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How do your teens treat you/siblings?

12 replies

StaffDesktop · 23/08/2026 21:46

DS1 and I fall out everyday, not huge screaming matches, but definitely raised voices and it really hurts and I want to do better for him. DS1 is nearly 16, DS2 is 11 and has an AuDHD diagnosis (this might be relevant). DS1 gets annoyed by us (this could be something as trivial as me asking how his day was or today I asked if he wanted a lift), and calls us names, fat, massive, huge, weird, he regularly calls me useless, an idiot, stupid. He says I'm a bad mum. He will hit DS2 (and he is tall and muscular), he Will also hit me in a jesty way when I annoy him. He has never been in trouble in or out of school and his exams results were all As and Bs.

I taxi him around, cook, clean, provide, listen, cheer him on, tell him I love him everyday. I am trying to sell our house so we can move closer to his friends and the school. But I can feel uneasy in his presence, like he might get annoyed (this can be as trivial as asking how is day was, or today he got annoyed because I offered him a lift). I don't feel like this woth DS2. He has stopped wanting to spend any time at his Dad's. I have offered him private therapy, no, we had a family therapist and he wouldn't engage. It feels very similar to living with an angry man.

I really really care about being a good mum, I was only 22 when I had DS1 and our circumstances weren't easy.

Are all teens horrible and mean to their family? I want to be better for him, I want him to be happy.

OP posts:
TrunkElliot · 23/08/2026 21:52

He’s a brat. I would not tolerate him hitting anyone or using abusive language.

Titsywoo · 23/08/2026 21:57

No sorry my kids are not like this and would never raise their voice to me or call me names. Mine are 21 and 19 now and can be moody (well not the 21 year old anymore) but never disrespectful. It is probably harder as a single parent with no back up - what does his Dad say to him about his behaviour towards you?

nf4t1mf · 23/08/2026 22:09

What did I just read? How on earth have you let this happen? What do you say when he calls you fat, weird or huge? My son wouldn’t so much as dare grunt at me. You do not accept this. I was 22 when I had my son, there is NO excuse for this.

You have a duty of care to your younger child to NOT tolerate this.

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StaffDesktop · 23/08/2026 22:23

I love DS1 and find it shameful that I can feel on edge around him at times. I don't think I've been a bad mum, I certainly should have done better at times but I have always always put the boys first (as mums tend to do). It affects my confidence which is already pretty low, I find it difficult to then go into work and manage people and cases when my own son thinks I'm a piece of dirt. DS2 and i are both a little overweight and DS1 picks at this constantly. I feel sad for DS1, I can only think this is my fault. I have been on my own for years, and I'm estranged from my family as they are not safe. I feel I have to make up for all this. We have all been through a lot, but Conversely, DS2 and I are very close. DS1 has also become extremely intolerant towards our senior dog. His Dad is uninterested, he doesn't express any curiosity about why DS1 isn't spending time there.

I'm quite sad to read that other people's teens wouldn't dream of behaving this way. Of course, I'm pleased its not rampant, but its sad that mine is so angry.

OP posts:
Om83 · 23/08/2026 22:23

The way he treats you is outrageous! It sounds like he knows he can walk all over you as you are still his skivvy and tell him you love him. Teens need boundaries, they push against things and you need to hold firm.

and why are you moving for him?? That is soo much money to waste when he is surely not going to be at that school and driving soon??

please teach him some respect, whatever you have to do to show him his behaviour has consequences, and not that he can get away with everything. I feel sorry for his future partner!!

Pinkissmart · 23/08/2026 22:57

He really, really shouldn’t be treating you this way.

Keep your cool , but calmly insist he not speak to you that way.

ShetlandishMum · 23/08/2026 23:00

Being ND isn't an excuse to treat people like this. Set boundries.

CherryBlossom321 · 23/08/2026 23:12

My teens were at times a bit snippy - occasionally rude in the developmentally expected way, but I was never afraid of them and they never lashed out physically. Those things are not acceptable.

LaylaSun77 · 23/08/2026 23:19

I’m very sorry to hear you’re going through this OP. Is his dad like this towards you? My ex husband was and still is very very disrespectful towards me so my DS picks up on this and imitates it. It’s really difficult to be in this kind of relationship.. you love your child unconditionally but sometimes they can abuse their parent. There are some books on parenting aggressive / hostile children. These might help. Therapy might also really help too - even for you if he won’t engage. I find the “grey rock” approach to be quite effective… but there is probably so much more to this story and you probably need lots of advice and support. I hope you’re ok as this can really take its toll on you dealing with this every day.

FaceIt · 23/08/2026 23:22

Stop bending over backwards for him, it won’t make him love you or respect you.

A calm talk next time he tries to intimidate you or your younger DS, and tell him there will be consequences like no lifts for example etc., and stick to it.

Why are you moving for the bully? Don’t until he stops this shitty behaviour.
He’s got full control as it stands.

LaylaSun77 · 23/08/2026 23:22

Please don’t blame yourself. There is likely a lot going on here. You need lots of support and don’t need this in your life. Help is out there. Even the likes of women’s aid or ask your GP for some support?

MummyOre · 23/08/2026 23:46

I have 3 son's. They have never ever spoken to me as you describe.
No one uses their hands on another in this house.
I'm shocked you think this is acceptable at any level. His grades are irrelevant.

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