To be looking forward to the teen years?

[slatternlymother]

And I'm not wishing the time away. I'm not.

DS is 2 and genuinely a nice child; I enjoy looking after him and we all get on really well as a family.

But sometimes I look forward to the days when we can chat about stuff, go to the cinema to see a movie we'll all enjoy and take him out for a proper meal. Peppa Pig (and the constant chatter about it) can be a bit wearing...

AIBU? Tell me about your lovely teens

You are definitely not being unreasonable- it's the best age, in my opinion.

Just bear in mind that many teens won't be seen dead going out with their parents.

It is lovely when they chat to you if you can overlook 'like' every third word and ignore 'totes' and 'lol' said as a word

In my experience 8-12 is lovely, old enough to do the things you mention like cinema and trips etc . You can have great conversations at this age , they are starting to have opinions about the world and I have found each time it's like discovering things anew.

What is this going out in public with your teen, that you speak of?

My teen talks at me. It's like a machine gun.

That said I can really enjoy his company on a regular basis.

I loved my childrens teen years, definitely the best years.

YY to the 8-12 age bracket, before they get all hormonal and think you're the most embarrassing thing, like, EVAH.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Ha.

as mum of a 16 yr old DD YADNBU.. it's brilliant!

ddtwins are nearly 14 now but still think boys are horrid (thank god). They're mostly lovely, they are also self-breakfasting, self dressing and 50% self bedroom tidying.

Its a shame teenagers get shown in such a poor light on MN.

Op - Ha Ha Ha!
They won't want to talk to you when they are teens except when asking for money & lifts.
They then improve when they have gone off to university and get to be quite nice human beings by their mid-20s.
7-11 junior school age is good.
(My DSs weren't too bad as teenagers, but had better things to do than talk to aged parents).

Ha! Just dropped dd and her friends at the cinema.
Any contributions I tried to make to the conversation were definitely unwelcome
She is 12, btw.

I love my teens. DS1 will be 18 on Friday, he is the most pleasant young man, with a wicked sense of humour. We can, and do, talk for hours and hours. I hate the fact that come September he will be off to Uni, I shall miss him so, so much!

DS2 will be 16 on Christmas Eve. He is wonderful too. He tells everyone I am his best friend, he had girl friend troubles and asked for my advice, he will come to concerts, the cinema, anywhere with me. DH is going away for 4 months just as DS1 goes off to Uni, DS2 says it is going to be like being housemate with his best friend when we are on our own. He is even hoping we have a little trip away!

I have absolutely loved the teen years, definitely the best years for me.

I'm so enjoying the teenage years too, we have a good giggle,lots of nice chats and some lovely days out.

I've always been able to chat to my teens.

schlock I fully understand I will have to resort to bribery to get him to come out with me

YANBU - I love the way my teens take the mick out of me and make me laugh. Witty little feckers, they are!

I get a bit of dust in my eye when I look at them and can see the fine women they're turning into plus it's great to able to relax a bit and be more myself around them, without having to set a good example all the ruddy time

MsElleTow - that's so lovely! My eldest girl left for uni in September and it's the strangest feeling. Half of me is still here but half of me is wherever she is. Bonkers! :)

usual I think teens get shown in a bad light everywhere!

See, everyone told me having a newborn was awful, then it was 'wait until he walks, it'll be dreadful' and 'talking?! Horrendous! Just you wait!' And it wasn't bad. And the toddler bit just isn't that bad either. There are shit bits, but you get shit bits in life really, regardless of children I think.

I've just been, oh so politely, ooshed out of the other sitting room, as they have two Dear Little Friends round for watching dvds, eating sweets and giggling all bloody night a sleepover.

almost yes, DS isn't a runner so I don't have to glue myself to him, but DH and I are constantly watching him, checking him, correcting him and watching our own behaviour to set a good example... I love him, the way he is and how he's changed me for the better but I'm looking forward to the young man he will become.

you don't need to wait for teens, junior school age is great for all those things. I don't have experience of teens yet.

YANBU to look forward to the less mind numbing stuff necessary with toddlers but will also NBU when you have a teen to look backward and wish you could still cuddle up with Peppa Pig with them.

My eldest is 17 and I will be in bits when he leaves for Uni. We had a few wobbles age 13-15 but every stage has pretty much been good with him and enjoyable. We are not BFFs, he doesn't share much but we still do stuff together and have endless debates. He is a nice kid, like your DS. His sister, on the other hand.....

Oh and I have a toddler too, so still not rid of Peppa .