DSs, 16 and 14, driving me mad!

[WhitePhantom]

I'm really pissed off here. DS1 (16) and DS2(14) are on summer hols here (we're in Ireland - hols far too long imo!!) and they're so bloody lazy and uncooperative.

They stay in bed as long as they possibly can - we have to tell them repeatedly to get up - then they whinge and moan every time they're asked to do anything. And they're not asked to do much (probably far too little, really!)

Everything has to be spelled out and micro-managed - pick up, clean up after yourself, put away the milk, pick up your shorts off the floor, on and on it goes. Every bloody day, over and over. Jesus I'm at the end of my tether. I've a splitting headache having just had an almighty row with them. They can't see any problem with their carry-on, just think I'm nagging and over-reacting.

I'm going to disable their wifi (we all have separate logins) and put away their devices. But I'm fucking sick of it, the fact that I have to do stuff like that. Is it so unreasonable to expect teenagers to show even the smallest amount of initiative and cooperation???

Anyone have any better suggestions?

Rant over. Thanks for listening.

What a pain. I think I'd hit the roof if a child said to me nobody cares what you think.

Or maybe I would put the wifi box in the car so they can't switch it back on and go out for the day somewhere nice.

It does get better as they get older. I nearly fainted the other day, DSD did some washing up without being asked. I was most confused.

Laurie - *It's easier if you don't talk to them at all unless you have something positive and heart warming to say.

Some days no words will pass your lips*

I love this!

I can disable their wifi and it has no effect on mine or DH's, which is great. (DH fully on board, btw).

Their wifi usually only kicks in at 6pm, but I've disabled it now and it won't kick in at all until I manually enable it - which I very calmly won't do till all jobs are done. And not just the household chores, but the 'have a look and sort out whatever you've left lying around' jobs too.

Thanks all, it's great to get my thoughts down in writing. Stops them building up in my head and helps me form a plan of action.

Actually NotAnEvil, DS1 cleared away cups and stuff belonging to me and DH one evening while bringing out his own stuff (which we hadn't prompted him to do).

Fortunately we were both sitting down at the time We just looked at each other in silent amazement when he'd left the room.

Totally agree with the list of chores to buy WiFi access. Another sanction you could add for failure to do the chores could be for every chore not done, or group of chores a prized item of technology is held hostage and returned once list is complete to an acceptable standard. Teenagers play dirty and tech is the currency they speak.

Absolutely, Dolores, tech is their currency. Spot on there!

I have regularly been known to take phone, switch, ipad, whatever - I like your phrasing of holding it hostage!!

DS2 has already done nearly all his jobs for today without being prompted