Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

19 year old with no respect for me

4 replies

JosR · 14/04/2011 13:44

My 19 year old is home for easter from uni and driving me mad. She's bright, bloody minded and won't be told anything. Currently she and unemployed boyfriend are asleep in her room (he's also bright and they've been seeing each other for 2 years). The kitchen is a tip because they left it that way. We just managed to avoid an all out row yesterday because she's not yet applied for any summer jobs. I can't face a summer of this; little if any contribution to running of house, sleeping all day with unemployed boyfriend, not cleaning up after themselves. I'm working full time, home based office and don't know what to do. I've tried everything I can think of. Rational, calm conversation with one and both of them, asking them about whether they're behaving as adults (they agreed they weren't and discussed what they would need to do to make that happen but nothing has changed). Have asked them how they think I feel about this and impact on me. They give good responses but nothing changes. I've tried throwing a tantrum and telling them I am not a hotel. Doesn't work. Tried setting rules and boundaries. Doesn't work. I don't want to force my daughter to leave home or destroy our relationship but really, this is seriously affecting me and I am at my wits ends. Her BFs dad's house is not an option with two younger siblings both learning disabled and he doesn't set any boundaries for his son, whereas my daughter is at least trained to cook and look after herself. She does that really well at uni but doesn't respect my boundaries when home with me. Her dad's place is not an option either. I just don't know what else to try. All suggestions welcome.

OP posts:
halfcaffordableLidlEasterEggs · 14/04/2011 13:53

Struggling to think of anything to help you but you have my sympathies. Lots of people must be going through this especially with high unemployment even those willing to get holiday jobs just can't find them.

How is she funded? Are you buying all her food? What kind of mess are they leaving? My dd is only 11 but takes the p already never clearing her plates or wiping a surface if she makes a sandwich, stuffing crisp packets and sweet wrappers down the back of the sofa, etc. and nothing I say seems to make any difference. I have stopped buying crisps or snacks with wrappers on for periods of time, but still goes back to the same behaviour when I start again.

Probably you need to set some ground rules - the situation is not the same now as when she was under your roof full-time, and maybe get her and her bf to sign up to what they are going to do on the understanding that financial allowances are dependent on the conditions being fulfilled. Will probably cause fights I know! Good luck.

halfcaffordableLidlEasterEggs · 14/04/2011 13:54

Also anything else you do for her, such as washing her clothes, buying particular foods, giving lifts, etc could be withdrawn.

Sarsaparilllla · 14/04/2011 15:07

Are you funding her through uni, does she work during term time? If not maybe that's something that needs to be reconsidered to teach her about responsibities

Other than that, can't they go to her bfs house? At least they could louge about and make a mess there indtead of at your house??

webwiz · 14/04/2011 15:21

I've just picked up DD1(19) for university today, she is home for a couple of weeks for a bit of rest and relaxation and is revising for next terms exams. She has a boyfriend but he's stayed at uni because he has a part time job. I think if she was doing was your dd is doing I wouldn't have her at home. I would be dishing out ultimatums - if she doesn't start following some house rules then she has to go taking the boyfriend with her. She can look after herself at university so she can start doing it when she comes home as well.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread