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Original poster

My teenagers are quite nice

136 replies

TinfoilTwat · 03/12/2022 18:43

You don't often hear the positives of living with teenagers. I have to say, mine are pretty decent people.
They work hard, get good grades, volunteer their time to coach their sports in the local primary school. They're funny. They are brave and passionate about life. I genuinely enjoy their company and feel very lucky to live with them.

We are having a very scaled back Christmas this year because we're spending all available money on me doing a course next year. No complaints from them; "Mum, we'll just eat gruel for a year. Do the course. We're proud of you!"

(Disclaimer: Yes, they also play about 64 hours of videogames a day and have a functional blindness that does not allow them to see used cups and plates, and they leave sweet-wrappers in the living room, and have extraordinarily bad haircuts, and steal my shoes, and stay up until 3am if I don't stop them...)

Tell me about your lovely teenagers.

OP posts:
Pictograph · 03/12/2022 18:46

I have three lovely teenagers! The 13 year old is still very loving and cuddly and is always up for giving everything a go! The 15 year old is kind to her friends and really sporty and hard working. The 17 year old is a bit grumpy and his room is a tip, but he's bright and musical and treats his girlfriend with respect. Yours sound fab!

tinselvestsparklepants · 03/12/2022 18:47

I don't have any of my own as I don't have kids; but I teach undergrads so I effectively have a temporary share in about 300! I am so lucky to spend time with them. Most of them - not all, but most - are funny, generous, thoughtful, kind people. Also occasionally forgetful and daft etc but I think the future is generally in safe hands. Glad to read about your lovely teens.

Original poster
TinfoilTwat · 03/12/2022 18:53

Pictograph - they sound great.
tinselvest - my best job ever ever was teaching English to groups of bright young South American teenagers. They were wonderful.

OP posts:
Oneborneverydecade · 03/12/2022 18:54

Mine is hard work.

On the positive side he has just had an offer of a place at a respected sporting academy which is a reflection of his hard work and talent in his sport. Which is even more impressive as he lost his other parent in 2020.

Undecidedandtorn · 03/12/2022 18:56

My 15 yo is so lovely- funny, a great big brother and gives the best hugs.

mamabear715 · 03/12/2022 18:57

Lovely to read, @TinfoilTwat
Mine (older than yours) are the light of my life too, so funny, cute & kind! :-)

Nutrigrainygoodness · 03/12/2022 18:59

Dd is 13 and is my favourite person. She's funny, kind, helpful, just the best basically. She doesn't spend all of her time in her room, doesnt shout at me (yet). She volunteers one night a week after school. She doesn't mind being seen in public with me 😂 we still sing and dance together and act like idiots and laugh so hard.

softpilllow · 03/12/2022 19:00

I have been through it with 2 and tbh they have never given me any bother at all. I have been very fortunate to enjoy each 'stage' of my children, some have been harder then others of course, but not because of their behaviour really.

rookiemere · 03/12/2022 19:00

Mine - DS16 - has his moments, but beginning to see some signs of a fine young man.
At school unprompted, he tried to help out someone he used to hang out with many years ago who has lost his way. Didn't help and he told me that he felt sorry for his parents Shock.
He's also being much more mature about Christmas Day than DH is as my octogenarian DM is giving us the runaround in terms of venue. DH is moaning about having to go to theres and not getting decent food ( don't worry this is now resolved and we can bring things with us) but DS was actually so sweet and said " I know Granny and Grandad are old, so whatever we need to do on the day is fine with me"

peaceandove · 03/12/2022 19:02

My teen DDs are 18 & 19. They are just lovely and I really, really like them as well as love them. They both did very well at their girls' grammar school, had nice friends, got excellent exam results. They're both now at good universities, doing well and very happy. Both their boyfriends (long term) are adorable. They've never given us a moment's worry, really.

It's just always very easy and relaxed being with them.

Original poster
TinfoilTwat · 03/12/2022 19:08

Nutrigrainygoodness · 03/12/2022 18:59

Dd is 13 and is my favourite person. She's funny, kind, helpful, just the best basically. She doesn't spend all of her time in her room, doesnt shout at me (yet). She volunteers one night a week after school. She doesn't mind being seen in public with me 😂 we still sing and dance together and act like idiots and laugh so hard.

Yes, I laugh as hard with my teenage dd as I used to laugh with my bff when we were at highschool.

And my teens have never shouted at me. We do fall out, of course, but there's no shouting or slamming doors. Fairly certain these words will come back to haunt me as by far my most dramatic and emotional child is only 10 😆

OP posts:
Goldenbear · 03/12/2022 19:11

My DS, 15 is so so funny, could definitely be a comedian. He has a huge heart and is so charismatic, I'm just in awe of him but feel the same about my 11 year old.

