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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

absolutely vile 12 year old, please help me get through this

66 replies

woahthere · 02/04/2011 10:45

My son is 12 years old, he is being an absolutely vile, horrible, rude little git. Please help me and advise me what to do so I dont a) have a stroke through stress, b) punch him c) do somethiing i will seriously regret. It does not matter what nice things I do for him, it does not matter what punishment strategies I use, he does not give a shit about anything or anyone or how he is affecting us all. He is about to go away on an expensive trip with school and despite the fact we have asked him time and time again to get his stuff ready, he wanders off and comes back having done nothing, he is looking at us as though we are completely awful people and totally unreasonable even though it is a trip for him and his benefit. Ther other day I found out hed stolen money from his little brothers money box and even though hed done something really wrong and horrible he still thought he could get away with talking to us with an attitude, he backbites about everything and has an attitiude about everything, I cant take it anymore. I have now got to the point where i have just said that if he does one more thing then he cant go on his trip, its that bad. I need mums that have been throught this to help me and tell me what to do please....

OP posts:
TheVisitor · 02/04/2011 13:11

I have three 12 year olds, 2 boys and one woman in training. I want to leave home frequently.

springydaffs · 02/04/2011 13:25

Sympathy vibes flying your way OP. Is supernanny doing a teen series yet? Please hurry up if not Jo.

If you are screechy and/or authoritarian, they will defy you as a matter of principle. Don't ever get upset or you've lost from the start. I was an horrendous teen (apparently) but there was some stuff going on at school that nobody knew about and I didn't know how to tell anyone. Agree that the move to secondary could well have a bearing on how he is behaving - you could try to find out if all is well on the school front? (don't do it obviously though). ime the teen years require totally different parenting skills and the shift can be very challenging for the parents, threatening our sense of being in control/in charge. There is a decided insurgency on the part of the 'teen' too - peers can also have a huge bearing on their behaviour. They can hugely undermine family peace, causing tremendous stress in all family members - though they can't see it and, anyway, aren't interested. Teens are almost autistic sometimes, totally one track (or maybe two if you're lucky) - this is probably neural in origin iyswim, the body going through vast changes, the brain lagging behind.

ime boys generally respond well if you're doing something with them, and don't respond well to talking. Find some things you can do together - preferably fun initially - and take time out for one-on-one. You don't have to be aiming for huge breakthroughs or addressing The Problem (him, his behaviour) but literally one-on-one time together, even if the convo is sparse (which it probably will be), even if it's for half an hour bursts, though hopefully aim for longer. I agree that packing a suitcase is a task too far for a teen boy (or pre-teen boy in your case) - he probably has no idea where to start, no idea of planning - and, anyway, isn't interested. Don't make him feel stupid for this - he probably feels stupid enough already. I think that cancelling the trip may be too harsh but impossible to say in the circumstances. The one thing you do need to do though is stop shrieking (even internally) and getting upset - this is petrol on flames. You have to be a rock, immovable, unflappable, a plank of wood, calm, pleasant.

Impossible to cram insights I may have gained in a few paras though - we're all different, all our families different etc anyway. ime the teen years are like a hurricane at sea: you put in place the boundaries, enforce them (even though your voice seems to be lost in the howling winds) and generally batten down the hatches until it's over. You'd be surprised how much they hear, how much goes in. If all they're hearing is negative they try to tune out but, actually, get quite despondent at the repeated message that they're totally crap in every possible way. They respect us more than we think or is obvious. They also need us much more than they or we realise. They need boundaries like a dying man and it is essential they get them and that they are enforced.. with kid gloves. Good luck OP.

princessparty · 02/04/2011 13:42

Springdaffy's post is spot on and I agree with everything she has said.At the risk of sounding matronly the one thing I would add is that fresh air and exercise seems to be have an amazing calming influence on teens.

diddl · 02/04/2011 13:50

Oh your poor thing!

Sounds like an idea to discuss what he needs for his trip.

I have a perfectly lovely 15yr old son.

But my 13yr old daughter ranges from unreasonable all the time to absolutely bloody awful when shes on her period!

springydaffs · 02/04/2011 14:15

thank you princess. One thing I should add: teens often respond slowly to verbal cues - so count, slowly, in your head while you wait for a reply. don't jump in thinking they're sassing you, it literally takes time for them to process what you are saying and to formulate a reply. Sometimes I have had to count, slowly, to 15 or more before a reply comes and, as it was unforced, it can be quite clear and surprisingly reasonable.

oh, and the one-on-one time together - don't make it obvious, as they may be slow to follow verbal cues but can, like lightening, spot a technique at 20 paces!

lesley33 · 02/04/2011 14:17

I do remember being angry at my mum when she asked me to do something and I had no idea how to do it. If I ever said this, I would just be told its common sense. I know its really really difficult to live with children behaving like this day after day; but I do wonder if some other posters are right and he genuinely doesn't know what stuff to get ready.

Parmallama · 02/04/2011 14:24

Sounds perfectly normal to me!

Parmallama · 02/04/2011 14:26

Sorry, forgot to add...I do think some strong discipline is in order. He has to learn that there are consequences to his bad behaviour, and if he can't get things ready and help then he doesn't deserve to go.

