different father to the others, and this has caused problems, as my other children don't like my son's father and he has been rude and unfriendly to them in the past..I guess this frustrates my son too.. His father also tries to bring a wedge between our son and my other children still living at home.. one 14 and one 25.

[4Bree]

He is your only child?  How long have you been divorced?  When my daughter would come home from her father's home she would be difficult for 3 to 4 days, then she would go back to being herself again.  She was 5 when we first divorced now 18yr old.  I put her in counciling & it seemed to help her, I also spoke to the school and let them know her situation.  Her father now admitts he was NEVER a parent to her, just a friend.  It's much easier for some dads to do this, be the Hero for the Week-end, then the real parenting is all on you.  No court will help with this, and yea, you must be the bad GUY, for the lack of a real father for him.  Best of luck with your son.  Be tough, and go with your gut don't wonder, stick to a firm action, for his actions, the world out their is tough, and people do not get much breaks at work, you must prepare him for a good future.  Bree