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Help with handling 12 yr old DS

34 replies

cathykate · 22/03/2015 09:10

Hi all. I could really do with some advice as to how to handle my 12 yr ds. I can't say anything to him without him telling me I'm wrong, he's started shouting at me and just generally being rude and unpleasant to me. I can't tell him anything because he knows better...I know people will read this and tell me it is a phase and they all go through this but it is really hurting and upsetting me so much.. He comes home from school and goes straight to his room onto xbox etc, doesn't tell me anything about his day. I really would like some advice and tips on how to deal with this and coping mechanisms. I am a single parent but his father is very much part of his life...his answer to this is "well he's growing up" and he is probably right but that doesn't help me deal with the situation.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 22/03/2015 10:25

Just watching with interest...

JustSpeakSense · 22/03/2015 10:38

I think the first thing you need to do is limit time on the xbox....(there is an option to put a family timer on with password) also what games is he playing? When my son was playing too many hours on violent games I noticed a big difference in him - we've now limited it and make sure he still plays sport, socialises with friends, we insist on family time (dog walks together or cinema trips) also we eat as a family (I'm making this all sound easy, it wasn't tantrums were had!) but we've seen a big difference in him.

Good luck

cathykate · 22/03/2015 11:20

Thank you JustSpeakSense for your reply..You are right about the Xbox..though he plays mainly FIFA fooball game..although he does have assassins creed and call of duty. I do make sure that we eat around the table for dinner...but i can see he is itching to get away. I find it hard to take the rudeness and dont know how to act. I have shouted back but obviously that just makes things worse..I banned him from the xbox (and followed the ban through) short term peace.. the thing is I seem to be hurt more than him..and he seems not to care.

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AuntieDee · 22/03/2015 11:57

Why is a 12yo playing 18yo games?

cathykate · 22/03/2015 12:06

AuntieDee, the two games he has are both rated 15, which I admit are older than him..but as i said he mainly playing fifa.

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AuntieDee · 22/03/2015 12:54

But such violent games so uoung. No wonder he is desensitised and becoming rude - he's seekg this as the norm

JiltedJohnsJulie · 22/03/2015 12:57

Think you've answered your own question here OP. Keep the violent video games and unlimited play and put up with his behaviour or do a bit of parenting.

cathykate · 22/03/2015 13:06

ty for you comments..will take on board

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KurriKurri · 22/03/2015 18:18

Firstly - I think its fairly normal for pre teens to go through a rather unpleasant phase, and get a bit mouthy - they are pushing the boundaries and it is a normal part of growing up.

That doesn't mean you have to tolerate it obviously.

As far as going upstairs when he gets home from school - I think thats OK, most kids need a wind down time when they get home, I never tried to engage mine in any kind of deep conversation when they'd just got home - they are tired and need to relax. But by meal time I would expect him to be relatively sociable again.

AS far as rudeness is concerned - I don't do things for people who are rude to me. If mine were ever rude - I would walk away and say 'I will talk to you when you can be polite to me' don't get upset, don't shout back, just make it clear you do not engage when someone is shouting at you and being rude.

Also if someone expects me to do them favours or accomodate them - whether it be cooking for them,washing their clothes, giving them lifts etc, then they have to be polite or I might find myself disinclined to take them to things they want to go to or pay fares for them or whatever. If rudeness occurs in conjunction witht he computer games then you say' these games are obviously making you rude and aggressive so we will remove them until you are polite and prove that you can remain polite if you are allowed to play them'. He has so far proved that he is not old enough to cope with a 15 game, so tell him it goes away unitl he is fifteen because it has made him rude and shouty.

Being calm but firm and sticking to your guns in a non-blaming way is important - just 'if you do this then this is what will happen' in a very matter of fact way. Give him boundaries - it will make him feel more secure.

They do get past it and come out as nice people at the other end - although it sometimes feels endless at the time. Hormones are running rife at this age and have a lot to answer for !! Good luck Smile

Mariposa10 · 22/03/2015 19:18

Are you sure the games are rated 15? Several versions of those games are rated 18 and have scenes of torture and killing. He's two young at 12 to have an xbox in his own room, that's part of the problem.

