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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Is being a teenager THAT exhausting?!?!

58 replies

littlegreenlight1 · 19/05/2014 20:00

DD (16) is in the middle of her GCSEs.
I do understand that they are stressful etc and she is working hard (ish - def not as hard as she thinks she is) but having had one exam today, shes laid in the sun all afternoon (absolutely fair enough) then come in and gone to sleep on the sofa for the past 2 hours. Done no revision and no housework.
I am trying to go easy on her but find it very hard!! I will have to bite my lip for a few more weeks I think. Then she can clean her bloody room Angry

OP posts:
Original poster
littlegreenlight1 · 19/05/2014 20:02

sorry meant to add this is most days including weekends!!
I do wonder if its linked to her having swine flu when she was about 12/13, she has suffered immunity wise ever since then and does seem to get quite exhausted.
Hmmm maybe I should get her to a doctor rather than bitching on here!

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 19/05/2014 20:05

Same here

I am saying nothing about her room, the fact she forgets to flush the loo every time, the obsessive eyeliner drawing and hair straightening, the constant whining that it's too hot/she's hungry/outlandish plans to spend the summer with her boyfriend on the beach (!)

Ignore everything, kill her in 20 days Grin

Dd also put off revision today but has rallied round by doing a q and a right now over dinner on English lit tomorrow.

So {{{hugs}}} and wine for you Smile

CardiffUniversityNetballTeam · 19/05/2014 20:12

I work with a lot of teens. I find it exhausting being around them, mainly owing to all the drama they create for themselves and between them and their friends!
I can't imagine how tiring it must be to live with that level of drama in your life constantly. Grin

Original poster
littlegreenlight1 · 19/05/2014 20:14

urgh the toilet paper and nose blowing. The eyeliner!!!!!! We have that one, she goes for a "havent washed in weeks/minging rockstar" look that I just have to smile and swear inwardly about!!

OP posts:
Original poster
littlegreenlight1 · 19/05/2014 20:25

I used to work in a high school. It was fine until my own kids got to that age - I couldnt cope with it all day there and then at home!!!

OP posts:
HSMMaCM · 20/05/2014 08:04

DD has a sleep nearly every day after school now. She's never been that keen on sleeping, so I guess she must be tired.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 20/05/2014 08:06

Tbh once she is in full time work or raising a family she wont get the chance to bum around like she has now. Unless she ins neglecting schoolwork, chores or her attitude goes down hill, id leave her be.

sashh · 21/05/2014 07:47

Yes it is, I remember it well.

I agree with the studies about teenagers sleeping until noon.

Basically I have always been awake early, I was as a child and I am now as an adult. As a teen I could not get enough sleep, particularly at weekends.

LettertoHerms · 21/05/2014 07:52

It really is. I remember just being exhausted all the time as a teen. I couldn't sleep enough.

SirChenjin · 21/05/2014 08:01

It would appear so - although I can't remember being as ^tiiiiiiiiiiiiired as DS1 - I managed to study, work at a p/t job which meant being in the shop at 9am on a Saturday, and socialise. DS is complaining bitterly* that he has exams on 2 consecutive days Hmm, is convinced he's failed them all (which, given his rather lacklustre performance up until about a month ago, could very well be true) and now plans to leave school with no Highers (over my dead body)

ilovemonstersInc · 21/05/2014 08:10

Yup as someone said it really is. I was doing my gcses 6years ago and they really take it out of you. I did do lots or revising though and due to stress of the exams couldnt sleep at night so might just be a few that are really that tired

NigellasDealer · 21/05/2014 08:19

i do remember walking from a certain tube station to my friends house when I was that age and my legs literally felt like lead walkiing up the steep bit - it was utterly exhausting - yet at the age of 45 i would stride up with no problem at all.
also I recall horrible muscle aches across my shoulders etc

Salazar · 21/05/2014 19:48

I think it is that exhausting during exams. Universities particularly are full of very unhappy, stressed and depressed teenagers at this time of the year.

Let her finish them, have a weekend doing nothing and then get back on track. Biting your tongue is hard, but necessary atm I think!

whatchatalkinboutwillis · 21/05/2014 20:33

I don't think that you should be expecting her to do housework when she's in the middle of taking her GCSEs...

Cooroo · 21/05/2014 23:05

Mine is doing AS now. She is always exhausted despite going to bed at 10 every night. Perky in the mornings actually. Does all the hair and eyeliner stuff - I think she looks great!

terry110 · 29/05/2014 21:26

My DD is mid GCSE and cracking us both up. Hardly any revision during this half term, then sits and cries when she does get on with it saying she doesn't understand and then it becomes our fault and the circle goes round again! Did really well before hol seven though it was often up to the wire!! Doesn't seem to b motivated what can we do? she just thinks she's going to wing it but then grits stressed day before. hate hold and study leave wish she was just at school whole time!
any advice would be great!

NinjaLeprechaun · 30/05/2014 11:07

Teenagers do need more sleep, almost on the same level of sleep a toddler needs. They should probably all be taking afternoon naps.
Not to mention the fact that stress can make anybody tired, teenager or not.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 30/05/2014 11:17

I think I read somewhere that they are so tired because of all the changes their bodies are going through - and the changes their brains are going through too. Add the stress and work of exams on top and no wonder they are shattered!

WildThong · 30/05/2014 11:21

I tried to get DS up at 10.30, it's just not happening. Teenager sleep fog has descended.

BackforGood · 30/05/2014 11:22

Agree, yes, they do need vast amounts of sleep, but the vast majority of them don't go to bed early enough to get it, so therefore they sleep through the morning. With exams looming, I'd go with whatever works for them at the moment, but easing them back in to "being awake during school hours" ready for the exams next week.

bruffin · 30/05/2014 11:42

The trouble is the melatonin doesnt get released until much later, so they are not sleepy until later but still need 10 hours of sleep. They did an experiment in the US where they changed school start time until later (think it was originally about 7.30) and it made a world of difference to behaviour and result.

I have DD 16 doing GCSE and DS 18 doing A levels. DS doesnt seem that bad but DD is very tired, but she was partying all weekend but not any late nights, just long days ie Slam Dunk and MCM comic con and then my DMs birthday.

beatingwings · 30/05/2014 12:23

I can't say I've noticed. We are all early bedders here. My teenagers are asleep with lights off by 10pm, often earlier.

Teenagers do need a lot of sleep and if they stay up late they will be tired during the day.

My DS has just finished his exams and is fine, DD does 11 hours of extra curricular dance and is very energetic, but will take herself off to bed at 9pm if she has had a tough day.

Spiritedwolf · 30/05/2014 12:27

Whose bright idea was it to have people sit important examinations when they are on board the hormonal, social and physical roller-coaster that is the teenage years?

My mum has said that now she understands teenage psychology better (through work training and raising her fifth!) she realises why we found stuff difficult at that age and said that she would have done things differently and is doing so with my youngest brother.

Bit late for me! I slept a lot in the day as a teenager and found it difficult to concentrate on revision stuff. But I don't know how typical I was as I'm pretty sure I was depressed and very anxious (diagnosed later when I was struggling with uni).

BackforGood · 30/05/2014 13:15

Absolutely Spirited - I think even more so for lads than girls. Don't know why that should be, just my experience, but they are just not 'ready' for all the exams at this stage in their life.

Nocomet · 30/05/2014 13:27

Even my crack of dawn 13y DD has suddenly discovered the joys of lie ins.

It's rather nice.

GCSEs have also caused night owl DD1 to go to bed by 10.30, thats just weird.