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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What age do your kids stop wanting to hang around with you?

4 replies

ninkynonk4 · 08/04/2024 10:22

Noticed this a lot with my 12 year old recently. Especially with it being the holidays. Whereas we'd often have days out together to the theatre, cinema, shopping, sight seeing etc he just doesn't seem interested anymore. He would rather be on his phone or out with his friends. Took him on a fairly expensive day out last week and while he made all the right noises and said thank you and so on, I could tell his heart wasn't really in it. Of course I knew this would happen but I didn't expect it just yet.

I have younger dc so often family days out are a bit boring for him but I thought we might manage a few more years of hanging out together while dh has the little ones.

So have you been here yet? How did you feel and how did you manage it? I'm not going to keep insisting he comes on expensive days out if he's not that bothered but equally he's too young to be totally left to his own devices.

OP posts:
Seeline · 08/04/2024 10:26

Mine are19 and22 and still enjoy family outings and holidays if it's something they are interested in. Doesn't have to be expensive.

Comedycook · 08/04/2024 10:27

I have a teenage DD and ds.

Ds is 16 but I'd say he started to get fed up at about 12/13. We rarely go anywhere together now. He doesn't mind going to watch football or see a film with dh.... occasionally.

Dd is 13...she is still happy to do lots with both me and dh. We go shopping together every week and to cafes etc.

I think girls are more likely to be ok with hanging out with their mum's in the teenage years than boys are.

Comedycook · 08/04/2024 10:30

At 12/13 it's quite difficult. I'd be ok to leave my ds at home for short periods at that age but I wouldn't want to leave him all day if we were going somewhere further afield for a big day trip.

ninkynonk4 · 08/04/2024 10:46

Comedycook · 08/04/2024 10:30

At 12/13 it's quite difficult. I'd be ok to leave my ds at home for short periods at that age but I wouldn't want to leave him all day if we were going somewhere further afield for a big day trip.

Yes this is the issue. He's often on his own for an hour or so after school and I'm fine with him being at home while I go shopping or whatever, but not for a full day. Similarly it's ok for him to go to the park or a local friends house but I don't really want him going too much further afield yet as he's still pretty young.

It's a very difficult age to manage. Especially when juggling it with younger dc too.

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