maleficent

Answers given are based on two psych classes in college, years of watching people's behavior, and my own life experiences - it's all worth about 2 cents:

How are his reading and writing skills? I'm guessing here, but does he have any sort of reading disability, like dyslexia, which is pretty common, and often overlooked. He knows the answer if you ask him the question, but if he has to write it down, then the words get all jumbled and makes it a lot harder for the child.

Mom isn't helping him much, and sadly there's not a lot you can do about her, except just be encouraging for him. He's already got one person beating him down emotionally -- I've been in that situation, and speaking for me, tears are the way that I would express anger. Can't yell at mom and tell her to stop it, so that anger will often manifest itself as tears.

The self injury sounds like it's a cry for attention. But I don't know much about that kind of behavior.

I think your best bet with this kid, is doing exactly what you are doing, (which, you deserve a huge pat on the back for) Be supportive, let him trust you, be supportive, let him know you are available to listen if he ever wants to talk, but don't push it, just be an adult in his life that isn't yelling at him, isn't being negative, just accepts him for who he is.`

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