I would give him one last chance. Tell him what will happen if he doesn't start cooperating...and then stick by your decision.

charmum3 · 02/04/2011 14:28

hes tweleve its his job to be vile, my advice pick your fights, pick a few things that u will not put up with and stick to them, other than that u have to ride the wave, good luckxxxx

Parmallama · 02/04/2011 14:30

I do think he should be working (doing some chores) to pay back the money he stole from his little brother. Another consequences thing...

amicissima · 02/04/2011 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Galaxys · 02/04/2011 15:06

woahthere I have a 12yr old ds & we are going through hell with him ATM
It's been so bad this week that Dh has not spoken to ds since Thursday when ds told dh to P### off because dh asked him to help him unload the shopping from the car Sad Ds refuses to apologise & dh will not talk to him until he does . Nothing in the way of punishment seems to work with him & he tells us to shut up / get lost etc if he is asked to do anything .
We always feel stressed out & upset & i have recently been put on medication for high blood pressure as a result .
I just wanted you to know you are not going through this alone . I will watch this thread carefully too .

Deliainthemaking · 02/04/2011 15:13

My dad used to lock me under the stars hth

no seriously....

(perhaps not)

flyingspaghettimonster · 02/04/2011 15:49

I'd pack his bag for him, with a teddy bear, some 'wet the bed' pads, embarrassing new pyjamas and fluffy bunny slippers, a toothbrush with a cartoon character on it and tee shirts etc that he will be embarrassed to wear. That would help me deal with my anger towards his behaviour and let him know he cannot win against me...

Not helpful,, maybe, but it would be my plan of attack. I certainly wouldn't stop him going on the trip - he knows you won't do that, so stop threatening it. I try not to make threats I wouldn't uphold. And best of luck - I have an obnoxious 5 year old who is never happy no matter what we do for him - we are only just starting to see the light with him...

wheredidyoulastseeit · 02/04/2011 15:51

When my son had his first big trip in year 7 we started packing a few days in advance, discussed what he needed, looked at the list, went shopping for new toiletries, underwear etc. it was really exciting, and took quite a lot of input. He probably learnt something about planning ahead, but he definitely didn't have the skills to do it by himself, plus we could talk about things that he might need to know about passports, who he would be sharing a room, with time differences, what sort of food to expect. All sorts of things could be bothering your son

wheredidyoulastseeit · 02/04/2011 15:57

You have two choices embarrass him so that he never wants to come home as others suggest or make it easy for the two of you.
What do you think is the best outcome - a hurt stropy child who has been left on his own to prepare for his first major trip. Or a confident child who feels fully prepared for his first big trip away from home with all the right essentials and parents who take time to talk ( and listen) to him and are happy for him to go and enjoy himself. You might even find that you enjoy helping him.

SpringHeeledJack · 02/04/2011 16:07

nothing helpful to add-I've got one of these myself, OP, so share your pain

am marking my place on here to read properly later as it looks like there's a lot of helpful advice

I would say that, whatever you do, I wouldn't cancel his trip as some have suggested- that'll only escalate things and then he'll feel really persecuted...

Mandy2003 · 02/04/2011 16:20

My DS had a week away with the school in Yr6. I packed for him (I know, I know) and when he got back at the end of the week I noticed he was a bit, well, whiffy. When he took his shoes off - OMG the stench! I hadn't known he was capable of sweating up till then!!

It turned out that because they were getting a prize for the tidiest dorm room, he had the bright idea for his team that none of them should unpack or change their clothes! They did win, but at what cost Biscuit

Recently (now in his 13th year) he asked whether it was normal to have mood swings at his age. I had to say yes it is Sad

Sassy2131 · 02/04/2011 17:13

not all teenagers are horrible moody shits!
I'm 22 - so not far off from coming out of the teens - I was never a nasty, moody awful bad mannered teen.
I have always been concientious and concerned for other people's feelings and have always been willing to help other people and am a generally nice person.
and it's not always hormones that are the problem - it could have all sorts of factors for him behaving like this, it could be the tv, a lot of programmes now show "teens" being angry and depressed and angry at parents for no reason.
it could also be his friends at school influencing him in some way?
only one suggestion I can think of is to sit him down and calmly and politely remind him he is your son and you would like to be able to speak to him and have a chat, and ask him nicely if there is anything you can help him with.
just let him know you are there for him, not someone to be hated. - try having a heart to heart with him, instead of kicking off!

FabbyChic · 02/04/2011 17:34

I've had two 12 year olds, and neither of them ever gave me any grief, not once. My eldest has never answered me back and he is now 23, my youngest is 17 and only does it now when he doesn't agree with me, generally though unfortunately he is right.

Galaxys · 02/04/2011 18:50
Grin
springydaffs · 02/04/2011 19:19

and I got pg twice, both times planned, first time we tried each time ie I got pg immediately we started trying. Perhaps I should post that on the TTC threads, yep that would be encouraging for them fabby

springydaffs · 02/04/2011 19:23

wheredidyoulast - total difference between Y7 AND Y8 - or whenever puberty kicks in. I watched my ds' football teams play from the year dot practically - you couldn't believe it was the same kids when puberty kicked in and they were like totally different people - from bopping, sprightly, keen kids bouncing on the balls of their feet, to a ramshackle, totally divvy group of kids who behaved like they were brain damaged.

WereOffToSeeTheWizard · 02/04/2011 19:29

NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
No advice but my ds is 2 and absolutely adores me, he's funny, makes everyone laugh and most of the time does as he's told.
Are you telling me this will change ?

SpringHeeledJack · 02/04/2011 19:53

I looked at a neighbour's 8 wk old baby today as he wrinkled his little face up. Something in his expression sucked me right back to when ds was the same age

was just about to mention likeness to ds, when I noticed his 13 yo sullen cast and blank eyes and thought better of it

Grin