Unbelievably I am quite enjoying having teenagers

[highlighta]

I have two dc 13 and 16. At the present moment there are 6 teenagers in my living room. I am in my office which is a room in the house and I can hear every word they are saying. The other 4 kids live in the next streets to us.

There has been some fantastic negotiations regarding swopping/loaning x-box games

There has been an in depth discussion on the best popcorn flavour

There has been discussions on why their birthday is memorable, ie one is on Valentines day and one is on St Patricks day. The other 4 have boring birthdays apparently

There has not been one swear word, but every second word is that something or other sucks

And the most shocking one of all - they have all been here a couple of hours now and I offered them something to eat. Not one of them was hungry The only conclusion I can come to for that is that I must be a really awful cook

[Roussette]

One of my DC's was the most horrendous toddler imaginable but all of them are an absolute delight now (grown up independent adults). There is nothing I like more than all being together and going for a meal - it is such a laugh. They are so so funny.

One of mine has just rung to tell me she is working for a day near us next week .. so not only can we catch up together, I can cook her favourite meal but all her travel will be paid for! I love that they blow in and out of our family home, creating havoc as they go, bossing me around, making me laugh, telling me I've shrunk since they last saw me (2 of them were exactly same height as me but I'm getting older!) I wouldn't swap any of this for the world.

[TobyLerone]

My teenagers are lovely. DD is 14 and DS is 15. DD lives with her dad, so admittedly I don't have to put up with a great deal of her drama. And DS is great, as are his friends and girlfriend. In fact, we're persuading him to bring one of them on holiday with us.

I also have a toddler. I've always said I like newborns and teenagers and am not a fan of the bit in the middle. She is doing nothing to change my views.

[SaggyAndLucy]

WhoreGasm what age are your teenagers?

[clarabellabunting]

Whoregasm how old is your DD if she went through a hormonal stage recently?
Just wondering when to expect it in my DD.

[highlighta]

Clara, around about 11 my dd started with some mood swings. For about 3 months before she started her periods, you couldn't look at her sideways or she would burst into tears. She is fine now though, a couple of days prior to her period starting she can get a bit teary though. She has never been a tearful child, so I know its the hormones...

[ssd]

my 2 are great!

[AcrossthePond55]

This has brought back some lovely memories of my sons' teen years. Serious discussions about games, cars, girls, and football. Huge pizzas devoured, litres is soda to wash it down. Inspecting a 'new' car, listening to someone's loud rendition of the latest hit on an electric guitar. Cries of 'Muuummm' when I'd start to sing along.

More fun than rolling around in a pile of puppies. Treasure these times for their gone too soon.

[AcrossthePond55]

They're. Sheesh. Need more coffee

[nowahousewife]

Another one loving the teenage years. I have DD17 and DS 15 amd they area bright, witty, fun people to be around. Their friends are lovely, polite and considerate young adults.

DD had first driving lesson yesterday and witnessing her absolute enthusiasm and wonder after the lesson was a joy, the excitement of doing something completely new and different was great to see.

DS's room is always a tip but as DH says it's his only form of rebellion so far.

DH and I often comment on how much kinder and accepting of others teens are today compared with when we were young. Really don't think teenagers then were as nice as they are now. Perhaps today's teens have nothing to rebel against?

[lia66]

I loved having teens. My eldest is 20 now and from ages 14-18 she was a bloody nightmare. Taking drugs, stealing, stealing our car, unsuitable boyfriends and friends, but now I can honestly say she is a lovely young woman. Still likes to get into a Facebook row from time to time, but just to tell you there is light a

[MrsStevenPatrickMorrissey]

This is such a lovely thread to read, I have 3 dds 11, 7 & 2 and all I hear from people is how I only think they are hard work now wait until the teenage years come.....so it's a nice change to hear lovely positive things about teens...they do get a bad rap.....I'm actually looking forward to this stage after reading your stories

[starfish4]

Mine has her moments with us, but I can honestly say I've never heard her or her friends swear. Also, as OP says, they don't always have something on offer just because it's there. It's nice they are in with a bunch of similar minded teenagers.

My DD had a letter from the school today complementing her on being helpful at a certain event and the fact it's been noticed by some of the teachers. I'm sure she's not the only one, but it's so nice of the school to take the time to acknowledge something they do well as it's so easy to overlook the ones who are just doing what you'd hope they'd do.

[JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame]

This is why I'm a secondary school teacher. Give me a bunch of teenages over a room full of adults (or babies) any day. My DS is 3 and a total fucking nightmare and I can't wait for him to be a proper, and hopefully slightly more reasonable, person.

[BastardDog]

I have a 14 and a 15 yo and they are also generally really good kids. Funny, helpful, polite and kind.

My 14yo was an absolute horror between 6 and 12 and I was dreading the teen years, but so far they are turning out to be much more pleasant than the infant and junior years.

When they are on form they can be great fun to be around and we also have some very interesting discussions.

Refuse food though? Never in this house, bottomless pits they are.

[Sobek]

Everything I seem to read and hear about young people is negative...'the kids today'. But my experience of teens (other people's I have to say, not my own - they are horrors!) has been overwhelmingly good. We were on holiday with us and a school group were there from a London school close to where I used to live. It was pretty rough in those days and I was expecting the worst in terms of behaviour. But they were an absolute delight, always friendly and courteous and a real credit to their school. Much better behaved than we would have been at the same age!

I was thinking about my old (very old!) primary school today and how well behaved everyone was. I can't remember any behaviour issues and nobody was prevented from learning. In my experience, a fair few primary school children nowadays display challenging behaviour and yet the vast majority grow into well balanced teens. It made me think that the strict discipline that I experienced at school in the 1970s/80s was probably unnecessary. Teens today seem to be much better behaved than those in my day.

[TheWomanTheyCallJayne]

They sound lovely

My eldest is 12 so not there yet but I'm not dreading it. I've always liked teenagers

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

What Stargazer said; mine are always lovely when their friends are round, they can be really horrid at other times.

I haven't enjoyed the teenage years; I suspect I'm just too controlling. My DCs are proper thrill seekers though and drive me crazy.

Eldest two are coming out of the teen years now and nice people. DD2 is 16 and just discovering partying and boys. It's all a bit relentless really.

[cosytoaster]

My 16 yr old took the dog for a walk along the canal. Some people had been there earlier and left a load of litter - crisp bags, cola bottles etc - he collected it all up and took it to the bin. I told him next time there was a nice thread on MN I'd mention his good deed!

[KatieScarlettreregged]

Ah cosie, what a sweetheart
DS has made it to Munich via London and has texted me to say how much he is enjoying himself. I'm not even worried much

[mylaptopismylapdog]

Sadly my son is 19 so I am near the end of this phase but I have never understood teenagers rep. Both his and his sister's friends have always lovely people to have around. I have had so much enjoyment from having them in the house and have quite often been the parent who volunteers to take them collect them when they go away. That way I get to hear what they've been up and how much they enjoyed themselves.
One of the best things though is that now my daughter is independent and they are all in their 20's she still has many of her school friends as close friends.
You are right Roussette it is great when we all get together for a meal and a catch up.

[onepieceoflollipop]

Absolutely fab thread.
I have a dd (11) a bit sarky and hormonal but when I see her with other people (especially younger dcs of friends) she is so kind and patient.
We have just moved house, partly to make it more teenage friendly with a playroom/kitchen/diner...one of the reasons for this is to make it teen friendly for dd1 and then later on for her little sister.
I want the house to be welcoming and hospitable for us and the dds.