Are teenagers worse than small children?

[shhhFFS]

Tongue in cheek but...

We have both in our house and given the current testing times who do you think is more testing? We have 5, 8 and 14.

14 has luckily not fallen into the bracket of having their GCSE results thrown to the wind but starts next year. So has had a lot of work assigned in term time rightly so. She picked art as a gcse subject so had a lot of projects assigned in line with that. Has now decided she f***g hates art and can’t be arsed. She wants to ‘channel’ her energy as I have encouraged so I’ve signed her up for every buggering app and live thing on the planet for guitar playing, art, sign language. She gives it 10 mins of attention and decides she’s tried but it’s just not happening. Which results in me yelling that you need to spend more than 10 bleeding minutes to perfect a skill so can you just direct your attention at something other than tik tok then you might get good at something!! Results in slammed doors, sulky looks, and generally skulking around. For the record I’m normally someone who restricts social media and internet time but have extended this to make sure contact with friends is free and also I know we are all bored, but I’m seriously contemplating blocking Netflix if she shoots one more dirty look my way if I suggest committing to something productive for more than 20 minutes! On the other hand I feel horrendously guilty about the fact I can’t commit enough time to help her because I’m trying to work from home in an industry that has not took a back seat and I’m constantly attached to a laptop all taking phone calls in the loo because it’s quiet.

On the other hand small children, whilst noisy and shrill at times and having arguments over who stuck a toe up each other’s bum first can be appeased easily. Peppa pig? They will happily draw/paint for hours? Play in the garden? Happily. There are endless things to occupy them with,

Don’t start me on the animals though. The dog has started shitting inside in dirty protest and the cat shins up my back every time I’m on a conference call!

Stay safe guys

No. My teenagers played games and computers 16 years ago. Small children make noises can’t wipe their own arses and wake up in the night crying

Well the small children manage to wipe their own arses and sleep through thank god!

I often say I would rather have 2 toddlers than a teenager. Yours sincerely, mother of an 18 year old.

I find no matter their age or temperament screen time makes them worse. Could you control the screens in the day - she wouldn’t have access to them anyway if she were at school.

Mine are ok. If you count a complete lack of ambition other than playing ps4 as ok.. they are generally good company on the rare occasions I see them. They are definitely easier than little ones though. I get to take naps and leave the house to do fitness classes without having to take the entire household. (Leaving the house in case anyone has forgotten was something that we probably all did prior to the 23rd March. It was very nice iirc )

I think there are different problems at different ages and it’s hard to say what is worse exactly. Yes not having to wipe bums and get up in the night is one plus, but equally little ones don’t have devastating arguments with their friends or worry about their exams.

17 and 13 yr old girls in my house, they pretty much keep themselves occupied which is real handy lol but the older one keeps moaning about missing all her friends. not that the way they keep themselves occupied is all that good for their health they are doing what is needed to keep me and themselves sane i guess lol School work is another matter.. hard to keep them on track. Im in Australia and looks like schools are opening much sooner because we haven't been hit very badly. That is a relief cos the eldest is in last yr of highschool.

When they're little they are all sweet and cuddly. Also they go to bed by 7.30.
On the other hand, they wake at first light, need lots more entertaining, and can't be left to their own devices, or alone in the house.
Teenagers don't wake you up early, but hang around interfering with your choice of telly in the evening, if they're not skulking in their rooms doing something unsuitable on the internet. They're more annoying because you know they could be helping out rather making a mess, so it's much more irritating than cleaning up after a 3 year old. And if it all goes p ear-shaped, it's much much worse with teenagers.
But they can make you tea and catch spiders for you.
I've cried more over teenagers than small children.

