Teenagers in the house!

[treesandtreesautumnleaves]

Anyone else finding teenagers up with you and your P/H all evening even more difficult (if that's possible!) than the baby phase.
I think it depends on your personality but I am finding it knackering! No personal space at all.
Would like honest reply that I am not the only one! (love them to bits though).

My teens don't hang around the living room - they all shut themselves away in their bedrooms if they aren't out somewhere. It's a rare treat if any of them decide to watch something with me.

I found it really difficult when our dd began staying up 'late' because I really like me time (selfish cow) there was probably a period of 6 months with us sitting glaring at her but now it's just normal! I think it's just another phase you have to go through!

Mine likes her own space and goes to her room or the family room. We'd rather she spent more time with us...unless she's being annoying.

If they are teenagers they will be gone soon, leaving a "massive hole" in your life. Enjoy every minute you have them with you,because in future you will treasure the adult conversations you are having now (watching them change from children to adults).

While I understand what everyone is saying, and I do love spending time with my dc, it is incredibly hard having no personal space/time!

I agree 100% OP but I don't know what I can do to change it without sounding mean! I really do honest guv love my dc

Don't they go out?
Don't you go out?

I know some don't agree with but most nights we have a 9pm watershed - our dd is nearly 13 though. She has to go upstairs and can read or whatever else but the living room is ours. If we decide to watch a film all together or we go out for the evening obviously that doesn't apply! I go to bed at half ten ish anyway or maybe 11 at the latest and I need that little bit of time to myself. (Also have 3.5 year old with severe autism so by 9pm I crave some downtime).

Mine are at home during the week and will happily sit with on top of us. Weekends aren't so bad. But I do miss quietly spreading out on the sofa not having to feign interest in the latest endless traumas of teenage girls.

I know I'll miss them when they're gone. I'm guessing it's akin to now looking at toddlers and thinking how funny and adorable they are where as back in the day I was tearing my hair out with exhaustion and frustration.

Yes! I go out often

DC are both busy too. For me, I think thats part of the problem. Through the week they have activities which might not finish until 9 or so, I am tied to lifts etc quite often, or planning my own things round their things; then they hang out with me downstairs and we eat/chat/argue whatever and then I am ready for bed not long after they disappear to there own rooms.

Weekends are a different story. I feel we all have decent social lives and they are either both out with friends, or one of them will be over at their dads occaisionally . Just never both together at the same time so it makes it hard to have an, cough adult life of my own iyswim

I've just entered this phase with DD staying up and I'm with you trees. I guess reading through this thread, I am grateful she mostly likes hanging out with us. The other thing that gets me though is when can you have sex? I like the idea that my DC are asleep before that kicks off - our bedrooms are all quite close together.

I find it tough if we are all home together (about 2-3 nights a week as we all have different activities/clubs/social engagements etc) - not so bad if we are doing something constructive together - we all like board games/cards or if we all like the same tv or film to watch - but I find it hard if DS (or DH for that matter ) are watching some rubbish on tv and I would prefer something else - I now 'book' the tv for a evening each week so I can watch what I want. . We do have a second tv but it is in an uncomfortable room and doesn't have sky/catch- up etc .

Our teens are either out or stay upstairs in their room/pit.
Sometimes we watch a film together in the sitting room but come nighttime the room's normally just for us!
Can you not bustle them up to their room? Do they have stuff they can do there?
Bloody love being with our kids (of varying ages) but we need an hour or two just sat on our own as parents.