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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Nice thread about preteens and teenagers

49 replies

velourvoyageur · 02/07/2015 12:47

Heard a few too many less than positive comments about teenagers recently, and we know deep down they're lovely...so thought maybe a place for some not-so stealth boasting after end of year exams, GCSEs, AS and A2s etc could be nice :)

My cousin is nearly 12 and he's a lovely funny caring sort of chap - he's friends with everyone young and old. He's grown up so much lately and is fab company. And after being warned several times he was going to be held back, he got his report back recently and he's going up a year with the rest of his class in Sept, he's very chuffed.

Over to you lot!

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todayisayesterdaystomorrow · 02/07/2015 12:55

What a nice thread to start,
Not all teenagers go off the rails so to speak, I know few that are very polite, funny people, my own two teenagers included.

todayisayesterdaystomorrow · 02/07/2015 12:56

A few. I meant I know a few,

mumofthemonsters808 · 02/07/2015 13:10

Sorry, its not an academic one, but I had a garden full of teenagers yesterday and they all had a ball in the paddling pool (it is a large pool type thing) of all places. They were all very well mannered and behaved, it was great to hear their laughter and screams of joy and just see them having fun. DS (5) loved being in their company and took great delight being in charge of the hose pipe. DD tells me she is bringing them again when the sunshine returns.

Kitsandkids · 02/07/2015 13:14

My 16 year old nephew thinks he's so 'grown up' and can be found getting drunk at parties and has recently started smoking.

But, he also kept my 7 year old and his friends entertained by playing with them in the soft play at his birthday party, I know that if I need an extra person to come and give me a hand with my kids (in the swimming pool for example) he is always willing and eager, he took them to a sporting event and joined in with them (because I was basicallyt too lazy to do it), my kids love him and he is generally just a lovely, friendly, cheerful boy.

I just hope he realises soon that smoking is not big or clever!

CreepyLittleBat · 02/07/2015 13:21

I am an activity leader for all ages up to 16, and am impressed and delighted on a weekly basis by the teenagers - they work so hard in and out of school, in bands or shows or at sports, and have ambitions that amaze me, as at 13/14 I hadn't decided what A levels to do, let alone about careers! Four of them are unable to be at our end of term presentation, so haven't been able to have actual parts. They have turned up every week, helped the others and all the staff immeasurably, and never grumbled. I know what the other side can be - remember it well - but I won't ever let people bitch about teenagers without challenging it.

TheHouseOnBellSt · 02/07/2015 13:24

Oh yes well...my friend (a woman in her late 50s) was cycling over a bridge the other week, when two other cyclists (in full gear) came speeding towards her...they didn't slow even though she did...they knocked her off her bike and her hand was badly cut...her face was scratched.

They rode off!

Nearby was a bunch of lads aged about 16...her first thought was that they would laugh at her but no!

Two ran after the cyclists and the others came and picked her up and made sure she was ok.

The lads made the cyclists (middle aged men!) return and say sorry!

She was fine...but not the point...those lads were just gorgeous and got her to a shop where she could have some first aid.

ghostyslovesheep · 02/07/2015 13:34

my very very hormonal almost 11 year spent 2 hours last Sat teaching her little sister and her friend to make shortbread

My 12 year old can be very loving and writes angry letters to David Cameron!

Ev1lEdna · 02/07/2015 14:24

Well I'm not going to stealth boast as I don't have teens. I do teach them though and the vast majority of them are lovely and helpful. I really like teenagers, many of those I meet are positive, interesting people who I am pleased to have known. I love it when the girls get into feminism and really understand what it is all about and work towards making the place better but it isn't just the girls. The boys see injustice and write about it or talk to me about it and it is so great to see how much they care. I think teens and pre-teens are often painted negatively and it is a shame by no means are they all (or even most) like that.

WizardOfToss · 02/07/2015 14:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tomatodizzymum · 02/07/2015 14:29

My 12 year old and his friends are great, they recently arranged a surprise leaving party for their classmate who moved to Switzerland. They arranged it themselves, clubed together and ordered party food from a local woman who delivered it to their classroom in time for their party. Their friend was really touched.

TheWordFactory · 02/07/2015 14:31

I have two almost 16 year olds and they're lovely.

Worked hard for their GCSEs. Didn't whinge or get annoyed.

Perfectly amendable with Nan.

Grateful for food, lifts, cash etc. Not embarrassed of me.

Their mates are mostly fab too. Well mannered, cheerful lot.

toomuchtooold · 02/07/2015 14:40

Thanks for starting this thread! I don't have teenagers, I have two 3 year olds, and it is lovely to hear some counterexamples of all those harbingers of doom who tell you, as you peel your yelling overheated toddler off the floor, "it never really gets easier, just wait till they're teenagers".

