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Teenagers

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

I'm done

999 replies

CouthyMow · 23/01/2014 11:03

DD school refused this morning. First she refused to give DS1 back his iPod that he had kindly lent to her yesterday because hers is broken.

I insisted she give it back. She then decided

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CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:10

The issue is that she's already doing 1 less GCSE than anyone else, she's doing 8 instead of 9, and the school has something to do with league tab,DS saying you can't do less than 8? This is what DD has told me, because before Thursday, she was apparently trying to talk to her LSA to try to drop the H&S Care one, and the LSA wasn't sure she could as it would drop her to 7 GCSE's.

So she was TRYING to sort this out herself, trying to be grown up, yet when told it might not be possible, it all overwhelmed her and the only option she could see was to just not go to school on the day / days she has H&S Care.

Gah! Why didn't she bloody tell me?!

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CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:11

tab,DS should say tables. Fat finger syndrome rather than autocorrect this time!

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ForTheLoveOfSocks · 25/01/2014 21:17

Jesus Christ Couthy, that's some bloody tether you have.

If I were in your shoes, once her 16th birthday arrives, I would consider the next kick off to be the last one. I would ring the police, have her removed and state you can no longer have her in your home. Then you all might get the help and support you clearly need.

You probably already know this, but if you kick her out at 16 then SS can't get involved.

It could also restore the equilibrium with your older DS. That you are a person who does not deserve the treatment your DD gives, at that there are consequences to your actions.

I know it's easy for me to say kick her out, but reading the responses you've had from the LA and SS they are going to do sod all while she is in your care.

CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:19

So she HAD a semi-reasonable reason for not being able to cope, and sitting on her own in the park, on the swings, instead of going to school on Friday.

I'm going to do my best to try to remind her school of their motto - something about they consider every child's abilities and strengths - and tell them that my DD's MH and stress levels matter far more than some sodding league table.

The school are nervous about league tables as the next one will be after their first FULL school year as an Academy...

They no longer accept DC's with issues as complex as DD's, either. And those in younger years have had lots of 'managed moves' to the PRU and other less MC schools this year since they became an Academy.

So I can see that those with SEN on the trad GCSE route rather than the ACE program are getting pressured terribly.

ACE program wasn't right for DD as it didn't meet the entry requirements for the College course she wants to do, so DD had no choice but to go the Trad GCSE route.

When we chose her options in Y9, school reassured parents it had no plans to Academise, and her support would be guaranteed until the end of Y11.

April of Y10, they Academise. September Y11, floating TA support vanishes in all but Core Subjects. I managed to argue for it in her Catering lessons, as that's what she wants to do in College, but that was with a hard won fight.

So no floating support in H&S Care this year. And she's drowning in that subject because of it.

Fucking hate Academies and their delightful 'ways' with DC's with SEN's...

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newbiefrugalgal · 25/01/2014 21:23

Op you are doing amazingly well. I hope you got some college work time this weekend and that well earned break.
Maryz such brilliant advice and sorry its from personal experience.

CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:25

In Y6, DD was meant to follow the NC. All well and good, but at 11yo, she was functioning at a 5-6yo level in reading, and a 4yo level in Maths...

Like she could access ANY of the curriculum?!

(My struggles with DD's primary were well documented on here in the SN topic...)

Secondary were beyond excellent until September, pulling her up from p-scales/NC lvl 1 in Y7 to a 'D-G' grade GCSE student in Y10.

It's since September it's all gone to shit because she isn't being appropriately supported any more.

And the lack if appropriate support in school HAS impacted on our home life.

Hard as it is when she IS melting down...it's NOT all her fault. It's a standard reaction from someone unsupported with their SN's.

Doesn't make it any fucking easier to live through though!!

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CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:26

She seems to have accepted her Dad telling her that if she can attend school for a week, and behave appropriately, she will earn her phone back.

Can't say as I disagree...

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CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:27

Can't say THAT I disagree...seems reasonable to me. And it MUST to her, too, as she didn't start shouting when he told her!

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RandomMess · 25/01/2014 21:28

Couthy, it just bloody infuriates me. They are pushing and pushing our children to get academic results. Bloody pushing square pegs into round holes and then wondering whey they can't cope and go off the rails Sad

CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:31

Thank you all for your support.

I'm sure I'll be at my limits again soon enough, but right now, peace is reigning in my house, and it's bloody lovely!

