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Original poster

Today my teenager was upset because.....

856 replies

Positivelypatient · 18/10/2021 00:03

On the back of the amusing threads about the irrationality of toddlers and their meltdowns, I have this for you.

Today my 17 DD is upset because I suggested booking an expensive (for me as a single parent) spa day for her and her sisters and me that we would go to on her 18th birthday. I hasten to add this is NOT in place of presents, cake and special attention for the birthday girl. Apparently I have made her feel worthless for suggesting she share her special day with her family. Confused

OP posts:
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5
FiniteSagacity · 19/10/2021 19:00

@hellswelshy Teen ridden brow. Will so use this Grin

Plummer88 · 19/10/2021 18:50

My 16 year old had a sulk today as I needed to pop to the doctors when she wanted a lift to college. ‘How long is that going to take? I need to get to college and it’s time dependent as friend is having a crisis’ - I pointed out that she could have got the bus rather than trying to get me to change my plans.

She then text me from college to say that the taxi company cancelled her taxi so she couldn’t get to work so could I come and pick her up - I’m 99% sure she hadn’t even bothered to book said taxi. So I turn up to pick her up and no sight of her. Took me 4 times of phoning for her to finally answer her phone and then gave me attitude as she had been with her friends as it was taking me too long 🙄

LynetteScavo · 19/10/2021 18:48

Because I never got her horse riding lessons, and if there is ever a casting for a film that requires the skill of riding a horse she won't get the part and it will be all my fault.

notatroll45 · 19/10/2021 18:44

My EXTREMELY hormonal preteen cried and stormed off in a huff the other day because I was helping her little brother(3) get his socks on and I never help her 🤷🏻‍♀️

karmakemmie · 19/10/2021 18:33

This is a great thread OP. My eldest is 7 and I fear for what's to come. Especially since I was a total dick when I was a teenager! Sad

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 19/10/2021 18:33

@EdenFlower I’m interesting on hearing your perspective on this. Having worked with teenagers and their families for a long time this is parenting a teenager 101

Gilmorehill · 19/10/2021 18:29

@FancySomeChips

It’s my fault I caught COVID from work and now she’s had to have a pcr. Hasn’t once asked how I’m feeling!
Ds1 doesn’t even live with us and complained when I was getting a PCR 8 days after his dsis’s test because my work asked me too. Apparently if I tested positive this would spoil his plans for a drunken visit home the following weekend for his mate’s birthday. He is 22. Do not think it gets mic better quickly.
Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 19/10/2021 18:28

I still look back and cringe at the memory of my parents saving to take me to a theme park as a surprise because my dad had been made redundant so we couldn’t afford a holiday that year. I sulked all day because A) they’d chosen the ‘wrong’ theme park and B) because I’d rather have been at home with my mates. I almost turn inside out with shame when I think about it Blush

Mykittensmittens · 19/10/2021 18:26

My 13yo DD is just being a completely stereotypical moody teen. She flaps her arms, mumbles, huffs and sighs and eye rolls and tells us we don’t understand, and we’re so unfair.

So I played her the Harry Enfield clip of Kevin and Perry, the one where Kevin turns 13 and goes from a lovely boy excited to get super Mario, to a moody teen who flaps his arms, mumbles, huffs and sighs and eye rolls and says his parents don’t understand and are unfair.

She gave us a look that would kill, rolled her eyes, flapped her arms, sighed, huffed and said ‘I am SO nothing like that, you are SO unfair’…. And banged off up the stairs

Grin
Mummyoflittledragon · 19/10/2021 18:25

@number87inthequeue

Over the last week or so I have noticed that there are fewer and fewer glasses and mugs in the dishwasher every day, so a few days ago I dared to suggest that the DC check their rooms and bring down any dishes. DS (14) grunted something about having to do everything and when does he get a break. DD (17) was outraged at being asked as she is NOT A CHILD and knows how to keep her room clean.

Yesterday I went in to DD's room and found a large number of cups/glasses (some growing things inside), several wet towels on the floor as well as clean and dirty washing mixed together on the floor. I kept calm and put the a note on her door saying:

Given the current washing and washing up crisis, there are some new rules:

  1. No scientific experiments to be conducted in bedrooms
  2. Leaving dishes in bedrooms will be treated as a promise to wash up/load and unload the dishwasher for a week
  3. Leaving clothes on the bedroom floor will be treated as a request to do your own washing/ironing
  4. Towels will be washed twice a week only. If there are no towels you will need to drip dry.

After reading this, DD told me she needed a quiet word. Apparently she was doing her best to remain calm but that this note was 'dehumanising' and she would like an apology!

