to think we need a Mums of teenagers Union or something (lighthearted)

[Somethingfantastic89]

This would be to:

Tell each other what we actually let them wear and watch and buy and do, instead of hearing all the time "ALL my friends do it!" and secretly wondering if we're really the only parent on earth who makes their child miserable.

Share thoughts on how not to go mad every time we hear "yeah sure I'll do it in a minute" and then see our dear teen disappear for a few hours... or urgently need the bathroom... or suddenly remember a missed homework... or feel sick...

To make a list of all the things we need to change so they're happy, all the things they know better than us... starting by who we are, what we eat, where we live, what time we wake up, what we watch, what music we like, how we drive, the choices we make, what we cook ... I'm sure I left out loads.

And much more (suggestions welcome)

I think such a Union would be great
AIBU?

I'm the mum of twin girls who are teetering on the edge of teenagerdom so I'm definitely in

faitch love the handshake idea! And a secret word? to warn each other of a developing teen situation

ghosty aw those are really harsh [flower] (btw you're named head of the single mums section). One day my DD said "X's mum lets her do eeeeverything and gives her aaaaall the money she wants!" Me (blank face) Next time I drive you to X's house, I'll make a point to say hi to her mum, she did seem nice when I met her the other day". DD: UGH!

Pug I'll add to that: "I hate you SO much!" and then 20 minutes later "can you take me to town to meet X" (with a tone that says I should really be grateful that I'm allowed to drive her)

acopyofacopy Teenage Catchphrase Bingo

Can we have help with homework,I have become a wizz with algebra but am bound to hit the buffers soon.I love when they ask for your help and then strop off as you know nothing ,are so stupid and asking when in real life they will ever need x.

I'm in. DD has been mostly foul this weekend and we're now not speaking.
It's exhausting, I'm going grey and am fed up beyond belief.

If I don't talk to her, huff, eyeroll 'you never show any interest' If I do talk, huff, eye roll 'stop asking me questions and bothering me' I give up.
Honestly thought we'd turned the corner from this site - she's 18 ffs.

hothead oh yes please!
The number of times I've heard "why do I need to study history? it's a bunch of stupid stuff about stupid people that happened ages ago! When will I ever need it in life?"
Then I say something along the lines of "it's important to learn from the past so we don't repeat our mistakes"
To which she says "please get out of my room"

I'm in.
I get, 'I'll do it in my own time,' (never!)
And yes to being told I'm wrong when I venture an opinion on the subject I'm paid a lot to be a specialist in.

I also don't understand what it feels like to do A-levels and his are harder because I did rubbish subjects that are useless. He actually laughed when he heard his cousin was going to to the same degree I did!

Me, i need in.
18, 17 and 15 here. The oldest is ok, just quiet. Obviously i am a strange creature he has no wish to talk to
17 yo is actually human ( at the moment ), although can be horrid to siblings at times, and hasn't learnt when to shut up!
15yo DD well, she can sulk about many things, but constantly want lifts etc. i did get a complement this wknd though about how well i did as a single mum, i was speechless. i am sure normal service will resume soon.....

'Please get out of my room' - we get this a lot. I try and just walk away and shrug it off but it seems to enrage DH for some reason . "Get out of your room!!! The room I spent every spare hour decorating recently to your spec? why do you have to be so bloody rude ........" .

Bingo suggestions:
“For gods sake”
“I didn’t do anything”
“GET OUT MY ROOM!”
“Obligitaty grunt”
“Look what posted on Snapchat. He/she’s allowed x/y/z”

Even the cat gives him a wide berth nowadays.

'You always ask me to do everything ....what about her/him"

I'm in.
Having seen one through the term years with no issues, cheek or problems, I'm now being paid back by the second in line!
To be honest, threads like this are lovely to read as I am pleased to know it all seems very normal and usual to be hated, distained and patronised.
I do look forward to the mums of toddlers who will no doubt be along to issue their wisdom about making chores fun and laying down rules when children are young ...

Katyppp 😄

I'm in. I am calming down in my bedroom after an altercation over homework. I actually kicked something in frustration.

I am a few weeks too late for this union as DD turned 20 last month. However, her room still looks like it's been ransacked and tbh its only the fact her PS4 is still there that I know we've not been burgled.

Having gotten through this twice now (DS is 24) I feel able to impart wisdom.....ahem.

Do NOT open bedroom doors. Blood pressure isn't meant to go that high. Better for you if you just hand over clean bedding in exchange for dirty once a week and hold a weekly cutlery/plate/glass amnesty

If it aint in the basket it doesn't get washed.

Choose your battles. Most really are't worth it and they will learn one way or another.

That boyfriend/girlfriend you hate probably isn't the one they are going to marry so don't panic.

Whilst they're in bed all weekend they aren't under your feet or raiding the fridge.

I survived teenagers. I wear that badge with pride.

I'm in too. 15yo DS1 is studying for his mock exams.

"But they're not important, they're only mocks!"

Ah, ok then son. Don't do any revision then

More bingo suggestions:

" you didn't have to do that. I was actually just about to do it"
" no I haven't exactly forgotten to do (insert word here). I just haven't actually started as of yet"
" my room is tidy - well what I mean is there is nothing on the floor, well nothing in the middle of the floor anyway, I have pushed it all to the edges"
"i am only asking you to wash this top/t shirt/whatever now because i didn't realise you were doing the washing yesterday (even though we always do it on a Sunday)
*i cant find my...."

I'm in. I get a bit fed up of people who quite obviously haven't got teens offering parenting advise as well.
One small area of victory is how easy it is to embarrass them.

Glad it's not just me who has noticed stargazer!
I do have a titter as they obviously think they have cracked it because their three-year-old enjoys helping mummy and knows being cheeky is naughty. I don't think it occurs to them that their child will change.
If only things were so simple,!

DD1 is developing a fantastic supercilious sneer when asked to do anything she doesn't agree with. It's usually accompanied by the obligatory eye rolling and followed by a deep sigh.

She's also going deaf... whenever I talk to her when she's Whatsapping on her phone.

I'm in. One teen, one about to be. The catch phrase I'm developing seems to be "if you do it when I ask, I don't have to nag..."

I'm in
DD1 is 13 but has been a teenager for years iyswim

oh mock exams ...'you DON'T revise for them mum - that way you know which things you know and which things you have to revise for real

and yes to people without teens trying to tell you how to do it!

That’s so funny katypip. Read a thread here last week about managing screens for 8 year olds. Laughed at the “oh try taking them out for a walk instead” and “don’t limit screen time, only makes it more attractive” . So tempted to type COME BACK ON HERE IN 10 YEARS TIME

I have DS18, twin DD's 14 & DN 17.

My current favourite, when asking one of the DD's to do something that is just part of being a household "Well I didn't ask to be born, did I?"

The phrase "Is it just me that has to do Xthing, or does everyone?" is banned in the house. By the teens. Because they got fed up of my over-dramatic "No, no it's just you because I'm a terrible mother. I'm a bully, a total bully who just picks on you relentlessly... You should phone childline really. Or the NSPCC..." Apparently I was embarassing myself