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Teenagers

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

DD (14) demanding 'carrots' not sticks to behave properly and not be rude

8 replies

Didadida · 12/10/2014 16:33

I think I know the answer, just need online support. DD (14) is being v aggressive and rude and disrespectful to all family members. When I told her to stop being rude and that if she was rude again, she would be handing over her phone for 24 hours, she promptly told her little DB that his breath smelled! When I pointed out this was rude, she threw a tantrum saying it wasn't; well I can't think of a situation this would be polite.

She has gone on being rude and shouting so now has phone and computer use both banned for a week; don't want to have to keep upping the ante but have had enough of the casual rudeness spoken almost by habit.

She's now told me that 'sticks' ie punishments don't work and if I want her to behave properly I should use 'carrots' ie rewards. I don't think I should be rewarding my daughter for not shouting! Ideally, I'd like more appropriate deterrants ie related clearly to the specific misbehaviour ie rudeness/shouting, but can't think of any where rudeness is concerned - any ideas would be useful!

I have been ignoring/tolerating the rudeness for too long and I think she has now just got the idea it doesn't matter or it's normal. I don't think it is or should be normal for family members to be ruder to each other than they would be to a complete stranger, and think it is time DD understood this.

Very wearing... Tell me that sticking to my guns will have some positive result in the end...

OP posts:
ememem84 · 12/10/2014 16:43

Stick to your guns. Don't reward what should be "normal" behaviour ie not shouting.

Didadida · 12/10/2014 18:10

Thank you - she's just come and suggested doing chores to 'earn' her phone back. Which I liked the idea of and which was a constructive attempt to at least make up for the hurt caused. But then she started mouthing off, slamming my laptop lid down when I said I wasn't prepared to talk any more and telling me I was stupid.

So not getting her phone back for some time!

OP posts:
thatsnotmyrealname · 13/10/2014 12:27

My 14 yr old DD can be rude at times but I found that "sticks" and threats and shouting didn't get me anywhere, just more stress for me and my husband - e.g. her pocket money balance was in the red, it was getting ridiculous.
I now try to ignore her when she is being mean to her siblings but I always make a point of taking the younger ones aside and actually spending time with them rather than her. In time they have learned not to respond and dismiss it as big sis' being a grumpy teenager. However I do praise my daughter when she behaves "normally" but I don't make a big deal of it either. It could just be me spending a bit more time in the evening with her, or letting her watch a programme on TV with me. I am not sure whether it's due to my behaviour or her growing up but things have definitely improved in our household.

Itsfab · 13/10/2014 12:48

She sounds like she is displaying horrible behaviour but is she horrible? If not, I would talk to her when she is being pleasant to be around and explain that she is responsible for her own behaviour and you will not tolerate her picking on her siblings any more and she needs to show respect for everyone.

I realise it is ironic me posting given that my DD has been going through a stage where she has been horrible to us all but we have spoken to her very firmly and so far the message seems to be getting through.

Ormally · 18/10/2014 23:33

I think I'd say outright 'Why should I reward you for displaying the behaviour of a normal sociable family member?' and point out that it doesn't happen to you or anybody else, however nice that might be. Normal behaviour of parents, in her eyes, being: giving her lifts; doing her washing, whatever - as you don't get any particular gold stars for doing that, you've decided to leave her to her own devices for as long as she's deciding to be a spiky, hard-work member of the household.

poisonedbypen · 18/10/2014 23:35

It's called blackmail. "Buy me things or I'll be badly behaved".

mineofuselessinformation · 18/10/2014 23:38

She's already had the carrots when you were allowing her all of the things you could deny her if you felt like it. She's feeling her feet, and being a teenager - but that doesn't excuse her behaviour. Stand firm.

specialsubject · 19/10/2014 11:39

indeed - being a teenager is not an excuse for behaving like this. Remove all privileges for a long time.

letting her get away with this is doing her no favours; outside the family people will just write her off as 'person not to bother with'.

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