😂😂😂 Did you manage to keep a straight face?
CaveMum · 19/10/2021 18:21

@creampuff99

I spent hours tidying up son's room when he was at College, making piles outside his room of all clothes too small for him etc. He came home, put all his clothes back, threw the hoover down the stairs and came to mess my room up so that I could see what it felt Like. Internet is down for up to 72 hours so both teenagers in a complete huff with me as it is clearly my fault that someone crashed into the BT box up the road 🤦‍♀️
I hope there were consequences for him for that! I’d be removing everything bar the bed from his room if he behaved like that!
Faith77 · 19/10/2021 18:21

I can't even remember the plethora of reasons why my 13yo has descended into madness today, but I think one was asking her to tidy up the kitchen after destroying it making cupcakes. Apparently her making cupcakes should have enhanced my life enough for me to have to clean up her mess.
It's only day 2 of her 2 week half term holiday. I don't think I have enough alcohol (or money with which to buy alcohol) to survive this...

Frenchfancy · 19/10/2021 18:19

One Thing I notice is the reoccurant theme of laundry. My top tip with teens is to make them do their own laundry.

I started this when my, then young teens DD1 and DD2 (who were the same size at the time) started having a go at me because I put the wrong sister's clothes back in the wrong sister's drawer. This was about 9 years ago. DD3 (15) does all her own laundry without a murmer.

Galdos · 19/10/2021 18:17

Reading this thread made me realise how lucky I am with my three (altho the eldest is no longer a teenager). Apart from their bedrooms being unspeakable (when and if they move out, I reckon the carpets, curtains and mattresses will all have to be destroyed) they're basically OK ... [fingers crossed!!].

Two weird habits tho: empty drinks cans and bottles - hundreds of them in their bedrooms. I make occasional sweeps, but my basic policy is they should deal with all their own sh*t. If I'm not around to make meals, they use Uber Eats (the eldest is earning - and clearly spending!)

EdenFlower · 19/10/2021 18:12

@BionicEar

My teen had a huff at teatime because we gave permission for her to visit a college friend who live in another town but only on condition we have their contact details and address. Apparently we are being overprotective!
I'm with the teen on this one!
DanceIndiaDance · 19/10/2021 18:11

@snowflake29f

Do you have a teenager? Sounds like you haven't to me

DanceIndiaDance · 19/10/2021 18:10

My 16 year old had her life ruined because I had her sibling.

snowflake29f · 19/10/2021 18:08

A lot of your kids are very self in titled . Have you never disciplined them ? Some of those stories are not even funny and your kids are going to be horrible adults .

smiffy54 · 19/10/2021 18:08

Lanique, can I be your child please. I will never moan.

LpPp · 19/10/2021 17:59

Today DD2 (13) is annoyed because the uber driver refused to take them to school… which for some unknown reason was booked and paid for by her friends dad but driver said they’re too young. I refused to leave work to take them. She flagged down my friend on her way to work and asked her to take them. I told her not to. I must add that school is about a 20 minute walk away. Lazy little sh*t.

DD1 (16) is annoyed because I wouldn’t pick her up from work with 0 notice because I was doing the dinner, looking after 2 DS (4 and 2) and on a zoom call to DD2 consultant. All at the same time. She needed a wee and was apparently not going to make it home in time (also about 20 min walk). I told her to call an Uber. She said she can’t do that in case see wet herself in it. But apparently it’s ok to pee in my car.

There’s a theme here. My kids think I’m a taxi.

Bebethany · 19/10/2021 17:59

Thank you to most of these comments of OP and getting it ‘right’ with teenagers?

My 19 year old seems quite ok then 🤬🤬😂

FancySomeChips · 19/10/2021 17:58

It’s my fault I caught COVID from work and now she’s had to have a pcr. Hasn’t once asked how I’m feeling!

Changes17 · 19/10/2021 17:54

@bendmeoverbackwards

Anyone have a teen who prefers one parent to another? Dd3 (14.5) just can’t stand her dad at the moment. It’s very hard for him. He’s a kind loving father and she’s so nasty to him. I’m hoping it’s just a phase.
Not this but as a teenager I remember having pretty regular irrational hatreds of teachers. I absolutely hated my English A level teacher at one point - he was really lovely, looking back, a sort of kindly grandpa.
OntheDL · 19/10/2021 17:54

Yesterday my 16yo stormed out of the room in a major hump because I asked him if he was ok and then had the audacity to follow this up with an intrusive “did you have a nice day?”

Bought it on myself obviously

CookL · 19/10/2021 17:53

@Mercedes519

Reading this thread while being harangued by DS (15) because he couldn’t find his box pants for cricket training this morning.

Reader I found them…in the clean washing. Apparently washing his dirty clothes is me making his life more difficult.

Don’t worry I have already instigated the ‘not in basket, doesn’t get washed’ rule in this house after a particular incident involving me suggesting he might like to put his dirty washing in the basket.

Be careful with this one. When my dd was a teenager everything she tried on and rejected before going out went in the laundry basket. I would empty it in the morning and when she was out put it all back on hangers in the utility room. I’m sure she thought it was washed 😂😂