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Original poster

Tell me about your teenager's stupid behaviour

633 replies

TeenagedTwit · 06/12/2023 04:30

16yo
Wants a job. Apparently.
Weirdly, a job hasn't fluttered into his bedroom and landed on his lap so he is most perplexed.

Picked up an application form for him from a local supermarket.
Encourage him to get a pen (no easy feat) and sit down to complete application.

20 seconds later... "What's my name?"

And that was just the beginning. I swear a 4yo would make a better employee. I fear for our future.

Note from MNHQ - we've edited the title as we had a few reports about one of the terms used there. We're sure there was no intention to offend but it was clearly upsetting a few people and we didn't want the issue to derail the thread

OP posts:
Moglet4 · 07/12/2023 11:18

curaçao · 06/12/2023 09:07

what a horrible thread!

It’s just a bit of fun!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/12/2023 11:36

"...your kids do a lot of things you aren't aware of . It's part of life..."

Very true, @Wiccan - ds2 once told us cheerfully that he and his friends had been riding a mate's motorbike in the woods - but we weren't to worry because they had ensured their safety by running alongside the rider each time, to catch them if they fell.

Frankly, teenagers' capacity to think up new and stupid things to do is epic - and I don't know of many (if any) parents who could manage to think of every daft thing their teen might conceive of and do, and either educate them to avoid it or simply ban them from doing it. We were pretty involved parents, strict about behaviour, making sure they learned the life skills they needed (cooking, cleaning, getting up early for work - paper rounds, etc) - but it didn't occur to us that they would a) have a friend with a non road legal motorbike or b) decide to have a go at riding it. I think that was a failure of our imagination, not our parenting! We had talked to them about not driving underage, uninsured and untrained, but were unaware of kids riding motorbikes in the woods - having seen no evidence of same during our many dog walks in said woods.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 07/12/2023 11:44

This was DS2, aged around 14. He'd been off school with a nasty cold, and I got in from work at lunchtime to hear 'oh, thank god you're home, I've run out of clean cups!'

He's now nearly 30, a VERY equal partner to his girlfriend and they both keep an immaculate house. I haven't let him live it down though. (Why, yes, his father, my XH, really did believe that all housework was 'women's work'. DS2 knew perfectly well it wasn't and I've no real idea what caused this blip in his case!)

SomersetBrie · 07/12/2023 11:47

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/12/2023 11:36

"...your kids do a lot of things you aren't aware of . It's part of life..."

Very true, @Wiccan - ds2 once told us cheerfully that he and his friends had been riding a mate's motorbike in the woods - but we weren't to worry because they had ensured their safety by running alongside the rider each time, to catch them if they fell.

Frankly, teenagers' capacity to think up new and stupid things to do is epic - and I don't know of many (if any) parents who could manage to think of every daft thing their teen might conceive of and do, and either educate them to avoid it or simply ban them from doing it. We were pretty involved parents, strict about behaviour, making sure they learned the life skills they needed (cooking, cleaning, getting up early for work - paper rounds, etc) - but it didn't occur to us that they would a) have a friend with a non road legal motorbike or b) decide to have a go at riding it. I think that was a failure of our imagination, not our parenting! We had talked to them about not driving underage, uninsured and untrained, but were unaware of kids riding motorbikes in the woods - having seen no evidence of same during our many dog walks in said woods.

This is a great post.
I am constantly surprised at the things they do that never occurred to me.
And even if they do occur to me, I am curious how parents stop teenagers from doing stuff outside the house (with friends) unless they stop them (somehow) from going out.
This is a great thread but some totally "not in the spirit of the thread" comments would stop me from nominating it for classics.

DeepfriedPizza · 07/12/2023 11:47

DD (13) told me she only just realised that cheese was made from milk. I asked her where she thought cheese came from and she said she thought it just came out of animals as cheese and was just formed into blocks. I said that you know milk comes out of udders/teats so where do you think cheese comes from? Their bum she replies.

