I am about 99% certain that Evan has Attention Deficit Disorder. He’s been potty trained for a few months now, and suddenly—without any major life changes—he’s started peeing his pants 4–5 times a day for the past week or two. On top of that, he yells, throws things, slams doors, gets rough with his brothers, and even bites when he’s angry. He’s put more than a couple of holes in the walls and tests my patience multiple times a day.

On Thursday, I hit my breaking point. It was the fourth time he’d wet his pants that day, and when I told him to change, he started screaming and refusing. I completely lost my patience. I was so angry in that moment that it scared me. So I walked away and locked myself in the bathroom. I called Mark and told him he needed to take Evan for a day or two because I felt like I was at the edge and didn’t trust myself to stay calm. Thankfully, Mark agreed right away.

By the time Evan was picked up, I was in tears. I told him that the way he’d been acting and treating me was really hurting my feelings, and that he needed to stay with his dad for a little while because I was so upset. For once, it seemed to really reach him. He started crying too. He stayed with Mark for about 24 hours, and honestly, I needed that break more than I can explain.

After he left, though, I found myself crying again—wondering what it means if I can’t handle my own child. I feel like a failure sometimes because of how deeply he gets to me. I’ve tried everything I can think of: time-outs, consequences, taking away privileges, standing in the corner, calm talks, firm talks… nothing seems to stick. I feel completely worn down and unsure how to get through to him or teach him right from wrong in a way that truly connects.

As much as I don’t want to admit it, I think it may be time to talk to Mark about shared custody or more frequent visits. Evan seems to need more one-on-one attention than I can consistently give right now, and his dad may be able to provide that when it’s just the two of them. Maybe it’s worth trying and seeing how it affects him. I just want to do what’s best for Evan—even if that means admitting I can’t do it all on my own.

This is a true account written in my own words during the time it happened. I’ve lightly edited it for clarity in the present day (2026), with minimal exclusions, while keeping the original voice and meaning intact.