Mother in Angers recounts challenges of raising violent son

A mother in Angers, France, has shared her account of raising a son who exhibited signs of aggression and behavioral issues from a very young age. The mother, identified as Marlène, described early indicators such as opposition to rules, violence toward animals, and difficulty managing frustration.

As the child grew, the situation escalated to include property damage, such as setting fire to trash bins and puncturing car tires. The violence also extended to family members, including his mother and half-sister. These challenges led to the child being excluded from school and eventually required intervention from the gendarmerie.

Following a psychiatric hospitalization of four months, the child's return home did not resolve the issues. He was eventually placed in an ITEP (Institut Thérapeutique, Éducatif et Pédagogique), a medico-social residential institution designed to support children and adolescents with severe behavioral and psychological disorders.