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Parents of adult children

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Young adult daughter

10 replies

monkeysonthemoon · 05/09/2020 11:15

Namechanged for this as I don't want it linked to my posting history.
I'm looking for some insights and advice about whether dd's behaviour is typical for a 20 year old. She's been away at uni for a couple of years but came home when lockdown started, which I know must be difficult for her after having had some independence for nearly two years. Over time, she seems to want less and less to do with us and particularly me. She meets with lots of her friends outside home since the lockdown rules eased off, she has loads of face time chats with her friends every day or so and has a part-time job, so it's not as if she has no contact with anyone else. However, for at least a couple of months now, whenever she comes back home, she will say hello then go straight upstairs to her bedroom and shut the door. As far as I can tell she just lies on her bed texting her friends. She comes out for dinner which she eats with us but then as soon as she is finished she's off upstairs again. If I ask her to stay with us for a bit for a chat she says she's exhausted and wants to lie down. She does nothing around the house unless asked and then we have to remind her several times. Her room is a tip, clean and dirty clothes everywhere, plates and glasses on every surface, empty food packaging just dropped. The only time she is pleasant is if she needs us to take her somewhere or if there is a possibility we might spend some money on her. If I drive her somewhere there is no conversation, I ask her questions and try to talk about things but get short answers and she doesn't initiate any conversation herself. If we all go on a longer trip she sits in the back of the car with her headphones on which means she can't hear what we are saying and can't contribute to or initiate any conversations. Every conversation I do have with her there's eye-rolling, heavy sighing or she just cuts me off. DH has mentioned this to her but she denies it happens and nothing changes.
She does have mental-health problems for which she is taking tablets, but she says she feels fine and as mentioned above she has a wide circle of friends here and at university so I don't think the problems are getting worse. Generally she is fit and healthy, does a lot of drawing and painting, is interested in health and fashion and takes care of herself.
I alternate between feeling so sad at the state of our relationship and feeling angry that she is so contemptuous of me and has no appreciation of all the things dh & I do for her. Has anyone else experienced this and can anyone offer any advice as to how we can improve our relationship?

OP posts:
Andi2020 · 05/09/2020 18:54

Don't do things for her.
If she wants clean clothes let her fo them
Tell her if she wants a lift you want a conversation on the journey.
What else do you do for her when you say all the things you do. You obviously have to feed her ask her to cook with you or clear up after.

ulanbatorismynextstop · 05/09/2020 19:12

Was she like this before she went to uni? Sounds like she's checked out.

Oliversmumsarmy · 05/09/2020 19:17

My dd is the same age.

She has been working since she was 16 (self employed)

Because of her job she works long and really odd hours so when I am awake during the day she can be asleep.

She has loads of friends and a long term bf and is very much like your dd in that she is out with friends, so much that even her bf asked for a little bit of time for him.
Although I think she was getting stir crazy because of lockdown and has gone overboard this couple of months.

Her room I have never ventured too far in.
She had blitzes of tidying it and she does do her own laundry. She will also sweep up or mop the floor or wipe down the kitchen surface if she sees it needs doing.

Once every few weeks we do go out for the day. We either go shopping for the day and have lunch out and stop for coffees. Or we do something really random, like visiting a random museum or exhibition.
I do the same with Ds.

We have done this since they were both small.

Personally I think lockdown has been hard on young people. Not seeing their friends and being under their parents roof 24 hours per day

It is no wonder they are going slightly mad and are out all the time.

Atla · 05/09/2020 19:23

I can remember being like that at about 14/15 so she sounds a bit immature. Was she like that toward you when she was at uni/before she went?

Perhaps you both need some space so perhaps she needs to go back to uni ASAP, or else just to move out!

I agree that you shouldn't do things for her like washing/cooking/lifts unless she can be helpful and pleasant.

Atla · 05/09/2020 19:25

Agree, she could just be going stir crazy living at home

parrotonthesofa · 05/09/2020 19:27

Yes this sounds like the behavior of a younger teenager. Was she like this before uni?

Cuddling57 · 05/09/2020 19:34

I'm not sure if I was exactly the same as your dd but I think she just needs space. Don't overcrowd her, just be there when she needs you. Although don't pander to her or she'll lose respect for you. I'm sure she'll come round soon.

PatriciaPerch · 05/09/2020 19:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

monkeysonthemoon · 05/09/2020 20:42

Thank you so much for the responses. I agree that she does seem a lot younger than she actually is, she is very black and white with her thinking, more like a mid-teen than someone older. Just to be clear, I don't do her laundry or clean up her room, she generally makes her own lunch (but eats it on her own up in her room) but I make dinner for all of us which we eat together. She will make dinner if I ask her to but never clears up afterwards. It's good to know that this might be in the normal range of behaviour made worse by lockdown, which I fully understand. I've been wfh the whole of lockdown and getting a bit stir crazy now. It's difficult to suggest things to do together at the moment, but will try and think of some things where it won't be too crowded. Thanks again to all who replied.

OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 05/09/2020 20:49

Dd and I have been shopping a couple of times since shops opened.

Really sad to see our once thriving shopping centre like a ghost town with a lot of stores and restaurants closed for good.

Very few people out and about compared to normal

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