Please or to access all these features

Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
Thread gallery
5
Wotrewelookinat · 18/10/2021 14:57

We chew too loudly apparently, and have bought a clock that ticks too loudly, necessitating the wearing of headphones continuously!

olderthanilookapparently · 18/10/2021 14:53

I have had (12YO so starting early) tell me he will not look at any hair cuts to explain what he wanted

Then had haircut and shouted that he didn't like it at all although he didn't tell me or the guy cutting his hair what he wanted ??

JudgeJ · 18/10/2021 14:51

@Moonface123

I don't know what's worse, the spoilt entitled kids or the parents thinking it's funny. It's s such sad, shallow reading.
We were no doubt difficult as teens in the 60s but I don't think anyone I knew would have spoken to their parents as these seem to, they seem to have learned to parrot all the terminology straight from US teen programmes. Their sense of entitlement shines through maybe they should have heard the words 'No you can't' more often rather than been negotiated with.
Mummyoflittledragon · 18/10/2021 14:50

Pretty much everything, which comes out of my mouth is embarrassing to my 13 yo dd. So anything to do with periods, keeping herself safe (last year she told me “you’re obsessed with me being raped”), feminism etc. I seriously put my foot down as I had enough of the constant censorship of “can you just stop” pretty much every time I opened my mouth.

She is a massive prude - well, in front of me at least. Even when she recently cracked a joke, which was a bit naughty and joked along / eye rolled, I was embarrassing. So why bring it up?! Of course fine with her friend’s parents. They must be oh so cool!

She had the reproductive system in science during lockdown and needed help. That was fun. 😬 It’s called getting my own back. 😂

Yesterday she was invited to go into town with some friends but it didn’t work out and they’re going today instead. It’s not fair apparently because she’s on holiday so can’t join them. Poor kid. Such misery and distress.

We also took her to Center Parcs over the summer and deigned to go out one day as there were no pool slots. The moaning. At the end of the holiday, she had no issue telling me she had a much better time hanging with her friends at the park. The accommodation for the week alone was 3k… I’d much rather have been around a pool somewhere! But the park is free… so I was thinking just why bother?!

Rocketpants50 · 18/10/2021 14:43

Had to drive past DS school last week to a job, as he was having a bad morning I offered to drop him at school on way, 1st time ever, they normally walk. DD refused to come with us as would not get in the car with DS and friend, is now sulking as I have never taken her to school and I do everything for him.

fitflopqueen · 18/10/2021 14:42

Kids now grown up and away but ruined childhood as we didn’t have a dog (all working FT) and hadn’t been to Cornwall or Scotland…. Did have lovely holidays abroad though! We do have the dog now and she is everyone’s baby.

footballfan1963 · 18/10/2021 14:38

[quote SpiderPlant101010]@bendmeoverbackwards Like the kid calling the mum a bitch. The bratty child who didn't like the car she was bought as a present so refused to drive it. The general ungratefulness towards parents bending over backwards to try and please their spoilt children to name but a few[/quote]
@SpiderPlant101010 I agree that calling a parent (or anyone) a bitch is appalling and I'm sure the person in question dealt with it appropriately. But this is a light-hearted thread! The spoilt-ness and self-centred-ness is very common in teens. They do become very unreasonable and selfish, it's a normal part of development.

EmotionalSupportBear · 18/10/2021 14:35

my 15yo is embarrased by me because i have the audacity to drive a 'racing car' with a loud exhaust whilst being a Goth.

His friends think i'm cool... i'm not sure which offends him more. Grin

Bollindger · 18/10/2021 14:31

8 years ago I took my 17 DD for a job interview, it paid £10 an hour, Wow.
She was going on about transport to get there and the person behind the desk said I could have a job as well.
I had to force my child to do this job, she wanted the money but would say I am not doing it loads of time.
I worked 35 hours a week for the 4 weeks the job was available, my DD did 10 hours a week and was Livid I got paid more than her.
All the money I earnt was paying for a family event that included her, her money was just her spends,

sueelleker · 18/10/2021 14:31

@thequeenoftarts

Teens, can't live with them and can't fucking drown em either sigh ....Aren't they lucky we can't lol
"Mark Twain said, "When a child turns 13, you put him in a barrel with only a hole to feed him through. When he turns 18, plug the hole."
CharityDingle · 18/10/2021 14:27

@mizu

DD1 almost 17 looked at me across the table yesterday and told me she didn't like the way I ate ShockConfused
Oh that's nasty. Sad
GrealishHairband · 18/10/2021 14:21

I should preface this by saying that as a rule she’s not a bad sort. But I did have to laugh at DD18 ringing me in high dudgeon because she had got a parking ticket. The reason why, she hadn’t changed the car reg on the parking app to the new private reg we had bought her for her recent birthday. Despite being told to do so. This was of course mine and her dads fault.

She was swiftly informed with much laughter to ‘jog on’.

She was also raging because she didn’t get any dinner money last week despite being informed I was implementing a system whereby every time I found something of mine in her room I hadn’t said she could borrow I would knock a pound off the amount I was going to give her. I think she was in zero balance by the Wednesday the week before. Have only had to knock a quid off for this week so perhaps the message is getting through.

cricketmum84 · 18/10/2021 14:15

My 17yo is pissed at me because I won't let her go to a (parent free) firework party on bonfire night. Apparently the parents will buy the fireworks for the 16/17 year old but are then off to the pub 😱😱😱

Snoopsnoggysnog · 18/10/2021 14:14

@AmazingBouncingFerret

I allowed my 15 year old son to connect his Spotify during a car journey.

