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Teenagers

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

three teens and pre teens

9 replies

Sazzy32 · 08/12/2011 14:48

Hi
I am new to this site but hoping to get some advice and or support.
I am a single mum to 3. Boys aged 13 and 12 and a girl 10.
I love my kids to bits they are my life, but in the last few months i have got to the point ( and i hate saying this ) where i don't like the people they are at the moment.
Oldest is generally no problem, but does have a bit of a temper on him at times and is easliy irritated by the others
The middle one is argumentative and very cocky right now.
My daughter is just a nightmare, rude, loud, horrible to me, its like she is the adult sometimes.

Main problems are in fighting between them, how do you deal with this.

Also how can i work to build a better relationship with my daughter as the moment we just argue really.

Thanks for reading

OP posts:
musicposy · 08/12/2011 19:02

I don't have boys I'm afraid but do have two girls 15 and 12, and also teach. I can tell you that 10 is a vile age for girls, and 11 is not really better. My 12 year old is, I think, improving slowly, but the word slowly is key here. My 15 year old is delightful, so there is light at the end of the tunnel!

With my 12 year old, I try to ignore all the glaring (if looks could kill I'd be dead many times over!), eye rolling, door slamming, deep sighing, and telling me everyone hates her and her life sucks. I also ignore clothes all over the bedroom floor, mould festering in cups and eye make up that reinvents the words "black eye liner." Those things are small fry and if I obsess over them I will lose my relationship with her completely.

I try to remember that she is a bundle of hormones and not entirely in control of her emotions, that when she says "I hate you!" she's often angling for me to say "I still love you and always will" and for her to have a huge hug and a massive cry. I try to remember that although she wants to be treated and viewed as almost an adult, a lot of the time she still wishes she was still a little girl, and all this is mixed up inside.

I won't tolerate swearing at me, hitting her sister, hanging around on the streets with no purpose, and I keep her incredibly busy with youth theatre, singing, ice skating and dance, so she doesn't have time to go looking for trouble. I try to be genuinely interested in her, and am willing to listen for hours about all her friendship issues (which sound petty to me but are obviously of mammoth significance to her). I try to count to 10 before I react to anything she says so that my response is more measured and I don't act in shock or anger.

It seems to be working as I thought at 10 she would be utterly out of control by now. One of her favourite phrases was "so? What ya gunna to do about it?" but I haven't heard that for a while now.

In short, keep loving them even when it's hard, try to excuse the behaviour that you can, don't sweat the small stuff, but be willing to be hard on the big stuff. Let them know that you will always love and adore them, and that you are on their side. And know that one day they will be lovely again. Grin

musicposy · 08/12/2011 19:06

Oh, and I had some great advice on sibling fights here nearly a year ago now. :)

Sazzy32 · 09/12/2011 18:18

Thank you for replues, nice to know i am not alone in this

OP posts:
Maryz · 10/12/2011 18:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sazzy32 · 11/12/2011 12:24

Hi

Yes they do have their own rooms but all seem to like to annoy each other by going into each others rooms!!

I have put into place some house rules now that they helped to write and money will be deducted from pocket money for each rule break. Hence my ds2 had none this week!
Heres hoping it starts to hit home!

OP posts:
Maryz · 11/12/2011 21:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sazzy32 · 12/12/2011 00:08

That is great advice, thank you. I will try and put it into action!! Will let you know how it goes!!

OP posts:
jellytot34 · 16/12/2011 16:49

hi sazzy, just wanted to add that i had two sisters close in age to me and as teenagers we fought morning noonand night..at one stage i didnt speak to my sister for about three months as a teenager! now were all in our thirties and they are my closest friends.. things will work out for the best in the long run when they quit the rowing!

GnomeDePlume · 16/12/2011 22:23

I have three DCs (16, 13, 11) and agree with Maryz about rooms. Mine are not allowed into each others rooms without permission either from us or the DC who's room it is.

My DCs have to be polite to each other. They have to say please and thank you. This puts up a cushion between them. We jump on any sniping between them. We demand that politeness to us as well.

We are strict but we are also consistent.

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