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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Does anyone else have an 11 year old who has got really rude and sneery? Doing my head in.

29 replies

RhubarbTea · 24/12/2019 10:32

Caveat: I am premenstrual, so this is bugging me extra hard right now but it's been going on since before my DS turned 11 in the summer.

I get that he's started to develop earlier than I expected (thought I'd be dealing with this around age 12/13 so I was kind of caught on the back foot) and is hormonal, but my 11 year old has been a little git lately. He started wanting privacy about a year and a half ago, which is perfectly fair enough. He's got spots, body changes, his voice is starting to get deeper and the sex ed book I got him prompted him to google porn (aaaaaaaagh) until I realised and had a chat with him. He just wanted to know how sex worked which I get but I am horrified by what he has seen.

But the main ongoing thing is his attitude is horrible a lot of the time. I remember being a bit of a shit to my mum at age 11, but it's so wearing. It's not the content of his words but the attitude and disrespect, it gives me the rage.

He was previously impeccably behaved almost all of the time and was only ever like this when really tired. Now it's constant. I'm a single mum and am so fed up of being talked down to. I'm normally relatively strict and not a lax parent but it's so exhausting always having to be on my guard being he's horrible or rude so much of the time. I've started to feel relieved when he goes to his Dad's (50/50). His Dad supports me if he is rude to me in front of him and he is less like this with his Dad as he wouldn't bloody dare - so I get it all.

When he's not being horrible, he's lovely. He still this smart, funny and kind person underneath that I love so much. But it's like hormones have changed his personality. Sad

Tell me it's not just my 11 year old...

OP posts:
notthemum · 29/12/2019 20:43

So sorry you're going through this ladies. Mine was a long time ago but she was pretty horrible from about 9-19.
Her eldest is driving her mad at the moment and I am sorry for her. But do tell her now and again that he takes after her.
💐
I promise you will eventually come through this. It's a long hard road but you are strong women and you can do this.
Try and get a little time for yourselves and take care of you.
Good luck ladies.
🍷🍷🍷Trust me, these will help.

FusionChefGeoff · 29/12/2019 20:56

I love this way of looking at it - hope link posts ok if not there should be enough in the link text to google it!

www.upworthy.com/this-mother-s-description-of-her-tween-son-s-brain-is-a-must-read-for-all-parents

georgialondon · 29/12/2019 21:19

Change that WiFi password everyday and make him earn it.

Mocha3105 · 04/01/2020 13:49

I'm mum to 2 boys 8 and almost 12. They fight almost constantly, swear at me and each other. They've recently become rude, talk back, don't listen.
I'm at my wits end. I've tried talking to them, removing electrical devices, shouting, separating them, family meetings. Nothing helps.
Has anyone any suggestions before I totally loose my temper with them 😥

Someone suggested I post on this board but this whole thread makes me feel like I'm not alone and not a total failure as a parent.

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