I'm just getting DS1 to bed, then I'm going to have a bath and some Baileys as I don't have the LO.

Bliss!

College work can wait till tomorrow - me and a Ex have rejigger contact to suit BOTH of us better than EOW Saturday/Sunday, so I can do more College work during the day every other Tuesday as Ex will take DS3 out in the morning, and to their Sensory needs sessions in the afternoon (I can't take DS3 due to unfortunate strobe light/epilepsy issue!).

So stuff got worked on there too, so I can relax tonight.

Now, where's my Baileys?! Wine

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CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:35

Square peg, round hole for sure.

Cooking yes, 3,000 word H&S Care essay no in DD's case.

It's bollocks. If schools had a better system for vocational qualifications, I think the situation would be far less bad.

DD only had the choice of Childcare, Hair & Beauty or Mechanics on the ACE program. None of which were relevant to her intention to become a Chef.

Hence being forced to do traditional GCSE's JUST to get Catering GCSE and catering experience!

:Angry

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flow4 · 25/01/2014 21:45

Oh couthy. I've just been reading the thread and catching up. I'm sorry things are so shit.

I've been there with DS1 - with the bad behaviour not the learning disabilities. Everything you describe he did, plus a whole lot more. Holes in walls, screaming abuse at me, climbing out of windows when I grounded him, taking my things if I ever confiscated his, barricading me into my own bedroom to harangue me so I couldn't walk away, smashing things, smoking dope, taking other drugs, truanting, getting excluded, outrageous lies, not coming home on time or at all, attacking me, getting arrested, minor crime...

Everything Maryz says, I would second. Nothing you are doing is working, so you have to try something else. And since you have tried practically everything, the only thing you have left to try is to stop trying so hard: you have to detach from this or you will burn out.

I think of control like this: you can't make this kind of teenager do anything; they have to learn to make themselves. If you try to keep control, they will fight you for it, and you will lose (I think because they have biology on their side). Losing control is damaging, for you and them. A better option in extreme cases like this is to give them control - over pretty much everything that doesn't put you and the rest of your kids at risk.

It feels like giving up, especially if you have been running a tight ship (and I speak from experience here); but in fact by 'letting go' you (a) gain the energy to fight the battles that actually matter and (b) help them move towards the thing they're aiming for anyway - i.e. independence... And it turns out that you keep influence even when you no longer have control.

Some things I learned...

Call the police every time your DD uses or threatens violence outside her own room. What she does there is her problem. (My DS lived on a mattress on the floor in an otherwise empty pigsty for a while, because he'd smashed or sold everything, until his mates embarrassed him into cleaning up).

You only actually have two options: throw her out or hang on in there. I drove myself mad thinking there must be some other solution, but there isn't. Only you know which is right for you: you will hang on in there until you can't any more. It's something you can review in your head at any time: it took the edge off my panic to realise that even if I had hung on on there until today, I could still kick him out tomorrow if things got too bad.

Ignore the nasty manipulative social worker. S/he obviously doesn't know what s/he is talking about. The thing about dealing with this kind of difficult teen is that you weigh up impossible things: rejecting her versus protecting the others. The only reason I didn't throw DS1 out was that I judged that the harm that would come to him if I did was greater than the harm that was coming to DS2 and me while I didn't. If that equation had changed, my decision would have been different.

Get a lockable cupboard or box. Or several. DS2 had his own, in which he kept packed lunch things and treats he didn't want DS1 to take (among other things). It helped him feel a bit more empowered in an otherwise disempowering situation/relationship. It's shit that DS2 needed this, but it was less shit than being stolen from, or never getting his share of treats.

Give DD a concession asap. Personally I would pick curfew times, because 7:30 does seem early for a 15yo, even midweek. Wait for a calmish moment and say something like "I've been thinking. I wonder whether 7:30 is too early for you now you're almost 16. What do you think? Is there a later time that we can both agree on?" Ask her to suggest a time she thinks is fair and work from there. Don't try to pull her down too far (I reckon 9:30 or 10pm is fine at her age, maybe even later) and if she suggests a time that's late for the rest of the family, still agree, but remind her she needs not to disturb the others when she comes in. Remember she will come in when she likes anyway if you try to lay down the law, but if you encourage her to think responsibly, that will pay off sooner or later. Giving her some control early on, and whenever you get the opportunity, shows her you are not trying to "control her life" and that you're now open for negotiations.