I am practicing free range parenting . Three teens. They sleep, occupy themselves, and generally appear when starvation creeps in, at which point I elect the one deemed most biddable at the time to cook dinner for everyone. They are all managing at least an hour or two of social contact, and I am finding it interesting that they are seeking it out if I ignore them, rather than me begging, pleading, cajoling or yelling and attempting to dictate what they are doing. In reality two out of three still have school work to do. Happily doing it. Only one is footloose and fancy free.
Wouldn’t want small people right now. Am ecstatic they are largely self sufficient and also old enough to help out.

Young children are physically exhausting, teenagers are emotionally draining.
Both ages can be challenging for different reasons.
One DC was extremely hard work as a toddler but has been a really great teen, another DC was an angelic toddler but I've been to hell and back with them as a teenager.

@enragedpenfold

Free Range Parenting, I'm going to nick that one!!

We've only got two here (18 and 13) and neither cook, even though the eldest has completed Level 1 professional cookery!! During the day they sort themselves out with school and college work. Me and my wife are both working, so it's down to them.

The eldest did come down a few days ago and ask for some lunch. The response was "there is the kitchen, use it!!". He followed up with loads of Kev like grunting and made a sandwich and murdered a block of cheese.

I wouldn't want little ones in all this.

Slight tangent but if your dd isnt totally in love with art consider changing before she starts. My dd is in year 10 and is a very talented artist who loves it but hates her art gcse. Its so bloody involved with so many pieces to do. I wish she had never started it. Drives me insane.

Don’t start me on the animals though. The dog has started shitting inside in dirty protest and the cat shins up my back every time I’m on a conference call!

100%. Teenagers are generally horrific and stressful ! Sorry no words of comfort 🤔

As a parent of young children and a teacher of teenagers I would say teenagers are worse.

As a parent of young children and a teacher of teenagers I would say teenagers are worse.

Teens just leave you alone all day though. Under normal circumstances, we can come and go as we please and do what we want.

With young kids they just never leave you alone for 2 minutes.

...on the other hand my oldest (who is 9)is finding it much tougher than my younger two. He misses his friends and is bored. They just feel like they have an extended holiday with their family. He knows he has been separated from his friends and he knows the risks and dangers. I acknowledge that it's harder for older kids and imagine that's even worse at 14.

Teens just leave you alone all day though

That sounds lovely. As a teacher I have no experience of this so accept my own viewpoint probably isn't relevant here.

Basically, toddlers = dogs and teenagers = cats.

@Frozenfan2019

You are teaching them though, phew!! No bloody thanks, hats off to you. I worked in a secondary school as the IT person in the mid 90s, lasted 6 months and legged it before I committed murder. I can only imagine it's worse now.

Yes, they are!

Depends on personality. Teens can leave you in peace for a bit. But their troubles are bigger, more expensive and far more annoying.

I have a three year old who got up at 6:15 am.

He hasn't stopped talking to draw breath since.

He has just got a nut bolt (that I have no idea what he's unscrewed and purloined from) stuck on his finger.

"We can't go to the hospital can we mum? Cause they're not open are they Mummy? So we can't can we? I don't want to go anyway because I've still got my pyjamas on and I haven't even had a wash, but I don't even want a wash, do I Mum? Cause I'll probably have a bath later, won't I? And I'll put some clean socks on won't I? Well this is a fine mess isn't it mummy?"

I find my 10yo the hardest at the moment as she is the one who is bored and grumpy and wanting attention. My 14yo has been fairly easy except for getting moody when asked to help around the house, but she is getting on with her school work independently. My 19yo has generally been great and good company, she moved home when furloughed just as lockdown began.

I do find the fact the eldest two go to bed long after me annoying as I wake up hearing the movement in the house and I get no alone time in the evenings. However I have taken to getting up early as I get a couple hours then instead lol.

Generally, I think teens are just as hard work as toddlers but in a different way. I’d rather be locked down with teens though.

I have 14 and 11. I often say I couldn’t have done this with toddlers. 11 yo finding it the hardest as they are outdoorsy and social type. 14 yo would be fine if mine raft was a GCSE, but keeping focus on school work when YouTube I only a click away is tricky.