To think 10 is too young for teenage rebellion

[oldernowiser]

Me 'come in in five minutes, it's getting dark and cold'

Her no answer but definitely heard

5 minutes later
Me: 'Time to come in now, it's dark and cold'

Her 'no!'

Me 'come in right now'

Her 'no'

Me 'get in the house this minute'

Her 'why?'

Me 'because I say so, now move!!!)

Her 'I ammmm!!!'

Me 'don't be so rude, come in right now

She comes in

Her 'all I said was why!'

She is now tidying her room while I calm down.

Apparently I'm unreasonable to insist she does as she's told. What do you think? (breathes out, feeling better for venting!)

Not really very good at it yet, is she? What's hard to describe in words though is her sheer talent for insolence

She's now being very sweet, has apologised and is helping her brother tidy his room so perhaps IABU

Another few years and we'll have what you describe!

I get this a lot. I instead say something like "I would make the choice to come in now or you won't be having whatever the next treat is - sleepover/ice cream for dinner/pocket money".

I tried the 'cos I said so' and it only works so far as they are asserting their own identity. If you give her the 'choice' it gets her used to taking the responsibility herself.

I find it gets me less angry - but ignoring the secondary behaviour (eye rolling/tutting etc) and walking away to another room is helpful too.

I of course I don't manage it all the time

It's second time round for me as I'm bringing up grandchildren, so I'm just bracing myself for the potential turbulence ahead, and rather dreading it, particularly as there may be issues about 'you're not my mum' etc. Perhaps I'm crossing bridges before I need to

Thanks Pixie for the reminder that it isn't for ever. The book looks great, and I love the title, I'll get it.

My DD1 is eleven and well on her way to being a stroppy teenager (well that's how it feels at this end of half term).

My youngest started this at about 10 or 11 we had it until last year she turned 14 in October and seemed to grow up overnight. She's absolutely brilliant now apart from a couple of days a month when we try to avoid her because of pmt.