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Teenagers

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

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Original poster

In praise of our teens - share your lovely anecdotes here.

44 replies

GeorgeHerbert · 16/04/2016 12:49

I was in the middle of a nagging to get things done this morning (homework, music practice) and ds called down 'I've got something much more important to do'. Silence -I went upstairs and found him curled up with the cat...'See I've got to stroke and love the cat'!.

Said cat is a rescue cat and has only been with us a few weeks and is a bit skittish.

Only a small thing but we often miss these small but precious moments.

OP posts:

OneMagnumisneverenough · 16/04/2016 14:26

I've started a thread like this in the past and got very few posts OP. People in general seem to want to moan about their teens more than praise them.

That is a lovely thing by your DS, there are loads of lovely teenagers out there but I don't think they get the recognition they deserve.

I love being the parent of teenagers (well so far! we are coming up for age 16 and 15 in the summer so still a way to go yet). No, thy aren't perfect but they are the light of my life.

Ticktacktock · 16/04/2016 14:40

The only thing I can think of is that since her tablet broke a few days ago, she has become human again, and has moved out of her room during the day! The dog has had more attention today than he would get in a week usually.

It might be a couple of years before the tablet is fixed!

2pandasandapig · 16/04/2016 14:42

Not my teen but a neighbours. He will, without being asked, sit and play girlie toys with my middle daughter! I've seen him quite happily play with her for hours - she adores him and so do I!

Mrsfluff · 16/04/2016 14:44

My 15 year old daughter stayed on an extra 2 hours, after school, after offering to help a classmate with his History coursework. She's doing the same on Monday.
I was so proud that she's giving up her time to help someone who is struggling.

Savagebeauty · 16/04/2016 14:44

I love my teens 19 and 17 and their friends. My ds's friends tell me all sorts...about theur girlfriends and relationships, ask me for advice.
I love having them round.
They buy me Grey Goose vodka

MyLifeisaboxofwormgears · 16/04/2016 14:49

I recently landed a post at work that meant I had to publish a photo of myself in a company wide email. I went into a total meltdown about how I hated having my photo taken and how plain I was while harassing DH to take more photos as they were all awful.
DD hugged me and told me I was beautiful on the inside and the outside.

ivykaty44 · 16/04/2016 14:51

My teen can be a nightmare but there are many things she dies that are worth noting; working hard and having a great work ethic - her boss has offered her full time employment or apprenticeship any time she wants. Other people think she is lovely a great sense of right and wrong even if I don't always agree I have to Admire her moral compass, she just needs to see the bigger picture sometimes

Finola1step · 16/04/2016 14:57

Not my dc but our dniece and dnephew. We all went on holiday together. My dc aged 8 and 5 adore their big cousins. And the biggies never once got tired of playing with them. My dnephew aged 15 was really pleased that ds8 can finally go out on his bike with him without and adult. Teenagers eh?

mememe30 · 16/04/2016 15:31

I love being a mum of teens. It's a shame how much they get moaned about. It seems to be a 'thing'. Mine are lovely and so much fun. I love to hear their stories about people at school. If I come in from work tired my daughter (14) gives me a huge hug, tells me she loves me and suggests we relax wig face packs together. I definitely enjoy a bowling/cinema trip with my teens more than I enjoyed a trip to soft play lol

chunkymum1 · 16/04/2016 15:51

When I was pregnant with DC1 I had SPD which made it hard almost impossible to walk up and down stairs. I got the train to/from work and the nearest station to work had no lift. Not usually a problem as my train was always on the platform by the entrance. One day the platform changed at the last minute so I tried to walk/drag myself (and briefcase on wheels) up the stairs and over the bridge to the platform. Many fellow commuters (some that I was on nodding terms with) rushed/tutted past me but a teenage boy stopped to help me and even got me and my bag on to the right train (which he was not getting on himself). He was dressed in a tracksuit/hoodie etc and had exactly the sort of look that the daily mail etc would have us believe is the look of a mugger. I have often wished I could meet that boy's parents and tell them what he did for me when the 'respectable' looking men in suits looked the other way.

I'm pretty sure without this I would have needed to wait an hour for another train or cross the city to get to a station with a lift and would definitely have ended up crying in a heap.

feelingdizzy · 16/04/2016 15:58

Mine can be lovely,dd told me today that I was amazing and her role model.She did also tell me today that I never buy any good food and that I never listen to her.Swings and roundabouts

BG2015 · 16/04/2016 16:05

My 2 teens (both boys) often tell me they love me. They always say thank you for lifts and money!