Goodness, I have waffled on. I'll shut up now. Hope you have a peaceful night.

flow4 · 25/01/2014 21:47

(Sorry, I cross-posted with everything after about 6 o'clock!)

Maryz · 25/01/2014 21:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:57

7.30 is DS1's curfew - DD's is 8.30pm on a school night as she has to be up for school at 6.30am, and out of the door at 7.30am. By the time she's bathed and got to bed, it's 10pm on a school night. And she often doesn't fall asleep till 11pm. That's only 7 1/2 -8 1/2 hrs sleep. And she NEEDS her sleep.

That's why her curfew is so early on a school night!

I DO extend her curfew at the weekend if it's for a reason - if she's going to the roller rink with her mates on a Friday / Saturday, it doesn't FINISH until 11pm, and she gets a taxi home (not safe to walk unfortunately, too many stabbings and rapes lately), so not in until 11.30pm / 11.45pm - I'm not an ogre!

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CouthyMow · 25/01/2014 21:59

And her weekend curfew is usually 9.30pm, we discussed that about 2-3 months ago, as an extension on 9pm!

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Commander6 · 25/01/2014 21:59

Totally agree about the school stuff.
She sounds like she has tried her best. And you have too. Good for her and you.

One thing that strikes me regarding her school. Her secondary school seem to be handling things better than primary. Have you talked to any of her teachers, especially those that she likes? They might have ideas and tips of how to proceed.

Commander6 · 25/01/2014 22:09

I meant to add.
When she gets home from school, and is all wound up, does she have a chance to unwind in some way? To let off steam safely, before perhaps seeing you all and having to conform and cooperate?

CouthyMow · 26/01/2014 00:32

They are all left to be 'alone' in their rooms for at least 30 minutes (usually closer to an hour for DD as she requires more 'down time') before being asked to do ANYTHING.

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CouthyMow · 26/01/2014 01:09

It doesn't help that all three of DD 's favourite teachers left at the end of Y10, and even her Form Tutor, who DD got on well with, has been off on long term sick leave since the beginning of Y11 (they usually have the same tutor from Y7-Y11, and DD's was carefully picked!). No clues on if or when DD's tutor will be back, and DD seems to have a revolving food of substitutes who she does NOT get along with - too much change in too short a time.

I've worked out that in 4 months, she has had over 20 teachers cover her registration and PSHE lessons.

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CheerfulYank · 26/01/2014 03:55

Oh, honey.

It's the worst. I don't have teenagers yet, but my older brother was absolutely vile when he was that age. Well, tbf since he was about three years old! Absolutely nothing my parents did worked. He was just a difficult child who's now a difficult man.

My parents requested that he either go to school or get a job. He refused to do either. He left home at 16 and things were better then. He doesn't have a "normal" life now (he's 34) but he gets by. He's okay. And he and my parents have an okay relationship.

I don't have any advice but I'm here for handholding, and to tell you that it is not your fault. Some people...just seem born to fight with the world. I don't know.

Commander6 · 26/01/2014 08:02

When she is left "alone" in her room is all quiet then, or does she kick off there?

Another question that might be equally as non helpful.

In an ideal world, if you had other people to help you too, do you think that she could "cope" with you in small doses?
It strikes me, and as you say, that she can cope with situations in smaller lengths of time.

PacificDogwood · 26/01/2014 08:26

Just wishing you a peaceful day today ThanksBrew

CouthyMow · 26/01/2014 10:12

It depends if there is anything that 'irritates' her.

Which can be as simple as DS1 walking past her doorway (she often refuses to shut her door) to get downstairs. Apparently he deliberately 'looks at her'.

And yes, Cheerful Yank. That description is the one I would say best fits DD - "Some people are just born to fight the world".

When DD was newborn, she used to scream so loudly every time I picked her up out of her goldfish bowl to bf her that the MW's had to take her off the ward and put her in the little Nursery, as she was 'upsetting the other babies'...

She was literally born fighting the world...

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CouthyMow · 26/01/2014 10:14

I don't know. I know that after two weeks away at her Dad's over Christmas, she came back and it took 3 1/2 weeks for her to have her first meltdown, which is the longest she's gone in her entire life.

Blush I mistakenly thought that maybe she'd grown out of it...

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