15 year old boy driving me mad!!!!!

[patsy8]

Firstly would like to say that some of the threads on here have made me feel better and made me smile. It's a comfort to know that I am not the only one who finds parenting with a teenager difficult.

My son is about to turn 16 next week and all we seem to do is argue. He doesn't want to get a job keeps saying he will wait till after his exams, so I have told him that he needs to help me around the house if he expects to get money from me. ( i don't get any money from his dad and I find it very difficult at times) he wants money every week to see his friends.

He goes out now to friends and drinks. I do know where he is well I think I do but he wantts to come home late. I am not sure what time he should be coming in....??? any suggestions usually a friday and saturday night.

All we seem to do is argue and it gets me down he talks to me in a horrible way unless he wants something.

I know my thread may not be as bad some some others but it does get me down..

Thank you in advance for your help :-)

Hang on in there patsy8, all sounds very normal! I've got a 16 yr old son, 17 next week and we've had an "interesting" couple of years!

I made ds be home by 11 o'clock last year. Not allowed out any other night while at school. He goes out and drinks with friends too, but always appears to be pretty sober when he get in. Don't encourage the drinking, but what can you do?

Try to ignore some of the moodiness if possible, it's probably just his hormones. Don't let him be rude though - insist on politeness.

With regard to jobs, my son was lucky to get a job last year with a local supermarket chain (I was the one who found it online for him, otherwise he wouldn't have bothered to look). There aren't many Saturday jobs out there though. Try and get him to help around the house if possible, but to be honest it will probably just cause more friction. I've given up arguing over ds messy bedroom! However, if money is tight, then you must attempt to get him to earn a bit of pocket money. Stay strong and try to ignore the grumpiness and pick your batttles! Good luck. xxx

P.S. He's was only allowed out on Fridays and Saturdays during school time.

Thanks for your message, he only allowed out Friday and saturday nite. Did find him a job but he said he didn't want it till after his exams!!!!! Ahhhhh! Now make him do jobs around the home ! For pocket money! Just find it a bit hard at times x