Teenage Daughter making me sad :(

[Aimee8709]

Just looking for a bit of support as my first born is now nearly 15 and I'm just really struggling with the way she is, don't get me wrong she is a good girl, she does really well in school and I know she's not out drinking, smoking causing any trouble etc but we have drifted apart so much and she is not interested in doing anything with me at all, or even speaking to me! I also have a younger child, son who is 4 and she is just not interested in her brother at all, which also upsets me. I know it's 'normal' for teens to be difficult but I still feel really hurt and feel like its just me. I just want us to have that great bond again we had when she was younger. When do things start to get easier??

Particularly painful as my dd up to now has been the sweetest and most loving girl!

I have to say that while I shut my mum out I was never snappy and rude. My mum would boom "Who do you think you're talking to!!" if I tried it and she's quite a scary Yorkshirewoman!

@Janaih I'm sorry I am not sure what you think I've suggested - I am well aware children/ teens have anxiety / mental health problems, one of my own children does also.

I am sharing documented research that is of course up for debate! WHile there will be individual cases of anxiety at all times in human history - we have a RISE in collective anxiety, the number of teens with mental health problems is higher in the UK than other western countries - and it is rising comparable to the past. So, I'm not talking about individual cases - but a pattern.

We need to be able to look at patterns without people feeling individually criticised - there are cultural and social reasons for the increasing number of teenagers who are anxious or find relationships with wider family difficult. I'm not suggesting I know the answers I'm just bringing it into the discussion.

I agree this is quite normal behaviour. That being said I think it comes as a shock to us all. In my case my DD changed almost overnight from being a really close, cuddly smiley child to a stroppy 15 year old telling me I was a "crap mum". The good news is it will change back. My DD now tells me she cannot believe the way she behaved as a teenager. Also with my DD I did have quite a lot of drinking and staying out, including sneaking out at midnight to go partying...so I would be counting your blessings!