[kerry234]

Hi I am very worried about my son. He is nearly 7 and shows no loving emotion towards me at all. He shows all other emotions but no love or empathy -even towards his puppy although he says she is his best friend. He is fine every other way - he plays well with others, makes friends, gets angry etc. He was nearly 2 years old when I had my 2nd child and he never forgave me. I don't love you, I love daddy was his lament for 2 yrs. I still loved him, cuddled him etc but he still wants no love from our family. Its hard because my husband and I are loving and open; my younger son has so much empathy for others; he is loving to everyone.
I know everyone is different and I thought that my eldest son might be more reserved in his emotions so we respected his wishes. But Im now beginning to get worried. No love, no concern, no passion for his family = is that OK at his age?

[objectundefined]

This sounds a whole lot like my uncle's childhood. He was born two years before my mother, never really forgave my grandmother for having a second child, and exhibited serious antisocial behavior around the family. However (much like the description of your son), he made friends very easily.

Years later, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. With close monitoring and lithium, things really improved. I obviously don't have the capacity to say that your son is bipolar, has antisocial personality disorder, is just going through a phase, or if he's experiencing pre-adolescent depression. One thing I can say is that you should benefit a whole lot from visiting a child psychiatrist. Also, ask your local public school district for IEP (individualized education plan) recommendations. IEPs are not just for special education and learning disabilities. It's a great way to get a "team" involved in your son's wellbeing for behavioral problems as well. Anyway, that's my two cents.

[joanl]

Sometimes we do in our parenting same things as our parents did and repeat their mistakes without even realizing what we are doing. I have learned that realizing and changing some simple things, which at first seem insignificant, in our own behavior toward our children often makes a huge, unexpected and quite pleasant difference. :)
Take a look at this. I have found it to be quite useful:
Www.vitalianta.org/parenting/child-behavior.html