What do your teens do when they get home from school?

[sandyballs]

My 13 year olds have just walked in, moaned that there is nothing in the fridge, asking if we are poor as everyone else has loads of goodies constantly on tap to eat.

One of them then moaned about a day out we have planned for tom, saying she prob wasn't coming with us. Another moan about school, whilst making piles of toast.

They are now plonked on the sofa on their ipads. Any conversation I try to initiate is answered by one word, if at all, and I've been accused of going on and on and hassling them, just because I'm showing an interest in their school day.

I know this is all reasonably normal at their age, but just felt a bit wistful about the days they'd rush home and we'd go to the park or to get an ice cream, or to visit nana, and they'd chatter non stop. Although thinking about it I probably moaned about that. .

13 year old DS.

Comes in, blazer off, bags down and gives me a kiss and cuddle. Grabs a snack if hungry.

Me: "Did you have a good day at school?".
DS: "It was calm Mum, calm". Calm? !

or " Teacher x is blah, blah, blah and me and so and so got shouted at for nothing, so unfair, I was only telling x about y and ...............".

Then he goes off to the kitchen and spends the rest of his evening in there. Not that he's a budding chef or anything. We have a small area in there with t.v, dvd's, gaming chair and console etc, so he's on his PS3 for the rest of the evening, chatting with his school friends online or watching old war films (current obsession).

At least he's downstairs though and not stuck up in his room, so we have the opportunity to have random chats about anything and everything throughout the evening.

He does still come to me for random cuddles.

He can also be very moody, not wanting to talk, just wanting to be left alone.

I have found lately that if me and his sisters (DTD's age 10) have plans to go anywhere after school then he is not interested in coming with us, whereas a year ago he would have. Fine by me, he just stays home and chills.

I have a teenagers and a toddler - they take it in turns to tantrum , strop and hunt for snacks !

14yo is a bedbug. Scurries to his crevice & only emerges to feed or toilet.

Mine (ds' 14 and 12) come home and rush to the toilet to poo,having left a trail of coat, bag, tie, shoes between the front door and the toilet door.

They then head for the kitchen and moan at the lack of suitable snack material, whilst jostling and heckling each other and grunting answers to my questions about their day.

They will then head to their respective games consoles/out to see friends and reconvene only when hungry again. They will bicker their way through tea and then head off back to their games. DS1 has got that if he gets his homework done, it leaves him free time, DS2 is rubbish, keeps trying to delay and moans as I nag him.

That said they are both still quite cuddly and communicative and happy to come and lie all over us in the living room and watch tv with us, whilst arguing with each other through every programme, natch.

This thread is making me that I won't be home for my DCs after school (or indeed to drop them off) as I'll be at work. How do you all manage?

I work from home Keep but I'm pretty rubbish at it, I end up being lazy all day and working until 5am to catch up.

I'm lucky enough to own a second property which I rent out Keep, meaning I have a regular income without needing to going out to work.

Both my teens head straight for the "post-school poo" then it's straight into the fridge/cupboards for a snack (they do wash their hands - I check!). Then they disappear to either bedroom (daughter - 17) or living room to the xbox (son - 13).

Both will generally re-appear soon enough with gossip and tales - I've found the less I ask, the more they tell me. Failing that if there's something I've heard about that I want to know more about I often need to go to the shop and need one of them to help me. I read on here a tip about kids telling you more in a car and can't believe how effective it is! With no pressure of a proper conversation it's amazing how much they'll tell you while you're driving!

Our post-school times are really unstructured. All of my kids do lots of activities so most of our time is based around taking them to places and sorting stuff out. I do think we miss the 'family meal-times' but try to make up for it with lots of general chatting, and I have noticed we do all tend to gravitate towards the kitchen and often the kids will shout one of the others if we're talking about something that either concerns them or they'll have something to say about.

I really hope we informally get a chance to catch up - and obviously if it's anything important then whoever instigates the conversation will demand everyone meets together. The last time it happened was just before I booked the family holiday and wanted to get the final OK from everyone!

DD13 moans she's hungary/races off to turn somersaults on the trampoline (delete accirdung to weather)

Puts on junk TV until the Simpson's (needs more HW, rarely seems to have much. Is rumored by big sister to do it in school. Quite possible, writes very well and very quickly)

Talks if she feels like it, watches You Tube and plays SIMs when she doesn't.

DD1(16) has GCSEs so she has been painting, learning lines, doing maths papers and trying to compose, while still going to Rangers and singing.

If not in a panic, she chats, helps cook and is really good company.

Vanishes to room with headphones on when she wants space, I don't know what she gets up to, but Dr Who and Sherlock figure largely.

DD 2 texts mates and messes on istagram

DD1 facetimes her Ranger friends and does arty things.

You lot are putting me off babies if this is what happens.

Don't be put off Pipbin - teens are lovely - FAR easier than babies.

Legs it up to the loo cos she won't go at school,
hugs me,
inhales whatever food she can find cos she won't stand in the dinner queue,
moans about lack of chocolate,
gives brief run-down of her day
attatches herself to as many screens as possible and starts drawing with earphones in too.

No don't be out off, both of mine still cuddle up on the sofa and fall asleep on my knee sometimes.

DD2 did on Wednesday after a shopping trip and gymnastics (she was on strike)

And DD1 bounced in full of smiles because they used their NUT lessons to finally get their drama fit for the exam.

In fact I much prefer teens to toddlers and a 13y DD2 is way nicer than the very stroppy 9y version.

Toilet
Tea
Toast
Technology (TV/ipad/Xbox)

Then much later if I'm lucky Talk.

(I've learnt that there is no point expecting any conversation at all until they are fed, watered, relaxed and fed again).

Love the four Ts!!

DD (16) had dance lessons after school twice a week , so doesn't get home til after 8pm ( Mums taxi ) when she scoffs macaroni cheese , watches Dance Moms has a shower and goes to bed
Other school nights , gets home eats ham sandwich or chocolate biscuits , sits on sofa watching TV or on iPad .
Eats dinner , does homework , has shower , goes to bed
I can only have a conversation in the car ( captive audience !)

DD age 16 brushes her hair and starts homework.

DD age 13 makes herself a fruit smoothie, takes a shower and starts homework.

We've had eye rolling aplenty this evening. They have freinds over, including my 2 there are 10 of them.

They want To play with the dogs, 4 Germán shepherds with 10 hyper 12yr olds - I said no, DD1 does

Wants To take bikes out in the dark, no,

Pours boiling water into my Precious decorativo glass jug, I said that could break it, use a plástico jug for your home work , moré