To ask your positive stories of your teenagers?

[teenmum18]

Flicking through my towns fb group just now and noticed how much criticism there is on teens/ young adults lately

It was quite windy here a few weeks back and people woke up to their wheelie bins on the ground, instantly there was comments that it must of been teens when it quite easily could have just been the wind that blew them over.

A car was keyed on the street next to mine and of course it must have been a teenager 🙄

They get so much stick and labelled as being upto no good.

So just wanted to start a thread on your proud and positive stories of your teens/young adults.

Mine are.

Dd17 was at a bus stop and saw a young lady fall down and have a seizure. Dd ran over (when no one else did) and called 999 and followed all the steps the operator told her and stayed with her until the ambulance arrived.

Ds 16 was walking with his friends into town when an old lady on the other side of the road fell over. He ran across to help her up but she had hurt her ankle so his friend called an ambulance and they waited with her. The lady sons posted on fb a few days later wanting to thank the boys. It made are local paper.

Don't get me wrong they can drive me mad and aren't angels but I'm so proud that their so caring and generally good people.

Our.

I’m really proud of mine. They have never caused me or anyone else any trouble. They are my favourite people to spend time with.

When it was snowing they went out and helped clear people’s driveways and did some shopping for elderly people on our street.

Ds gets a free meal with his part time job. On his weekend shift he takes it outside to give to a homeless person. We have recently had quite a bit of post for him. When I asked him what it was he explained that he’s got a donor card and has become on the stem cell register (I think that’s right it’s for blood cancer?) that made me so proud.

DS1 is only 13 so just beginning his teen years but he is incredible. He can be moody and stroppy of course, but he's also the kindest young person I know.

He grafts at school, he volunteers two nights a week in a children's club and he also underwent a huge amount of surgery last year with a long spell in hospital, smiling and finding joy in every day along the way. While he was in hospital I lost count of the number of Doctors and nurses who would stop by and check in on him, telling me he was the brightest part of their day.

He genuinely makes my heart burst with love and pride. I think we forget that teenagers are still very much works in progress rather than the finished article.

I'm really proud of mine, I get lots of compliments ( all the girls parents love him apparently ) and he's turned into a really lovely young man.

A huge relief as his 5-10 years were a bloody nightmare....

Such heartwarming stories 💜

Mine are lovely, not perfect but good girls; working hard, kind, funny and gorgeous.
I don’t post about the good stuff cos the dramatic stuff is so much more interesting to read about.

DS1 is a funny b*gger, listens to radio 4 podcasts in his journey to school, seemingly has friends but prefers to be alone.

I can utterly rely on him for help around the house, when DM and MIL he would spend his willing sitting/chatting/caring for them. He watched allowed a day off school to travel 4 hours each way by public transport to visit my fast declining DM. She had communion in her room (we go to Church but he is staunchly atheist) and he joined in and sang the hymns bless him. It was the last time he saw her.

He, I think, was born in the wrong era, he is avowedly himself which is markedly different from his peers (hates football/sports/clothes etc) but it's fully accepted as he is accepting of himself. Something I as his DM wish I could be of me.

His just hitting teens sister however . ..

Mine isn't a teen yet but I volunteered at the local secondary school for their mock job interviews during their careers week. They were all 14 or 15. I had to read their CVs then interview them based on which job they'd "applied" for selected out of a specially put together jobs paper.

Oh my goodness I was so impressed. They were all so different and clearly of differing abilities but every single one of them turned up looking smart, were so polite and really tried their best despite all these older suited strange adults coming in and asking them questions. A fair few volunteered in their spare time or had hobbies like the cadets. I genuinely felt teary thinking what a credit all of these local teenagers are to their parents and carers.

I'm very proud of my two. They are good boys, work hard at school/uni, have part time jobs, do their share of chores, help people out. They are polite, articulate, funny, a real joy to have around. I love having them around (empty nest looming in sept ).

And it's not just my two, all their friends are pretty similar. I love having a houseful of teens.

