DS is 14. He's generally a pretty good kid if he's getting to do what he wants with minimal requests for his time/effort/chores etc.
He thinks he know everything (don't they all?) and argues at everything I say. Most of the time I let it go because it's not worth the argument, and it's usually pretty minor stuff.
I have a big issue with him not listening to me. If I do not specifically say his name and speak directly to him, he doesn't hear a word I say.
For example, if he's eating dinner with his brothers I will say to them all that I want them to bring their washing to the machine after dinner. The brothers will do it, but he won't because he either "didn't hear me" or I "didn't tell him".
Many times I've asked him to listen, but unless I'm speaking about football (unlikely) or taking him somewhere, he just doesn't listen to what I say.
Today he did something (v v minor) that I'd asked them all not to do. His brothers have managed not to do it, but he "didn't hear me" because "I wasn't speaking to him".
I asked him again today not to do said thing, and he argued about it. I then took him aside and asked him to listen to me, so that I didn't have to repeat myself. He then argued again, speaking over me, asking me to justify myself, and at one point sarcastically clapped me and said "yeah well done".
So, he's lost his phone for the day and he's not going to his girlfriends house. He obviously thinks I'm massively unreasonable. I think I've cut him a lot of slack, and I finally snapped and wouldn't let it go if he's going to be openly rude to me.
Am I right? Should I have let it go again? Have I been a complete bitch?
Teenagers are so hard - I wish they were toddlers again!
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Teenagers
After picking your battles, how long until you get cross?
21 replies
Spaghettio · 06/01/2020 14:25
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