To think it is hard to be a teenager

[Inyournightdress]

Was talking to a friend today and she was complaining about her dd (15) and how easy she has it. She kept saying 'what I wouldn't give to be a teenager again'.

I couldn't think of anything worse than being a teenager again - especially in today's world. Everything was full on angst and insecurity, you aren't sure of yourself and you don't fit in anywhere. Factor that in with all of today's social media pressures and the fact kids today are expected to over excel in everything it seems from exam results to multiple extra-curricular activities, have an amazing social life and probably a part time job as well.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

Man? That should have been MSM

Mine aren't teens yet but by God I am terrified for them. I thought it was hard being a teen, but I dare say I'd have been at rock bottom if social media had existed in my day. It genuinely scares me for my DC, I see what my poor DNiece (14) goes through and how my SIL struggles and o often wonder if I'd have the strength for it!

This 'kids have it easy these days' mentality is just total crap

I also think it would be harder to be a straight girl teen in particular due to rampant porn culture, how easy it is to access porn which often shows men doing very degrading and painful things to women. Long gone are the days where boys had nervous "don't really know what I'm doing" fumbles, now they get their 'tips' from pornos my other niece (now 19) told me her first boyfriend just assumed she'd want anal sex when they started having sex as women seemed to enjoy it so much . I don't think my first boyfriend had ever heard of it!

I hated 13-16.

Sixth form was much better and going off to Uni was like a millstone being lifted

I wouldn't go back to puberty for a million pounds.

Life is so much easier at 30 than it was at 15.
Yes, I have to pay bills - but I have a job to allow me to do so, and I have qualifications and experience already banked so that if I lost this job I would expect to be able to find another one, and savings that would tide me over in between. I can also afford to buy and choose my own clothes, hobby materials etc. My workplace is professional - no-one gets bullied or harassed or suddenly has a meltdown in the middle of the office. I still have to do projects to deadlines, but the deadlines are longer and I get to schedule my own time more - and I don't have to swap rooms every two hours carrying a huge bag.
I'm married, which removes a huge burden of angst over fancying people that don't fancy you/being fancied by people that you don't fancy/asking people out etc, and almost all my friends are in LTRs too, so they are also not all going through all that stress simultaneously.
I can already drive and have access to a car.
I don't have a curfew, and I have a door key and can come and go as I please (though I might need to take a toddler with me if not by prior arrangement). I have pets of my choice.
People in shops assume I am there to buy things, not steal from them. People don't talk down to me or patronise me, and if they do I can answer back as an equal.
I have a contraceptive implant so I don't have periods much - I also don't have spots or greasy hair/skin. I can go to the hairdressers and buy products which I feel are appropriate.
I have to do my own chores, but I get to decide when and how. If I felt like it, I could eat out instead of cook on any given night (though not every night) and pick my food to please myself.
etc etc etc