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Teenagers

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

14/15yr old driving me crazy HELP

65 replies

FabFlorist · 22/07/2014 12:04

Background - she's my dd1, she is 15 next week, her bio dad left when she was a baby and my dh has been her dad since she was 15mths, we are loving parents, she has a good home life, is doing well at school and has a Saturday job.

The Problem - her attitude, she's vile to us and her little sister (dd2 is 8yrs) she starts arguments at night and wakes her sister most nights. She thinks she can do what she wants when she wants. Especially in the holidays.

Recently she has tried to deceive us to gain entry to her gran's house to have a party while she was away (we caught her out and it didnt go ahead thank god) my mum has backed us up and told her its unacceptable and she needs to be better behaved. Last half term she got drunk on neat vodka, passed out and was sick alot and her brand new iphone5 was smashed. Last night was her first outing after being grounded for the planned party deception and wanted to come home at 930pm we said ok but no later as we had originally asked her to be in at 9pm, she was late and had been drinking wine (slurring, eyes dilated). We said it wasn't on and she would be grounded again (any words of advice about how long to ground her for this time? a couple of days? or longer?) she went mad saying she wasn't being grounded again, we are too strict, we can get bent, do one, that her dad isn't her dad and can't tell her what to do etc then said i'm not her mum (erm yeh ok love lol). In april she also ruined our family holiday by basically acting like we had kidnapped her even though we got her wifi so she could still contact friends, it was a 2 wk all inc hol which we have never done before so we had been really looking forward to it Sad

After the vodka episode I took her to the doctors to get her the morning after pill (as their were lads at the party and she had hazy memories, not full on sex but other stuff going on before she passed out!) I also spoke to the doctor about her being on the pill (she had previously been on it to calm her erratic periods but kept not taking it so didn't solve the issue) she is now taking it (i'm ensuring she is) I also spoke to them about getting her referred to Camhs (her appt is early sept) because I believe she has slight OCD (just re-decorated her bedroom and if something wasn't white enough she wouldn't have it) she is very materialistic and looks after her stuff very well (which is good) she has definate sibling rivalry issues (vile to her sister or ignores her completely, said she wishes she was never born/ was dead etc which is very upsetting for dd2 who is very sensitive) then there is the issue of dd1's bio dad who has never bothered to gain access, he is an unsavory guy, in and out of prison for violent assaults, not a good role model at all so I'm relieved he has left us alone tbh as he stalked me, abused me etc.

My question - How do I handle all of this? How do I trust her to go out? What do I do when I'm working and can't be here? How do I protect my dd2 from her sister? It's her birthday soon and we said we weren't getting her a present as such because we were doing her bedroom up instead. We have been saying for the past 6mths if she could be good for a couple of weeks we would do her room but she couldn't/ didn't manage it so as it needed doing we did it for her birthday instead of presents.

Dd1 is going to her aunts for 6 days next week so at least we can have a break but she just had a weekend at her grandparents and though she was an angel for them she has obviously come back and done this.

OP posts:
fairlyliquid · 07/08/2014 14:23

I know you are trying but you still need to back off. You are trying so hard to back off, your backing-off is equally obtrusive. Don't write 'how can we make our lives better' on a white board or have lots of chats about how things are or send her texts telling her you love her. This is not giving space. It is the opposite of giving her space.

What is the worst thing that can happen, if she doesn't do these things? You are making constant drama and possibly making her feel guilty. You are a lovely mother but your relationship with her is changing, as it must change. I have brought up a child in more complicated circumstances and believe me if that DC were to breeze in and out and shun my company for that of his friends, I would feel happy that all was as it should be.

The rabbits thing is easy (we have exactly this). I say, I'm not starting dinner until you start cleaning the rabbits. Or, we're not sitting down to eat while the rabbits are hungry. Then sit back.

Less is more. Much less.

Solo · 07/08/2014 14:30

When my Ds was 14, he did something stupid (can't even remember what), and I grounded him for 3 MONTHS! he will be 16 on Sunday and although he still tries pushing the boundaries, he really does remember those three months (all through the holidays too!).

It's natural that they do this; not quite an adult, not really a child and I remember those feelings too, but they have to learn. Ds often comes to me and says "I hate it when you're right Mum" :) Currently he's stretching his ear (ugh!) and although I completely disagreed with him even having his ear pierced (did it himself), I have told him that he is limited to 4mm until he leaves home permanently. I just have to stick to that myself and I really don't want to throw him out, but I'm hoping he realises that it's a stupid thing to do anyway and stops of his own accord.

Teens don't seem to realise how stupid they are behaving until they are adults anyway.

I wish you luck OP, but a grounding should mean something to them, it should deprive them of more than a few days freedom.