He was OUTRAGED to find out that I knew all the words to Gangsta’s Paradise.

This has made me LOL, my tweens hate this about me too!
ElizaDarcysDeeds · 18/10/2021 14:09

Our morning went like this
Teen: This shirt doesn't fit. It's the wrong one!
Me: All your school shirts are the same size. It fit last week.
Teen: No, it's too tight at the collar. I can't breathe!
Me:
Teen: Oh, wait a minute, it's because I had the collar turned up. It's fine.
Hmm Grin

SallySparro · 18/10/2021 14:07

@MarieT

The stealth boasting on this thread is hilarious Grin
Doormats? Luxury! When I were a lass we used flattened cardboard boxes.
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/10/2021 14:07

Because she had double Art which she haaaaaaates.

linelgreen · 18/10/2021 14:05

Mine get annoyed that I will not let them go out in my car alone when they both have their own cars which we bought for them and pay for tax, insurance and maintenance.

Apparently as my car is newer, better, more sporty and bigger than theirs they should be allowed to use it whenever they want!!!

DoYouLikeOwls · 18/10/2021 14:04

@TerrifiedandWorried

I opened the window in in my sons' bedroom. "What have you DONE??? It smells weird!". That would be fresh air.
This made me laugh so much.
Keke94LND · 18/10/2021 14:02

@Helpmyson

My 16 year old called me a bitch because I have refused to change our flights, back from long awaited holiday, so he can celebrate Halloween with his mates I feel.your pain , why are they so horrid to us ? Will it ever end
Haha when I was a teenager, my mum was arranging for us to go to university open days, she arranged to go to this one city I had never heard of and I didn't realise how far away it was, I thought we would just be going for the day, I arranged to meet up with a boy I really liked that evening. On the day, my mum was telling me to pack my stuff and I was like why? And that's when I found out we were going for the whole weekend.. which meant I wouldn't be able to see this boy that night, I kicked off 🤣 like seriously kicked off, the biggest tantrum in history. We ofcourse ended up going and had a lovely time, and I ended up going to that uni, I feel so bad about it now, my mum was doing a good thing for me :( anyway point of my story is that he won't always think you're a bitch!
LaetitiaASD · 18/10/2021 14:00

@Lanique

My list is endless:

We had the temerity to suggest earlier that we all go to Antigua next Summer after their exams, but it might clash with 'other things' such as parties and drinking in fields with their mates

We 'threatened' to take them back to New Zealand for another Christmas next year, which was totally unacceptable as they like Christmas at home and could mean them missing out on Christmas parties. Bless them the poor lambs are still traumatised by the experience of being made to spend Christmas Day on a beach in Abel Tasman National Park a few years ago.

We took them to Dubai three years ago and dd2 still hasn't got over us 'making her' miss Halloween.

Other than that they're perfectly lovely girls that are, believe it or not, not spoiled at all other than in cases such as the above where the possibility of 'missing out' is too much to bear 🙄

To be fair, any parent who thinks a family holiday is a suitable place for a teenager is mad. If the child has friends who they could be spending time with instead of being on a family holiday, then that madness can be multiplied by a thousand.

Source - used to be a teenager and am not mad

bintang · 18/10/2021 13:57

OMG, I am laughing so much at "smells like Victorian times @SecretKeeper1! Grin

Stovetopespresso · 18/10/2021 13:54

I woke mine up this morning with a clean shirt for her to wear, put it on an open drawer (room is a bombsite) and told her.
i got OK MUM JUST GET OUT whilst she whipped out of bed as if I was an electric eel.

number87inthequeue · 18/10/2021 13:52

@hiredandsqueak

My dd is upset that I didn't insist she take her wellies when she refused after I suggested it might be a good idea to take them considering the rain we have had and she's out in the Peak District. Apparently if I knew she would need them then I should have been more assertive and put them in the car for her even though she said no, huffed and rolled her eyes at my ludicrous suggestion. Apparently it would be appropriate for me to offer to clean the now mud caked trainers for her because it is somehow my fault she didn't take her wellies Grin
I am an equally negligent parent. On more than one occasion my DS has refused to pick up a coat as we leave the house, despite having been told that it is raining/is forecast to rain heavily and arguing that he is old enough to decide whether he needs a coat. Then when it's raining when we arrive at school I get some variation of 'Where's my coat/Didn't you bring my coat' and 'Huff, suppose I'll just have to spend all day wet then, huff, thanks, huff, YOU wouldn't like getting wet. huff don't you even CARE'
notacooldad · 18/10/2021 13:49

Some of these are horrible, not funny at all. sad

like what

Being called a bitch by a 16 year old male son for starters.
A 17 year old telling her mother who is working 3 jobs that she doesn't know anything about work because she doesn't do any for 2nds.

Teenagers being livid because their parent wants to celebrate a birthday.

I know my kids have driven me up a tree at times but at least they are respectful and never done any nasty name calling.