SpentDandelion · 03/12/2022 19:11

Most teenagers l know or come into contact with are very hardworking and decent.
I don't think parents give themselves enough credit, l always like to tell other parents they done a great job, and l mean it. Parenting in these times is not easy.
I am enormously proud of my own two, they are incredibly kind and respectful.

Original poster
TinfoilTwat · 03/12/2022 19:19

Agreed, SpentDandelion. My own are great, but all their friends are lovely too. It's a pleasure to have a houseful of them.

OP posts:
ALittleBitofVitriol · 03/12/2022 19:20

My ds15 is a remarkable kid. Sweet, hard-working, motivated, pleasant, helpful. Does well with school, does his chores without reminding, adores his baby brother.
Been through the wringer with the 17yo this year, don't know how we raised two completely opposite kids...

Middledazedted · 03/12/2022 19:24

Mine are gorgeous. Funny and friendly and kind. Have never stopped yelling ‘love you’ as anyone leaves the house. I especially enjoy this when my bearded big boy yells this in triplicate naming names as he waves like he is still a toddler. During the party he held in the summer they remained glorious and the one very pissed mate was well cared for. The mates are all great humans. Way more fun than most adults.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 03/12/2022 19:35

Mine aren’t too bad. They got advent calendars and felt bad as I didn’t have one. On their way home from school to get the bus they popped into Sainsbury’s and bought me one.
I get a cup of tea made for me now and then. If I say my shoulders hurt I get a massage.
But, today they fought like cat and dog and drove me bonkers in the car.
I am lucky that we talk and they tell me things, because they know that I’ll help them and guide them. We have little ‘chats’ if things are bothering them.

Hairyfairy01 · 03/12/2022 19:36

My 15 year old will always empty the dishwasher when asked, is kind to his younger sister, and has never raised his voice. He is not a straight A student by any means but revises for exams and tries his best.
12 year old dd can be a madam but swims competitively and will still allow me to take her to the cinema / shopping. She also volunteers for a charity.
Neither are perfect but I don't think they are too bad. To be honest, i think a lot is down to luck. I was a horrendous teenager but my mum was great (although I never realised that at the time) x

Comedycook · 03/12/2022 19:39

My ds 14 is a bloody nightmare at home...rude, ungrateful and full of backchat. However, outside of the house, he's polite and behaves himself nicely. That'll do.

JT69 · 03/12/2022 19:40

Mine are great too. Get a few eye rolls but they are funny, respectful, hard working and caring. My finest accomplishment.

WeAllHaveWings · 03/12/2022 19:41

Ds(18) is lovely. Has always given the best hugs, even though they are big man ones now and he towers above me. Always been helpful when asked, never argued with me (although he has a mean eyeroll combined with an evil smirk). We have let him have quite a bit of freedom, but mainly because he has a great group of friends that look out for each other, learns from mistakes (and he has made a few!) and usually makes good decisions. Has a equally lovely gf he has been seeing for a year and never any drama. He worked hard and did well in exams, works PT to earn money, now at uni. He approached lockdown in his exam years with a glass half full mindset pulling out positives even during tough times when we were all dealing with a bereavement. He has a couple of minor medical issues he manages maturely.

I would like to boast and say this is all down to my superior parenting, but I know I was just very lucky to be blessed with him.

Courgettecity · 03/12/2022 19:42

My favourite thing is being with my 3 teens. I'd quite like the eldest to not go on about politics quite so much, the middle one could be a lot tidier and the baby one sometimes needs to realise it's ok to be wrong, but they are still the best people I know.

converseandjeans · 03/12/2022 19:48

I like my teens DS13 & DD14. They argue occasionally (well most days). They are polite & ask if they can have snacks, don't ask for stuff & both are doing ok in school.

I teach teenagers and find them interesting & funny. They get a bad press I find. There's never a dull moment in school.

NopeNotHere · 03/12/2022 19:51

My youngest 15yo is kind and generous. She has just cooked dinner for us and plopped a warm blanket on my cold feet. My eldest, 17, is studying upstairs. She works hard and gets great grades. Both of them have lovely boyfriends. They are all funny bright and a joy to spend time with, We have just decorated the Christmas tree together and bring out all their childhood hand made decorations and remember each year. It’s lovely being their mum. Ps. Disclaimer … we are always short of teaspoons and forks and it’s better if I don’t mention bedrooms and socks.

ShowOfHands · 03/12/2022 19:56

15yr old DD is a joy to know. She is passionate, curious, kind and driven. She is good company, funny, thoughtful and blossoming into a truly wonderful person.

I teach secondary and have to say, teenagers are marvellous. I am privileged to watch them grow and enjoy their company immensely. Some of them have real challenges and you see it in their behaviour but I'm yet to meet one who doesn't have a pure spark of unadulterated humanity. Some days I search hard to find it in a mire of attitude but it's always there.