Original poster

velourvoyageur · 02/07/2015 18:11

Wizard you're quite right! I noticed after I posted, sorry guys :) (exams over =day drinking)

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Original poster

velourvoyageur · 02/07/2015 18:15

these are all lovely by the way!

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DrankSangriaInThePark · 02/07/2015 18:16

I have an 11 yr old and she's fab because I made her
I also teach 150 14, 15 and 16 yr olds and I bloody love them. They are just so vital and in their prime and have so much to say. (I do have to rein them in at times, we did debates recently and I had to suggest to 2 girls that going to interview a prostitute on a Saturday afternoon might not be the best way to get a first hand account...)

SilentBob · 02/07/2015 18:21

My daughter is truly fabulous. She's 17 and thinks nothing of having her boyfriend over for the weekend and, shock horror, spending it with me and my partner. We watch Netflix, play board games, Cook great food together, bake, eat, drink and be merry and generally have an absolute whale of a time.

I am truly amazed that she has turned out so bloody lovely.

She is at college doing well at a levels and has a part-time job which she takes very seriously and enjoys immensely.

We can also talk about absolutely anything and her friends often come to me for advice, which I take as a commendation that she is not embarrassed by me!

She's awesome she is!

MumoftheBoyandtheGirl · 02/07/2015 18:25

I took 40yr 7s to the zoo today. All of them were very polite, well behaved and a pleasure to take (better behaved than the private school kids who were also there).

TeenAndTween · 02/07/2015 18:36

We had our primary fete last weekend. I was wandering around helping when I suddenly heard my soon-to-be 16yo on the PA system announcing raffle tickets. Beautifully confident, and beautifully clear. I was very proud of her.

madhairday · 02/07/2015 18:46

My 14 year old dd is fab.

The other day she had a robust debate with a boy at school who was saying no one should have benefits and disabled people are making it all up. She set him straight and her science teacher who overheard told her he was really proud of her :)

She is dyspraxic and has two other chronic conditions but doesn't let them get her down. She's so positive and bubbly, always the first to offer help to people and so kind. She looks after me (chronically ill) so nicely without moaning (well, most of the time!)

Her friends are lovely too, just such nice kids, a real pleasure to have around.

She's going on a first date on saturday - she's all growing up.

She's been nominated for a sports award at her school for the third year in a row. She got to the national cross country finals which was such an incredible achievement for a person with dyspraxia.

I'm so proud of her I could burst sometimes.

wickedwaterwitch · 02/07/2015 18:49

Oh yes please. My son is 18 this year and is kind, funny and charming. I adore him and really will miss him when he moves out, but really hope he goes to university in London so he's not too far away. His friends are great too.

Theas18 · 02/07/2015 18:50

What can I say? Mine are lovely :)

Yeah they stay in bed all day stink and eat the fridge empty (yes ds I kniw its you) but..

19yr old ds and his luffly gf spent Monday morning with my dad ( who has dementia) reminiscing about holidays past etc. He even remember it today and told me " our lad and his nice little girl were smashing" ( Yep she's teeny!). He walked up the road in the rain to get loo rolls today and has gone to rehearse barbershop fit a charity concert on Saturday . He has a proper beautiful bass singing voice now too. Recent concert solo was kind of " where is that coming from...oh it's DS".

Dd2 finished her gcses. Back singing At cathedral with her usual commitment and loveliness. Starting to get solos too :) oh, this weeks excitement - went to othello at Stratford with her mates family - so excited about it - haven't seen her since though.

Eldest not a teen now, but an amazing proper grown up. Singing fantastically ( same choir as ds). Working hard at her MA and has a funded Phd for oct so will be financially independent !

Theas18 · 02/07/2015 19:00

Absolutely lovely thread btw. I'm loving hearing about all the kids. Teens get such a bad press - I work with lots at work who are from socially deprived backgrounds, and yes the odd one is asbo material, but mostly behind the hoods and occaisional punctuating f word ( which is normal daily speach for thrm and their parents) they are a lovely set of nearly adults who are respectful, appropriately behaved and kind.

Original poster

velourvoyageur · 02/07/2015 19:04

Silent you sound like Gilmore Girls (Rory, Dean, Max and Lorelai) (and that is a huge compliment )

madhair first date, how exciting! hope she has lots of fun and you have a good time helping her with the getting ready beforehand

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Smashie11 · 02/07/2015 19:06

I have had food poisoning for the last week and I don't know what I would have done without my 14yr DD. She has fetched things for me, kept me topped up with water, helped look after her little brother and cooked the dinner for herself and siblings (only pizza or chicken nuggets but still good effort).
Tonight she made a lovely dinner for the whole family (me included as feeling a little better). So proud of the lovely women she is becoming

lljkk · 02/07/2015 19:06

(they can drive me mad but also)

they are so funny. I mean really really mind-blastingly funny and fun.

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