How can I stop myself laughing - REALLY! I need help!

[SureStartRedemption]

When teenage dd is being ludicrous/tantrumming etc.
It absolutely incenses her and I totally understand why.

But I just cannot stop myself, it's almost like a defensive reaction but it doesn't help the situation. So what's the trick? I really don't want to make things any worse.

[myoriginal3]

How demeaning

[Christine88]

Is it like a nervous giggle? I do that all the time is bad situations! Maybe have a chat with her before she has a tantrum and explain to her that it makes you feel uncomfortable and that's why you laugh?! How old is she?

[lljkk]

I almost do this, omg, only way to keep your sanity with teenagers. Either that or throttle them. Save up the giggles and head hammering on walls for when she's left the room.

[SureStartRedemption]

Not sure it's demeaning (so helpful) but it's certainly not ideal and I would like to stop doing it which was why I asked for advice....

Glad to hear I'm not alone though!

[SureStartRedemption]

Oh and she's 13 yrs

[RashyMcRasherson]

I do this when I agree with DP. If she gets really angry I laugh. It's not malicious or goading. It just comes out.

[RashyMcRasherson]

Argue* not agree!

[Somerville]

I bit my lip a lot. Hard.

Sometimes laughing is okay, I feel, when they're being truly ludicrous. But not if it would come across as laughing at them, or if they really need something more constructive or caring.

[SoleBizzz]

Thirteen... you won't be laughing soon.

[SureStartRedemption]

Ah yes, we're already enjoying the teenage years and it's only going to get worse. Yesterday she said she screamed she hated me and then said loved me in the space of an hour. Brilliant.
I'll try the lip biting - see if that helps...
it really is a an involuntary thing though and I don't want to do it, honest!

[LuchiMangsho]

My parents laughed at me. It did me good. It was better than shouting at me. My Dad had a little sketch of how ridiculous I was being. I knew my parents loved me and took my actual problems seriously so I knew that their ribbing of me was entirely appropriate (even if my teenage brain didn't always compute that), so I never felt 'demeaned'!

[SureStartRedemption]

Oh dd does know we love her and she also does know that we take actual problems seriously but this was a tantrum over nothing. It's reassuring to hear I may not have actually scarred her for life!
I still will try not to laugh though.

[Seeline]

I tend to treat teenage tantrums in the same way I did toddler tantrums - ignore, leave the room and wait until they have calmed down.

[SureStartRedemption]

I've tried ignoring and not engaging, it works to a certain extent. I will be stronger on the ignoring!

[motherinferior]

My father used to laugh at me and I hated it. It really was demeaning, and contributed to my complete refusal to speak to either of my parents for decades. Please don't do it.

[SureStartRedemption]

Goodness MotherInferior, that is an extreme reaction.
Dd has had a few things going on and we have been wholeheartedly supportive and kind about those so hopefully that will make up for the odd bout of inappropriate laughter. Hope she doesn't stop taking to us for decades because of it, although I'd hazard a guess that there were one or two other issues surrounding your choice to not speak to them.

[elephantoverthehill]

I giggle sometimes when I am really anxious. I got told off for it by a 111 operative once. . She was ok when she realised it was my coping mechanism. Humour is better than giggling so I am told.

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I laugh when mine fall over