Myfabby · 07/12/2023 11:53

SpiritedSneeze · 07/12/2023 09:34

When she was in year 10, left the flat to go to school and forgot her bag on the kitchen table.
Then panicked because the bag contained her keys so she couldn't get back inside to get it.
Then got really worried as her phone was in her bag too so she couldn't call me to come and let her in or bring her bag.
She ran to our neighbors and asked to use their phone to call me.
They did and l came right out- because I was in the flat, sat at the table where she had left me 5 minutes before.
I don't know how she forgot that she could knock on our own door.

you win😂😂

BobDylansMasterpiece · 07/12/2023 11:55

@Myfabby and @Wiccan

I have never claimed to be perfect, but obviously struck a nerve.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/12/2023 12:01

Or maybe you've just been rather judgemental, @BobDylansMasterpiece.

housethatbuiltme · 07/12/2023 12:04

SomersetBrie · 07/12/2023 11:47

This is a great post.
I am constantly surprised at the things they do that never occurred to me.
And even if they do occur to me, I am curious how parents stop teenagers from doing stuff outside the house (with friends) unless they stop them (somehow) from going out.
This is a great thread but some totally "not in the spirit of the thread" comments would stop me from nominating it for classics.

Show quote history

My teens not so bad, hes very calm, level headed and logical... just standard incompetence from teen laziness (he won't do something, will just ignore it until someone else does if he can).

My 5 year old has me in shock and awe everyday in regards to his stupid actions though. Everyone says if ever theres ever a huge 'life or death' disaster hes the child that 'won't make it' because his lack of common sense, 2 second attention span, sloth like speed and inability to follow basic instructions is actually INCREDIBLE... I dread him being a teen.

Hes the kind of kid if someone said 'jump of a bridge' he will have done it before even processing the thought through.

Myfabby · 07/12/2023 12:05

BobDylansMasterpiece · 07/12/2023 11:55

@Myfabby and @Wiccan

I have never claimed to be perfect, but obviously struck a nerve.

You are quite the irritant.

It struck no personal nerve, my son does not vape. He's clever- all 9&8 at GCSE's, he's deputy head boy, he's sporty- 1st XI captain plusU23 at 17 for a football academy. He is mostly well behaved, a linguist and can hold conversations on almost anything. Does that mean he hasn't lost keys, or left his passport in hotel safe on football tour? or at 8 almost burnt our house down or doesn't have a collection of water bottles in his room? Nope.

We are all trying our best to raise well rounded children and here you are badgering a parent who is struggling with her 13 year vaping. Telling her to be a 'parent' is vile. Take your agency somewhere else.

Noglitterallowed · 07/12/2023 12:06

Not my kids as they are quite young but I remember only a couple of years ago (I’m 36) having a full on debate with my dad as for some reason I was convinced ducks had 4 legs! For some insane reason I just never realised they only had 2! I even went as far as googling it to prove him wrong 🤦‍♀️

Wiccan · 07/12/2023 12:07

BobDylansMasterpiece · 07/12/2023 11:55

@Myfabby and @Wiccan

I have never claimed to be perfect, but obviously struck a nerve.

But that is how it's coming across and you are saying it in a way that your words are armed to make people feel shitty about their parenting. It's not a competition we are all in the same boat just trying our best.

54isanopendoor · 07/12/2023 12:13

curaçao · 06/12/2023 09:07

what a horrible thread!

Well, the term 'moron' is disablist certainly !

I think ALL people can panic & 'forget' which number to call for '999 services'

I think ALL teens can have daft moments (brain not fully developed until age 25)

My young people have executive processing problems (NHS dx ASD & Dyslexia)
so I do a huge amount of internal 'counting to 10' but I'm aware I'm a numpty frequently too. We try to laugh about it, which I guess is the point of the thread?

berksandbeyond · 07/12/2023 12:23

Some of these are depressing. My 5 year sounds more self sufficient than half of these teenagers - she would know to write her name and how to call 999 for example! I know it’s lighthearted but I would genuinely be embarrassed if my child was so sheltered. I used to work at a university and threads like this explain a lot about some of the ‘children’ that used to arrive that barely knew how to wipe their own backsides!

Wiccan · 07/12/2023 12:27

berksandbeyond · 07/12/2023 12:23

Some of these are depressing. My 5 year sounds more self sufficient than half of these teenagers - she would know to write her name and how to call 999 for example! I know it’s lighthearted but I would genuinely be embarrassed if my child was so sheltered. I used to work at a university and threads like this explain a lot about some of the ‘children’ that used to arrive that barely knew how to wipe their own backsides!

Oh great another one who's coming on just to bash people . FFS the smugness .

