To wonder what you do when your dc are older.

[Ivegotyourgoat]

This probably sounds really stupid, but my dc are still little, the eldest is 8. So they are generally both in bed by 8.30pm latest. At which time j usually let out a big sigh of relief, open a giant bar of chocolate and watch TV and spend an hour with dh.

I guess once they're a bit older that time on my own is going to go out of the window. I love my dc to bits but I love my hour or two child free in the evening.

What's it like in your house when they're teens? For example what if you want to watch something unsuitable like an adult drama? Do you just lose your evenings once they're older?

[notoTTIP]

My older teen DS introduced us to Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. We watched them with him so we could have some family time together. Basically once they're 16 you have to make an effort to tempt them to spend time with you.

[BeALert]

Errrr boarding school.

Answer to everything.

[DooWhop]

My youngest are 11&14, my eldest has left home. I'm often in bed before my teen, always asleep before! I don't really get any time alone with DH and haven't for years. We've even taken to walking round to the shops in the evening together just to get 30 minutes peace together
We get weeks behind on grown up to as teen is around but she has started joining us to watch milder stuff.

[corythatwas]

Pixienott0005 Thu 05-May-16 23:16:41

"Christ by reading these posts I dread mine becoming teens. You basically get deafed out for technology."

Not as bad as it sounds. They show you things on Youtube, you watch the telly together, they send you things they think you might enjoy or tell you things they have learned, you go out for meals together, you can have an adult conversation and eat your dinner in a civilised fashion without constantly having to nag about table manners.

[GetAHaircutCarl]

I have two at 16.

They either watch TV with us or, more commonly, watch their own stuff on iPad/play PS/listen to podcasts etc

They usually go to bed around the same time as us.

[motherinferior]

Yes, teenagers are terrific. They can cook supper, read interesting books that you then purloin, and never, ever, inflict puppet shows on you.

[BertrandRussell]

"Yes, teenagers are terrific. They can cook supper, read interesting books that you then purloin, and never, ever, inflict puppet shows on you."



Sadly, however, they still want to play shops. Only with Amazon and your Prime account...............

[SparkleSoiree]

My current teen studies Monday to Friday in her room for 1-2hrs after dinner then spends time on social media with her friends. She may grace us with her presence through the evening, having a nosey to see if we have any lovely treats out! Occasionally she stays over at a friend but generally likes to spend time in her own company or with friends but rarely us.

My eldest child (24) NEVER kept regular hours with us. He lived out of the house, played sport and generally kept busy with his mates in one way or another. Still recall the time we got a 2am phonecall from his friend to go get him as he was singing his heart out at the petrol station (too much cider) and he refused to move.

I'm actually a bit sad when they become older teens as it spells the beginning of their independence journey and closer to the time when they will start thinking of moving out for whatever reason, even if it's only term time. I have one under 13 still but already the house is so much quieter since my son left home and I really miss the laughter, bickering, deep conversations, etc between myself and him or listening to him and his friends messing about upstairs.

Don't wish the time away because when they leave home it is a big wrench.

[GetAHaircutCarl]

They also inhale food.

That four pack of pain chocolate you bought for Saturday morning. Gone by Friday night.

[motherinferior]

Except when they're moaning that there is NOTHING TO EAT IN THE HOUSE, while staring into a fridge packed with unacceptable items....

[motherinferior]

(Oh, and they borrow such items of your clothes as pass muster with them. It's a choice between frumpery and nudity.)

[NewLife4Me]

You make their rooms really appealing from about age 11/12. Decorate to their taste.

Then don't, I repeat don't, do anything else until they are 18 and off to work/ uni.

Bit by bit start to cull their rooms and if possible move eldest into smallest bedroom.
This is the time to stop it being too comfortable so they will want to move out.
it worked for ds1, getting their with ds2 now.

[BoboChic]

IME the DC spent more time in their rooms as teens than as children as they had a lot more homework.

But generally speaking the DC have always liked hanging out with us in the evening. We have a very spacious living area in our apartment with several desks/tables/TVs/piano/sofas/beanbags so that everyone can be within companiable distance but able to do their own thing.

[BG2015]

My 2 DS are 16 & 13. We never see them. They are either in their rooms or out.

They play on Xbox/ps4 or watch Netflix, YouTube etc.

They rarely sit with us during the evening. We eat together at weekends but not very often during the week as we are all in and out at different times with clubs, work, gym etc

It's totally different situation than when they are little. I'm probably in the minority but I cannot wait till they have left home, so sick of teens eating my bread, biscuits and crisps and mountains of trainers by the front door.