Ds (14) made me happy today, was helping him get his Cadets stuff together as he was in a rush for the bus and on the way out he said "Thanks Mum, for helping, what would I do without you"- which was lovely. He's rally thoughtful and sometimes pops to the shop to buy flapjacks for us all to share.

My two can be complete nightmares at home, particularly when tired or stressed, and through the early teenage years my eldest in particular was rude, irrational, always wanted to pick fights. But they've always been polite and helpful to others, and this week two different people have gone out of their way to pass on compliments about how engaged and considerate they are. Really makes up for the difficult times.
Same with their friends, it's lovely to see them grow up into polite, responsible, engaging young adults, especially those who had been more challenging as young ones. It genuinely upsets me when local groups on social media jump to blame teenagers for anti social behaviour.
I'm sure they'll all make mistakes but I don't see them as any more irresponsible than our generation, even with the pressures they face today.

My 16 y/o DS is brilliant. Cool, calm, funny, kind and lovable. I'd been dreading the teen years, but they've been my favourite parenting years so far.

I can't pick out a story but mine has been an absolute joy and has never caused me any trouble at all!

My son (16) and all his friends clubbed together £10 each of their own money and gave it to their friend to go with them to the hoppings (travelling fair) this week. Their friend's mum had just died a few weeks ago and money is tight, they didn't want their friend to miss out and wanted to cheer him up.

Mine is not quite a teen but can I share?

Got stuck on a train after school. Whilst she was giving me info, a lady next to me in a panic asked if she knew her grandson - he was travelling alone for the first time.

DD didn’t know him. Next think we know, DD walked up and down the train until she found him and took him to sit with her and her friends. She then called back to say she’d found him and he was fine. She kept very worried grandma updated (and in contact with her grandson) until they were back.

This is a lovely thread.

My DD witnessed my stbxh assault me almost two months ago, just as her GCSEs started. She tried to fight him off, she was very traumatised (still is, obviously, she is in counseling), but pushed on with her studies and came out the other side quietly confident she did well. Obviously we don't know for sure yet, but I'm so proud of her bravery, determination and sheer grit. We are safe, I kicked the fucker out, but it's been a horrible time. She is so strong.

Mine are wonderful. Other than having the odd moody moment (don't we all) they're no trouble and a delight to be around. I'm very proud of them.

A couple of weeks ago I ran into a group of teenage boys who had found a stray dog. They'd rang the owner and were waiting for them to arrive. Lovely boys

I think teenagers are seriously underrated. The ones I've encountered are far more tolerant of others and caring than many people my age seem to be.

Well done meltedeggmum to you and your girl

MeltedEggMum

to you and your daughter. You’re both amazing!

DS(17) helps the younger members train at his sports club two nights a week, and gives up every Saturday night as a young volunteer at our church youth club. Since his college term ended he’s volunteered several full days for the youth outreach project as well. He also sits on the board of trustees for the parent charity (youngest committee member).

I’m disabled, and he and ds(12) both offer me a lot of help and support at home, and never complain about anything they miss out on.

They’re lovely lads, and I’m very proud of them.

Thank you Cinnamon and Jacques.

I really enjoy teenagers. Agree they are underrated! So many interesting and funny conversations around here.

I completely agree. DS1 is an angel- a huge heart, clever, funny and thoughtful. DS2 ( almost teen) is perhaps less thoughtful but is hysterical to be around and loves learning. They're both brilliant brothers to DS3 who is severely epileptic and has adhd: he's not an easy wee guy but they rarely complain and adore him.

Ds 19 is heavily into drama and music so performs whenever he can and rehearses most evenings with various groups, off to see him in a musical tonight and couldn't be prouder - it's opening night, he's so excited.

Ds13 is just comedy gold. He's cute and thoughtful, a regular parkrun volunteer and the best chef, I work a lot and often come home to cake

They're excellent people, they've never given me cause for concern (yet!!)

Have loved reading these tonight. Well done for bringing up decent human beings 💜

Couple of local teenage lads noticed a shopkeeper had left some goods outside when he'd locked up. They took them across the road to the supermarket and persuaded them to keep them behind the customer service desk; then posted on Facbook to let shop owner know where his goods were.