Teenager and toddlers are the really aren’t they

[ChoudeBruxelles]

Ds is very nearly 13. Omg it’s like having a toddler again (but one who is 5’10”). His moods swing so much depending usually on whether he tired (which he will never admit to) or if he’s hungry (which he is permanently).

I literally know nothing in his opinion.

He then will do something lovely like making me a cup of tea.

How long does this last for?

Post title was meant to sybtheyre the same aren't they

Ffs. Give up with fat fingers on my phone

Oh yes definitely!

I knownwhat you mean OP.
I was trying to get DS1 up for football practice and was met with with wails of “oh my god why do you care so much?! Why? Shut up! Why tho?”
And then was given a lovely hug when he’d had something to eat and was dressed.

I actually have a 3 year old and a 13 year old - the toddler is often better behaved!!!

He’s just had a strop because I couldn’t instantly fix something on his laptop. I offered to make him some lunch (know he’s hungry) to be told he not hungry. Five minutes later he’s making himself a bacon sandwich because he’s “starving”

Haha, yes they are. In my experience they tend to start coming out of the other side of advanced toddlerhood by the time they are 16, so you've got a way to go yet, sorry!

In the meantime mountains of food & lots of hugs are what's needed - exactly like a toddler

16? Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! I don't think I'll last another 2.5 years and by then DS2 will have become a teenager and I'll have to do it all over again!

He’s eaten now and is sitting doing homework being perfectly nice. Not sure how I’ll cope with 3 years of this!

I have a very neatly 3 year old (and a ducking amazing five year old). I teach teenagers. I think you’re onto something.

My previous school moved to 4 lessons before lunch, instead if 3. Hangry year 10s and a pretty hangry, desperate for the loo, me was a horrible combination.

They seem to morph into the hormonal ball of attitude sometime during year 8, so age 12/13. Then re-emerge as delightful young adults in year 11. Age 15/16.

That is probably one if my favourite things, as a teacher. Reconnecting with the older pupils when they’ve grown up a bit.

If/of

Ds has 4 lessons before lunch. He always buys his lunch during break after 2nd period and the has a snack at lunch time.

Yes, this is my theory too. They are toddlers with better motor skills, more vocab and a bit more money! 😂

Don’t know about the money. Money burns a hole in ds’s pocket til he spends it

Dd (14) has been difficult today. She came down at 11am, got cross with dh because he had nipped to the shops and didn't buy dilute orange or bananas.

There are 3 different types of dilute juice on the side. Apple juice and orange juice in the fridge, along with strawberry milk dh picked up as a treat. The last 4 lots of bananas I have thrown away because no one ate them. Not a single one.

She was then cross because she wanted something nice for lunch. Dh offered chippy lunch, subway, eggs on toast, something from greggs, a sandwhich, a pizza, cheese on toast.

She finally begrudgingly ate some of my homemade diet veggie soup. Then asked if we were doing anything worth doing today. Said maybe nipping to my mams later, a dog walk, an hour on allotment perhaps.

Don't think she fancied any of them, shes stomped back off to bed.

Suits me. Have spent all afternoon napping while ds wrecks his bedroom, then am having a bath and putting my pjs on.

I hope she emerges a bit less grumpy later. Trying to be patient, she has her period so probably feeling sorry for herself.

I've just done a six week supporting teens course and it's a well researched area. The physiology and anatomy of the teen brain is such that it's a period of incredible change and plasticity akin to the development leap of 2-4 year olds, but goes on for 6-7 years. The brain is constantly rewiring and rewriting its neural circuits on a daily basis, overwriting and resizing processing and memory areas. They do not have an adult brain that they are simply 'working out how to use', it's so much more fundamental than that. Their processing capacity is biologically limited, it's not always within their control. And at the same time as the amygdala is still under developed, the limbic system and pleasure centres are also desensitized, meaning they need bigger and bigger sensory inputs to get that satisfaction 'hit'. In short, the chimp takes over again for a while. Its why teens have memory problems, impulse control issues, why they make poor safety decisions (aka 'well it seemed like a good idea at the time!'), etc. Add puberty hormones into this mix, and well, it's a bitch of a ride being a teen. As it is parenting one.

I've long suspected that teenagers are just giant toddlers.

Oh yes. I have a 15 year old. So tired of this. Fighting to get him to understand that he has to revise for his gcse or he is stuffed.

Maybe having a shower or putting on some deodorant. ??? Good grief no that’s the worst idea ever.