Attitude

by Julie Martin
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

My ten year old son has been showing me a lot of attitude recently, and it seems to be right after he comes to my house from his father's house, as we share joint custody.

Usually, we are able to talk things through and then it happens again the next time he comes to me from my ex husband's house. I have tried talking to my ex husband about this but he hems and haws and says its because I am the "Fun Parent" while he is the "Disciplinarian" and then tells me that our son does not regard me as an authority figure.

I think it is that my ex husband does not regard me as an authority figure and this comes through to my son somehow. How do I handle this?