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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Why are teenagers so rude?!?!?!?

31 replies

MummaDeeDee · 28/09/2017 20:26

Just that really. I got told to "listen up" and to "I'll expect you to do as I've asked, thanks" by a 15 year old today. What the actual fuck?!?! Why are they so rude? My teen might be rude to another child but would never dream of speaking to adults so rudely. Where are children getting this cheek from?!

OP posts:
quaqua · 28/09/2017 20:26

Most of the teens I know aren't rude.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 28/09/2017 20:28

Who said that to you? I wouldn't have it!

Oakmaiden · 28/09/2017 20:28

I don't think teenagers are, in particular.

Some PEOPLE are rude and some of them happen to be teenagers....

Who was this teenager anyway? Why were they talking to you?

Original poster
MummaDeeDee · 28/09/2017 20:28

Quaqua I'd like to live somewhere where I could say that too.

OP posts:
donajimena · 28/09/2017 20:28

My teen is rude as hell to me but everyone outside the home says he's a credit to me. Is this your teen or another?

DuckOffAutocorrectYouShiv · 28/09/2017 20:28

Sometimes my teen is unintentionally rude (speaking to me as she would her friends, blurred boundaries moments) but nothing like you describe, OP. Are these your children or do you work with young people?

Original poster
MummaDeeDee · 28/09/2017 20:30

Yes I agree actually about it being PEOPLE in general. It was a girl my DD has fallen out with who thought it appropriate to start on her in front of me.

OP posts:
quaqua · 28/09/2017 20:32

If she thinks it's appropriate to start on your dd in front of you, she clearly has no boundaries. Not representative of teenagers in general though IMO.

ProperLavs · 28/09/2017 20:33

She's a teen and she happens to be rude. I bet she will be a rude adult too.

Original poster
MummaDeeDee · 28/09/2017 20:33

@DuckoffautocorrectYouShiv I know what you mean. My DD forgets herself sometimes too and of course I accept that. But telling a 40 yr old woman to "listen up" is not on.

OP posts:
pinkbraces · 28/09/2017 20:35

Is that teens as a group or just the one you encountered? In my experience most teens are lovely, just like most people are lovely.

Original poster
MummaDeeDee · 28/09/2017 20:36

Definitely has no boundaries and yes she probably will be a rude teen.

OP posts:
Dawnedlightly · 28/09/2017 20:37

Who said that? Shock

Original poster
MummaDeeDee · 28/09/2017 20:38

@pinkbraces I'm talking solely about the ones I've encountered, not the entire teen population.

OP posts:
Dawnedlightly · 28/09/2017 20:39

Ach sorry, you'd updated before I'd posted.
I think it's vv unusual.

Original poster
MummaDeeDee · 28/09/2017 20:43

I hope so Dawnedlightly

OP posts:
misshelena · 29/09/2017 13:26

I got told to "listen up" and to "I'll expect you to do as I've asked, thanks" by a 15 year old today.

But why would she direct those words at you? If she was fighting with your dd, why would she say those words to you? Did you join the fight to defend your dd?

corythatwas · 29/09/2017 14:53

Some PEOPLE are rude and some of them happen to be teenagers....

This.

Worst horror stories from my dd (working in catering) involves either young children addressing the au pair in front of their mother, middle-aged male academics, and teachers from local secondary school who seem to think their position in the workplace corresponds to some similar position in the outside world. In other words, people of all ages who for one reason or other have internalised the message that they are more important than anybody else around.

Eolian · 29/09/2017 15:05

Almost all of the rude people I've ever met in my life have been teenagers, but then I'm a secondary teacher. I am polite to them, but this is often not reciprocated. Obviously there are lots of nice teenagers too, but a depressingly large number of very rude ones.

Original poster
MummaDeeDee · 29/09/2017 18:34

@MissHelena she directed it at me because she told me to "sort my daughter out" and I responded with "I think you can sort this out between yourselves".
@Eolian sadly I'd have to agree.

OP posts:
Original poster
MummaDeeDee · 29/09/2017 18:37

I'm not about to argue with a 15 year old but I'm not going to take rudeness from one either. It just drives me nuts that people/teens can be so rude!!! It's horrible.

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 29/09/2017 18:37

I work with teenagers (support staff in a secondary school). See about 20 each day (different ones each time). Haven't yet had one be rude to me.

Eolian · 29/09/2017 19:24

Wow, TheSecondIfHerName - I have worked with many many support staff and I'm pretty sure none of them would be able to say that. You either work in an unusual school or you have super powers.

TheSecondOfHerName · 29/09/2017 19:34

Many of the students come from cultural backgrounds where a lot of respect is shown to teachers, so I get some respect by osmosis. Have only been doing this role for a year, so maybe the rudeness is yet to come.

TheSecondOfHerName · 29/09/2017 19:36

Either that, or they're all terrified of me. Grin