Solo · 07/08/2014 15:27

Sorry, just realised that I didn't have all messages on display, so must read the rest of the thread. Blush

DwellsUndertheSink · 07/08/2014 16:32

my son is under house arrest - he has his phone and PC - and he can see whats going on with his mates, but he cannot join them.

Grounding in our house means not going out, but also losing screen privileges - DS knows he has to keep his room tidy, he gets until a set time, then I walk in and remove the PC, the PS3 and his phone. he doesnt get it back for 24 hours.

Harsh, but consistently fair.

insanityscratching · 07/08/2014 16:38

Your dd will "come back" to you in time it's just for now she needs to find out for herself who she is. I remember my ds once saying to me "why do you have to be so damn reasonable? why don't you shout and get mad like normal people?" probably because teens thrive on drama. When faced with someone calm and reasonable it unnerves them and they start thinking for themselves. I rarely punished mine tbh, they hated me saying I was disappointed with their behaviour and then I'd ask them how they thought they could put it right, they were always far more harsh on themselves than I would have been Grin

FabFlorist · 07/08/2014 17:22

She's gone out with friends, she's called her relatives to say thank you for birthday presents and she cleaned the rabbits I asked her when she wants to come home shessaid 9pm which is fine and she will sort her own dinner. Calm feels like it has been restored for today at least I hope.

OP posts:
Dreamgirls234 · 07/08/2014 17:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Inkspellme · 07/08/2014 19:21

Totally agree about realising what you are not doing is backing off (Sorry!). the texts you see as loving and supportive and are meant that way as well she may well see as suffocating or helicopter parent. I'm not telling you not to tell her you live her. But in a more casual way. Maybe when she says goodnight and you can throw in a night and a love you! I know this sounds ridiculus but if I was her I would feel very overwhelmed by you. The whiteboard is just a constant reminder board too. Just ask her to do the things and then, as another poster has said, talk to her in the assumption she did.

Basically she needs space.

FabFlorist · 07/08/2014 20:11

Ok, I'll try harder again tomorrow Smile she has responded well today and although she said she would come home at 9pm she actually suprised us by coming home at 7pm and instead of just going to her room she's stayed down here and when she came in we were eating dinner and she said she fancied some so dh said he would cook her some after the programme had finished (I did suggest she did her own if she wanted but she said dh is better at fried eggs)

Smile
OP posts:
Inkspellme · 07/08/2014 20:16

Sounds like a nice evening. It's when my dd is like that - easy company - that I remember that teenagers are actually nice to have in the house by times!

Pointeshoes · 07/08/2014 22:07

I think it's really good that she did the things you asked and it shows to you that she can do things herself. Take a step back though please or she will go further away from you.

hunterlee · 09/08/2014 05:30

Stumbled on this website while looking for advice. We live in the USA and most of the advice I get is "be cool, chill and let it ride". That's BS. How can I chill and let her treat me like crap! She's 17 and a real drama queen. She wants everything although she knows I can't get it for her. She rubs my face in it too and embarrasses me in front of her friends. I try to keep her away from one particular friend, but it doesn't work. When will I wake up from this nightmare? Sometimes I hate her!

FabFlorist · 11/08/2014 11:26

Update, I didn't really see dd1 over the weekend as I was working on weddings plus dd stayed at my sisters fri and sat then went shopping with sis all day sunday. Dd1 did pop home on sat after work and left me flowers Shock Grin bless her, she loves me really! Last night we didn't really see her much but she did eat the dinner we had put aside and fed the rabbits and then babysat her sister while we went out for an hour once her sister was in bed......I can't believe how fast thing's have changed but I hope we can build bridges and have a stronger bond.

I brought dd a diary and she started filling it in yesterday, me and dh said she can put anything and everything in there and we will never read it because we want her to have somewhere she can be honest and get things off her chest.

Last night we talked about things she is doing this week and I wrote them on her whiteboard as a reminder but I won't be reminding her or nagging her to do any of them, she knows herself how much she needs to get sorted. This morning I went in at 10.45 to see if she wanted a coffee bringing up and gave her a cuddle which she was receptive to Smile I also mentioned I need someone to help me with my flower business (it will be dirty and likely to get pricked with thorns etc) I said I can either pay you to do it or get someone else in it's up to you, I understand if it's not your thing as it also means being ready for 730am, she totally surprised me by saying she wants to do it Shock

The only time she's been a bit off was this morning I made her a docs appointment at her request and because I can't drive her there (her dad could pick her up) she has said shes not going. I've said I've mad eit now, it was the only time I could get and left it at that.

I feel very calm and happy Smile

My new mantra is "I refuse to get stressed" I will not panic.

OP posts:
Solo · 11/08/2014 13:43

Sounds good!! I hope it continues for you all. :)

Coolas · 11/08/2014 14:40

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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