LeBearPolar · 22/03/2015 19:29

Most versions of Call of Duty are rated 18; a couple are rated 16. This is the PEGI description of CoD Modern Warfare, for example:

The content of this game is suitable for persons aged 18 years and over only.
It contains: Extreme violence - Multiple, motiveless killing - Violence towards defenceless people - Strong language

According to the PEGI site, all of the Assassins Creed games are rated 18:

The content of this game is suitable for persons aged 18 years and over only.
It contains: Extreme violence - Multiple, motiveless killing - Strong language

So that might be your answer? My 12 year old DS is still playing Minecraft and Bad Piggies on his ipad...

cathykate · 22/03/2015 19:55

KuriKuri.. thank you so much for your post!! :) You have offered me some good advice and help.I think you understood what I was asking. By the way everyone I have taken the two games away (yes Mariposa10 they are rated 15 according to game rating on the cover). I actually wanted some advice on how to handle his general attitude but my actual question got sidelined by the fact he had the 2 xbox games but the nitty gritty of my post was how to handle his as you said his "unpleasant phase". I am taking on the advice I have been offered and I thank you for your imput. ps this is the first time i have posted on mumsnet and I was feeling totally out of my depth

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cathykate · 22/03/2015 20:14

lebearpolar As I said he plays Fifa football mainly on the xbox oh yes and he loves minecraft ..But my error was saying he had Assassins Creed rated 15 & Call of Duty(world at war rated 15) which he doesnt play v much, check on amazon for the ratings i am not making it up, I can read a cover. But most people rather than being addressing what I was really saying have decided to jump on another subject

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 22/03/2015 20:34

But most people rather than being addressing what I was really saying have decided to jump on another subject the two do seemed linked though wouldn't you say? Even if it's not the whole of the problem Smile

cathykate · 22/03/2015 20:54

lol Wow all I was asking was for advice on how to deal with a stroppy 12 year old boy who is trying to call the shots (excuse the pun)

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DollyTwat · 22/03/2015 21:00

Op I've had lots of the same problems with my ds who's 13 now. We're going through a 'nice' phase at the moment

I found that I was escalating things when we argued. I would argue back and get more and more angry at the rudeness and attitude. He's been physically violent to me too

So if I tell him off, I walk away. He can be angry but I don't have to listen to it. I am non negotiable on any consequences. So when he lied to me about having GTA, I took the game off him. Then when I caught him again, because the disc I had taken wasn't the actual disc, that got taken as well. Then I turned all his devices off the router
It stayed that way for a month
I've taken his SIM card for a few weeks too
He's learning, albeit slowly and painfully, that I won't take the attitude.
Good luck op, keep at it and keep calm. I'm a single mum as well and it's hard when your son is being aggressive towards you

cathykate · 22/03/2015 21:17

Dolly ..thank you! I appreciate your time and effort to post me and I think that is good advice I can follow..many thanks :)

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sanfairyanne · 22/03/2015 21:22

hi there. i doubt its the games as such, but a lot of screen time can always make them grumpy. some good tips already re family meals, family walks etc
how is school? is there perhaps a friendship issue or academic issue behind this?

DollyTwat · 22/03/2015 21:35

Cathy I'm not out of the woods yet!
I'm currently trying to get all the help I can access - family counselling, PPP course anything that will help us. The school coordinator can be a helpful resource sometimes, I talk openly with other parents too
At least you then get a sense of what's 'normal' and what isn't

BubbleGirl01 · 22/03/2015 21:37

I have 13 yr old DTSs, neither of which play any violent XBox games like GTA, and both are rude as fuck, think they know better than me, ignore me and are little shits at most of the times so I wouldn't put all the attitude down to that Grin. 18 yr old DD was similar and is still is.

You are entering the 'teenage hell' phase OP. Some are lucky enough to go through it unscathed with sanity intact, others are not.

He's testing you and your boundaries. Be firm, don't give in on your rules and start building up a hard shell that the shittiness can bounce of, don't take it personally! Lots of hugs as well as well so they know you still love them despite it all, they do feel bad about the way they behave too sometimes.

Take a deep breath and you'll both hopefully come out the other side intact! Still waiting for the other side with 18 yr old DD, although I am sure we will get there when she's about 30 Hmm

maplebaconchips · 22/03/2015 21:45

Love bombing is the only thing that snaps my 12 year old out of it. Use her baby pet name, hug her, tell her how loved she is and she knows that she is being rude. Im not above bringing out mummy and me toddler photos. No harm in limiting the xbox, but I think it is more the age itself than the computer games.

cathykate · 22/03/2015 21:45

hmm sanfairyanne..i have put subtle feelers out to see if any thing wrong at school etc but nothing seems wrong.. just me (mum) is prob at mo :(

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maplebaconchips · 22/03/2015 21:51

Don't take it personally, CathyKate. It is not you, its the hormones and the age. They are boundary pushing. Mine has reduced me to tears regularly recently. They are trying to act grown up, and self sufficient, they dont want telling, because they believe they know it all right now. The more you fight against it, the harder they push.

DollyTwat · 22/03/2015 21:58

I've been called all sorts
Fat, ugly, no one will date me because I'm so ugly, I have problems blah blah
I don't let any of it upset ME as its not true. Sometimes if I listen carefully I can hear all of his insecurities coming at me

cathykate · 22/03/2015 22:07

Thank you for your comments and advice..today I was so sad and I was in tears and I posted for the first time because I honestly didn't know what I should do for the best...and you have made me feel better and given me constructive advice and made me feel it's not its not all my fault..maplebaconchips snap x

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