My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teenagers

Miserable shopping trip

81 replies

Sparklingbrook · 06/01/2014 17:48

Sad 14 year old DS. The trip was essential for school shirts and trousers because he has grown a stupid amount lately. Then on for some smart clothes for work experience.

So the shopping trip was all about him!

I have never witnessed so much eye rolling, tutting and moaning in my life. Asking 'when can we go home?' every 5 minutes,

Apparently I WBU to make him go in the changing rooms to try stuff on too.

Never ever again. Angry Wine

OP posts:
Report
Sparklingbrook · 06/01/2014 18:23

I hope he hasn't got any homework and I really don't want to ask.

OP posts:
Report
MissScatterbrain · 06/01/2014 18:25

You have my sympathy. Apparently asking him to try things on in the changing room is NOT on Hmm

I resorted to ordering a pile of stuff from Next and then forcing him to try these on before returning stuff that are the wrong size or whatever.

Report
Claybury · 06/01/2014 18:36

Don't take it too hard. My DS stopped going anywhere with me well before he was 14 and the other day I was shopping and saw a mother and teen son having coffee together and I felt quite sad as there's no way my DS would do that with me. My DS (15) saw me on the bus a few months back and although we were the only passengers he ignored me.
It's a difficult age and shopping can be annoying too. Shop online !

Report
Sparklingbrook · 06/01/2014 18:40

Thanks, It has made me quite sad. He needed the clothes so why couldn't he just make the best of it and just do it?

Miss he had to try them on as he's gone all gangly. Why can't they just accept that sometimes you have to do stuff you don't want to? Angry

Sad Clay didn't he even come and sit with you?

OP posts:
Report
MissScatterbrain · 06/01/2014 18:48

It drives me mad re the not trying things on. I often end up taking things back to exchange for a more suitable size.

Report
MissScatterbrain · 06/01/2014 18:50

One thing I found that helps with shopping trips is to go to a town that isn't your local one. I think its the embarrassment factor of being caught shopping with middle aged Mum by people from school Hmm

Report
Sparklingbrook · 06/01/2014 18:52

We were in the town where it would be most likely to see someone he knew. Shock But that was where the uniform shop was. Grin

OP posts:
Report
TalcAndTurnips · 06/01/2014 18:54

There is a window of time in a teenager's life when it is Not Cool to be interested in doing or being anything. Even being cool is uncool.

On the 0-100 scale of uncoolness, showing any animation or interest in anything parents say or do is around the 98 mark - about the same rating as settling down to watch Countryfile with a nice cup of tea, or a Geography teacher's Farah polyester slacks .

You cannot win during this thankfully brief era. Don't even try. Just prod them repeatedly with the handle of a Vileda Supermop until they do the pathetically simple household task that you have requested and keep all attempts at meaningful conversation at an absolute minimum - just enough to avoid starvation or total duvet hibernation.

Report
Sparklingbrook · 06/01/2014 18:57

I have to say I think you may be right Talc. He is so uninterested in anything.

Poor people at the office where he is doing work experience. Sad Although he will have full personality change for that and be all sweetness and light. Angry

OP posts:
Report
Technoprobe · 06/01/2014 18:58

Talc thank you for making me Smile despite my frustration at my 13 year old DS who has mastered the art of Not Cool whatevs

Report
Sparklingbrook · 06/01/2014 19:00

I went to link arms with him. Blush he was not having any of it. Sad

OP posts:
Report
Technoprobe · 06/01/2014 19:00

Sparklingbrook it's the sweetness and light for everyone else except me and DH that I find the most maddening Hmm

Report
KatieScarlett2833 · 06/01/2014 19:01

Measure them and order online. Just don't do it.
(Voice of bitter experience)

Report
Sparklingbrook · 06/01/2014 19:01

Yes Techno-round at other people's houses. It really is like Kevin and Perry and Mrs Patterson. Angry

OP posts:
Report
bigTillyMintspie · 06/01/2014 19:03

I find ordering from M&S online is easiest - then you can return whatever doesn't fit.

However, DS doesn't mind shopping with me, especially when there are clothes for him/food of his choice involvedWink

Report
bigTillyMintspie · 06/01/2014 19:03

And yes, they are horrid at home and then angelic to everyone elseAngry

Report
Sparklingbrook · 06/01/2014 19:07

We stopped for lunch. Silent it was. Sad

OP posts:
Report
LynetteScavo · 06/01/2014 19:08

You made him go into the changing room to try things on?

You must be evil! Grin

I have a pair of school trousers which I've just sewn a name tape into, which I ordered on line, and DS has never tried on. Because he won't.

He has needed new school trainers since last august/september. He totally refused to come shopping, and in the end asked me just to bring some home. Hmm DH managed to get him to the shop yesterday, and he's gone up two sizes.

Report
Technoprobe · 06/01/2014 19:09

You have my sympathy Sparklingbrook. My DS is so foul to me at the moment I wouldn't dream of suggesting a shopping trip. And the last time I tried to hug him, he shrugged me off. Sad I can't seem to do anything right.

Report
TalcAndTurnips · 06/01/2014 19:09

Ah, that's OK Thanks

It is so wonderful when they emerge from the chrysalis of disinterested angst - like fresh-winged young adults that even bring you a cup of tea occasionally.

This does not extend, however, to replacing DVDs back in boxes or putting washing in the laundry basket or bringing crusty plates and cups down to the kitchen or turning off the light in the bathroom or scrubbing skiddies off the pan or not dumping your clean washing on the cellar floor so that they can tumble dry two pairs of knickers and a sock or making sure that the fridge door is closed properly or putting the tea-towel back properly instead of stuffing it down behind the bread bin.

That bit comes later. But they do talk to you and even acknowledge your existence in public.

Report
TheOneWithTheHair · 06/01/2014 19:10

I had this with ds1. He wouldn't even give me a peck on the cheek in the privacy of our own home for about three years. :(

Thankfully he seems to have grown out of it and has given me the odd kiss and cuddle now. He's 17 so it doesn't last forever and he did have moments of being brilliantly good company in that time. Just enough that I didn't lose hope completely.

Report
SidandAndyssextoy · 06/01/2014 19:11

I think I may love you, TalcandTurnips.

Report

Newsletters you might like

Discover Exclusive Savings!

Sign up to our Money Saver newsletter now and receive exclusive deals and hot tips on where to find the biggest online bargains, tailored just for Mumsnetters.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Parent-Approved Gems Await!

Subscribe to our weekly Swears By newsletter and receive handpicked recommendations for parents, by parents, every Sunday.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

bigTillyMint · 06/01/2014 19:12

Silent lunchSad

Although I have to say that DS was mighty embarrassed by DH and I when we all went into Subway in another city and DH and I ordered subs with everything on and then made a right mess eating themGrin
I think it was because there were loads of cool skateboarders who he will never see again DD didn't seem that bothered.

I think part of the reason DS doesn't mind going shopping with me is that he is very clothes oriented!

Report
KatieScarlett2833 · 06/01/2014 19:12

The irony is now DD (18) is delighted to come shopping with me. Because I have "good taste" Shock
We used to come home empty handed in fecking tears when she was younger.

Report
Sparklingbrook · 06/01/2014 19:12

It is horrible. I love him so much, he was a little bit cuddly at Christmas but we are back to cold shoulder again now. Sad

DS2 (my baby) is 12 this week. I will squeeze him tight on his Birthday. Grin

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.