teens and arguing with their dad

[citcatgirl45]

My dd is 13 and like any normal 13 yr old girl. I have several friends who have teennagers and am often round friends houses with teenagers so I know how they behave. They do have sass, attitude and can be rude and slovenly. My DD is lovely most of the time, she is hardworking, good at school polite and lovely to be around most of the time. I also have an 11yr old son and I would say the most fraught time in our house is between about 6 and 8-pm. Most after school activities are fiinished, the kids have had their tea, homework is being done and obviously being teens social media is also used, throw in getting ready for the new day, showers and baths and in my 13 yrs old case sorting out her social life, along with my hubby coming in from work and me cooking our dinner ready to eat for 815, the house is hectic at this time. Both kids are often stressed with homework or something school related and sometimes can speak to me with a bit of an attitude. I ignore this attitude to a certain extent and don't nitpick them for every little thing, however my husband walks in the door and straight away is on at them and every time either of them speaks in a bit of teenage slang or with a bit of attitude he reacts, hence they do it more and more the more he reacts the more they react. He does not contribute to family life and he doesn.t visit friends with us so has absolutely no idea what is normal behaviour and what isn't. How can I get it through to him that teenagers are a whole new breed and by reacting to attitude everything escalates.

[Northernparent68]

His method may not be working, but ignoring attitude is n’t wise either. You might work to work out why the house is fraught, reduce the tension

[Mumdiva99]

Maybe he comes home hangry. change dinner time to 6pn for all the family and you can all sit down together over food. He'll be in a better mood and there can be some positive interaction in the family. He might feel more involved and learn more about his kids in the process.

[stellabelle]

What time does DH come home ?

[Greendayz]

8.15 is very late to eat dinner. I'd be hungry and snapping at everyone round me by then. Could you feed at least the kids earlier?