Sexlivesofthepotatomen · 07/12/2023 12:29

BobDylansMasterpiece · 07/12/2023 11:55

@Myfabby and @Wiccan

I have never claimed to be perfect, but obviously struck a nerve.

Yeah because you're really annoying, why don't you just go away?

PGmicstand · 07/12/2023 12:37

Almondmum · 06/12/2023 09:41

My son likes to answer either/or question with a yes or no.

So for example we text to ask 'are you finishing school early today or staying all day?'. He'll reply 'no'.

Very helpful.

Many years ago I worked in a school library. Pre computers and barcodes. Kids would come up to the counter with a pile of books.
I'd ask - "Are you taking them out, or bringing them back?"
9/10 times they'd answer "Yes."
So that was helpful.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/12/2023 12:39

@berksandbeyond - during adolescence, the teenage brain actually rewires, and whilst this is happening, they can and do lose certain abilities - impulse control, seeing outside themselves, temper control - and they can and do forget things they already know - and this can explain why they forget things they could do perfectly well before they hit adolesence.

There is a great book, called Divas and Doorslammers, by Charlie Taylor, where he explains this - he says it is akin to a form of temporary brain damage - thankfully it IS temporary, and once the brain rewiring is complete and settles down again, most if not all of those abilities come back.

MrsMarzetti · 07/12/2023 12:44

thesugarbumfairy · 07/12/2023 10:38

Can you get the towels out of the dryer please DS1?

Which one is that?

There are two options. The dryer is the machine on the right. Its always been the one on the right. I also say 'next to the fridge' in case we have a left/right problem. I ask him to do this at least once a week and have done for a good two years. He still isn't sure which one the tumble dryer is <give me strength>

As a wise woman once said " teenagers can't find their arse with both hands"

Wiccan · 07/12/2023 12:45

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/12/2023 12:39

@berksandbeyond - during adolescence, the teenage brain actually rewires, and whilst this is happening, they can and do lose certain abilities - impulse control, seeing outside themselves, temper control - and they can and do forget things they already know - and this can explain why they forget things they could do perfectly well before they hit adolesence.

There is a great book, called Divas and Doorslammers, by Charlie Taylor, where he explains this - he says it is akin to a form of temporary brain damage - thankfully it IS temporary, and once the brain rewiring is complete and settles down again, most if not all of those abilities come back.

I think for one of my daughters it definitely wasn't temporary 😁

berksandbeyond · 07/12/2023 12:46

Wiccan · 07/12/2023 12:27

Oh great another one who's coming on just to bash people . FFS the smugness .

Show quote history

Im not bashing! but if you came on here and said your neurotypical 8 year old couldn’t remember their own name people would be shocked no? But that’s entertaining from a 16 year old?

berksandbeyond · 07/12/2023 12:46

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/12/2023 12:39

@berksandbeyond - during adolescence, the teenage brain actually rewires, and whilst this is happening, they can and do lose certain abilities - impulse control, seeing outside themselves, temper control - and they can and do forget things they already know - and this can explain why they forget things they could do perfectly well before they hit adolesence.

There is a great book, called Divas and Doorslammers, by Charlie Taylor, where he explains this - he says it is akin to a form of temporary brain damage - thankfully it IS temporary, and once the brain rewiring is complete and settles down again, most if not all of those abilities come back.

That sounds like a very interesting book, thank you for the recommendation!

londonmummy1966 · 07/12/2023 12:47

berksandbeyond · 07/12/2023 12:23

Some of these are depressing. My 5 year sounds more self sufficient than half of these teenagers - she would know to write her name and how to call 999 for example! I know it’s lighthearted but I would genuinely be embarrassed if my child was so sheltered. I used to work at a university and threads like this explain a lot about some of the ‘children’ that used to arrive that barely knew how to wipe their own backsides!

I can guarantee that in 10 years time you will be on a thread like this bemoaning your DDs stupidity. Something happens to their brains as they develop through puberty that gives them a common sense regression that would shame a toddler.

Wiccan · 07/12/2023 12:47

berksandbeyond · 07/12/2023 12:46

Im not bashing! but if you came on here and said your neurotypical 8 year old couldn’t remember their own name people would be shocked no? But that’s entertaining from a 16 year old?

Show quote history

Then why are you on the thread ? If not just to stick it to other parents ! .

Cas112 · 07/12/2023 12:48

@berksandbeyond just you wait 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