I often moan about their untidiness and grunting but deep down I know they're good kids. Sometimes I get a glimpse of the men they're becoming.

ABetaDad1 · 16/04/2016 16:16

My next door neighbour is a very old lady and she thinks our mid teen DSs are lovely. She has no one to talk to most days and they chat to her at length when they see her.

kjaugust05 · 16/04/2016 16:25

Great thread! My dd15 is amazing. She works hard at school (most of the time), can converse with people without using grunts, helps out round the house (when asked) and is a kind and compassionate person. She hugs me and tells me she loves me. I need to remember this about her when she's being a pain in the arse!! ☺️

She helped me cook dinner today, without being asked. 😳

RiverTam · 16/04/2016 16:29

When I was heavily pg wuth DD I had a rare shirt journey in a crowded tube train. I was standing, not bothered as it was only a couple of stops, but a group of teenaged boys (15?) got most aerated on my behalf and berated seated passengers (they were standing too) for not offered me a seat. Bless them, it was 7 years ago but very much appreciated and not forgotten!

RiverTam · 16/04/2016 16:29

Short, not shirt!

2016namechangecomingalong · 16/04/2016 16:37

My DS (15) and friends saw a homeless man outside McDonald's and went and bought him a meal and took it out for him.
He is also very thoughtful and offers to help people when he can see they need it.
he also has a tip of a room, rarely helps around the house and is allergic to schoolwork

coldcanary · 16/04/2016 16:37

When DS (15) is in the mood he can be the most generous and kind person I've ever met. His youngest sister follows him round like a puppy pestering him to play doctors or whatever with her and he will - sometimes, not every time! His other younger sister is his gaming buddy and they can be found in one of their rooms discussing Terraria or Minecraft most evenings. He has a group of good friends who are welcome anytime as they are all polite, respectful and funny together. He's even getting better at tidying his room these days
Of course he has his moments when he's an obnoxious wee shite but they're getting fewer recently!

Potterwolfie · 16/04/2016 16:44

Not quite a teen, but DS 12 makes me a cup of tea every morning while he's getting his breakfast. I know he's still a way of the 'terrible teens' but I'm hoping for the best .

Helenluvsrob · 16/04/2016 16:53

Already posted this on mn recently and my ds is just 20 so not quite a teen anymore.

However- very recently he spent the night with me sat on the floor at dads care home holding dads hand as he was quietly dying so I could doze. I called him after midnight as I knew he'd been seeing his friends . He came in the taxi to me rather than home at 1ish and walked the short distance home to sleep at 6. Dh came back and dad died peacefully just before 9. I don't think ds realises how very very special that was.

TheFairyCaravan · 16/04/2016 16:55

DS2 (19) is a student nurse. He was on a ward with a lot of old ladies on his last placement. He spent hours watching YouTube videos of how to put hair in rollers so he could do their hair for them. He said he was thinking of his great grandmothers (who are all dead now) and how they liked to look nice and wanted the old ladies to look nice too.

SingingSands · 16/04/2016 16:55

I don't have my own teen yet (DD turns 12 tomorrow) but my friend's 16 yr old daughter is my babysitter and she is the loveliest teen. She is bright, smiley, articulate and a pleasure to have in our house. She made my DD's transition to high school much easier by talking to her about it in advance, giving tips and advice and saying hello when they passed in the corridors.

toomanyeggs · 16/04/2016 17:01

Not quite a teen yet (few months to go), but my daughter is supporting her friend (close in age) through depression & anxiety.

Friend has changed her name, and changed some other stuff about herself (her psych says it is so she feels in control of something) and my daughter is FIERCELY protective of her. She stands by her, no matter what. She knows not to try to ‘cheer her up’ and always tries her hardest to understand.

I look at her and cannot believe that she is such a lovely, beautiful loyal person. I am SO proud of her & I tell her often.

She simply says “She’s my friend; it’s what friend’s do”

Original poster

GeorgeHerbert · 16/04/2016 17:23

What a lot of lovely teens. They get a lot of bad press but most of the time they are funny, clever, caring people growing into people we will be proud of one day.

Not to mention ( as I frequently do!) that one day they will be our doctors, teachers, nurses, police officers, artists, scientists. Teenagers rock!

OP posts:

Emochild · 16/04/2016 17:36

I'm a guide leader and I've got a group of 13-15 year olds

I was asking them what they wanted to do this year, expecting them to say bowling, climbing etc

They actually said.....

Can we take some board games to the care home and play games with the residents?

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