Unbelievably I am quite enjoying having teenagers

[highlighta]

I have two dc 13 and 16. At the present moment there are 6 teenagers in my living room. I am in my office which is a room in the house and I can hear every word they are saying. The other 4 kids live in the next streets to us.

There has been some fantastic negotiations regarding swopping/loaning x-box games

There has been an in depth discussion on the best popcorn flavour

There has been discussions on why their birthday is memorable, ie one is on Valentines day and one is on St Patricks day. The other 4 have boring birthdays apparently

There has not been one swear word, but every second word is that something or other sucks

And the most shocking one of all - they have all been here a couple of hours now and I offered them something to eat. Not one of them was hungry The only conclusion I can come to for that is that I must be a really awful cook

[shadypines]

HI Highlighta, as a fellow mum of a 13 and 16 yrs old, my question is, can I borrow your extra 4 teens to keep mine company.?! I am smiling at what you describe, so refreshing, you mean they are not all glued to a screen and not talking to each other .

Only neighbours I've got are miserable old buggers elderly.

[florentina1]

This is so nice to hear. I live in East London and when I visit my mum in her care home, The bus stops at 4 senior schools at going home time. In 4 years I have never witnessed any bad behaviour, swearing or pushing. I am always offered a seat too.

[BestIsWest]

I love it too. DD was a bit of a nightmare for a while but when in a good mood, she was good fun.

DS is 17 and very cool and laid back and knows so much stuff. Today we've been for a walk and to Starbucks and discussed the merits and cons of a laissez faire economy, the films of Michael Douglas, the rapper Marky Mark, the science of waterproofing materials, whether or not to read the new book by Harper Lee and dogs. Oh and conspiracy theories around Kurt Cobains death.

I love his teenage enthusiasms and innocence.

[highlighta]

Ah but Shady I do have one of those too

They are really quite entertaining. I have been invited to one of their houses (I don't know the parents as they recently moved here) because his mum likes red wine too....

They are starting with jokes now..

Still astounded that they are writhing around with hunger pains.....

[highlighta]

NOT writhing around .....of course it should say

[MarchelineWhatNot]

Aw, that's nice to hear! My mum said a while ago that the younger generation are so much nicer than they used to be (she's 75). I think so, too. Much more caring about others less fortunate than themselves.

[Mellifera]

Hi Highlighta
I have a 14 and a 16 year old too and they ARE very entertaining! I never had a room full of teens refusing food though, I reckon yours have a secret stash you don't know about or have been raiding someone else's cupboards before they came to your house

[Katedotness1963]

My boys turn 14 and 16 this year and I find them really good company. Their friends come over and are polite and well behaved. They have friendly arguments about music, bands and gaming. And they don't mind having a board game evening with us oldies.

I keep waiting for them to turn into nightmares who sulk in their rooms, start arguments and slam doors but so far they're nothing like I was...

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Mine are great. I love their conversations. However, they do swear a bit

[highlighta]

Mellifera, yes I think that you are right. One of them is a champion cheese and tomato sandwich maker I hear. They must have fuelled up there...............

[NeitherHereOrThere]

Are they boys?

[CarlaJones]

I regularly get the bus home with kids from the local comp, sometimes the bus is packed to the rafters with them and like the pp I have never witnessed any bad behaviour and I've often had them let me and my children get on first and tell their friends to let us on first. I should contact the school and tell them really.

[NeitherHereOrThere]

^^I ask because they sound like my DS and his friends - love them

[highlighta]

5 boys and 1 girl. The girl is my 13 year old dd. She is such a tomboy so she fits in with all of the boys just fine.

[BakingCookiesAndShit]

DS2 is 16 and a guitarist. We have fabulous kids round here all the time. He has ASD, they just accept his quirks and him. The house is always full of music. Having teens in the house is actually apart from the bog of eternal stench that is his room rather lovely.

[PunkrockerGirl]

I agree OP! My boys are 23 and 19 now and I absolutely loved the teenage years. It's fascinating to watch them (and their mates) turn into lovely young adults and to follow what they're all getting up to.
Much preferred it to the baby/toddler years

[motherinferior]

I have a 14 year old. She and her friends are terrific. Love them.

[dotdotdotmustdash]

I have an 18yr old Ds and a 16yr old Dd, and it's been fantastic so far. I love watching their progress and development and enjoying their successes. I've never had a serious argument with either of them, other than the odd moan about untidiness.

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

I have older ds's; 15 , 18 and eldest is now 20 , not even a teenager, .

They've all been fantastic, not too much bother [ the odd alcohol induced puking from the older two].They've always had mates here and still do; 'pre drinks' are taken here and all of the boys and mates have been good company.

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

We had several teenagers here this morning. They were all lovely - mine included However, I've been given several boxes of chocolates recently and rather than be tempted by them myself I gave one box to them to share.

Fantastic, all gone in about 5 minutes.

No swearing, no rudeness. One even sorted out a computer problem for me.

[KatieScarlettreregged]

Have an 18 and 19 year old.
They are fantastic. The 18 year old is just about to leave for a couple of weeks inter railing round Europe with his uni flatmates and I'm not worried in the least.
I was a tit at 18, can't quite believe how responsible and organised they are.
Best stage ever.

[scatterthenuns]

I've always liked it when they get to 16/17/18 and you start going to the pub with them. Those last few years before the move out are golden.

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

I miss those years! Mine are 23,22,21 and 18 now ..the girls have just graduated and moved to their new places and DS1 (22) is still at home but working or doing music gigs.. just me and autistic 18 yr old now :(

I agree the older teens in particular are amazing.. and somehow so much more competent than I was at that age. I have always loved having them around.. and these days when they come home for a visit and all pitch up with boyfriends and girlfriends.. it's brilliant.

Mind you DD1 (23) had a lovely chat on the phone to me today and was telling me about her plans for buying a house with her girlfriend, and how they have worked out the cost, likely mortgage, deposit needed... I had a moment ..where did my little girl GO?!!?!?

[ISingSoprano]

Mine are 17 and 20 and I love having them and their friends around. Did has made a whole bunch of new friends since being at sixth form and a couple of them came over to our for an evening just after their exams. It was so lovely hearing them chatter and laugh so much - they even asked my opinion a couple of times!

[Wenglish]

Please tell me there were all horrors as toddlers! Currently have monsters toddlers