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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Are all teenagers horrible?

130 replies

Gekkoforprimeminister · 11/02/2018 20:59

All I seem to hear about teens is how awful, difficult and unlikable they are. Ds is only six and so loving and happy. Is it inevitable that he will become a complete horror? Or is there some hope, are some teens actually ok?

OP posts:
LilaBlue · 11/02/2018 21:00

Mine are honestly lovely.

Neolara · 11/02/2018 21:01

My 13yo is still pretty lovely. Fingers crossed it will last for a while..

treaclesoda · 11/02/2018 21:01

No, not at all. Most of them are lovely.

Just like most six year olds are lovely but some are really difficult.

TheHobbitMum · 11/02/2018 21:01

Absolutely not! You don't get posts asking advice on lovely teenagers so you don't hear of them so much, all kids have their moments of course but not every teen is a horror :)

italiancortado · 11/02/2018 21:02

No! My teens are really nice Grin

UniversallyUnchallenged · 11/02/2018 21:03

Secondary Teacher with three now grown up step daughters- lived through the teenage years x3.... brilliant times, great company, as lovely then as they are now.

mumofthemonsters808 · 11/02/2018 21:04

Not atall, my teens lovely and so are her friends. I also work with some great teenagers.

reallybadidea · 11/02/2018 21:05

I have 4. They are all delightful 75-99% of the time, honestly.

Sparklingbrook · 11/02/2018 21:05

No, they can have horrible moments and can be unreasonable at times.

I have two. One at Uni who I miss being around and a 16 year old who is quite amenable and happy to come out with me for a pub meal or shopping.

I tend to find that teenagers get a bad press on MN. They are all out drinking, taking drugs, having loads of sex and mugging people apparently. And if you say yours don't do that you get told they do but you just don't know it. Grin

mumgointhroughtorture · 11/02/2018 21:05

My nearly 14 year old is becoming a bit lazy but he has a heart of gold. Seeing him with his little cousin melts my heart , he adores him . Family orientated through and through . I think it is the friends they mix with . Even the nicest teen can turn into a little shit with the wrong company.

LinoleumBlownapart · 11/02/2018 21:06

No of course not. I saw a funny sketch about teens recently that said a little bit of loveliness falls off your child every day until you're left with a teenager, it's funny and most teen parents just banter about it rather than really mean it. My teen is fab I love the spots off him Grin

Snowydaysarehere · 11/02/2018 21:07

Not a boast but ds has got to 23 without ever being told off.!!.
Other dc had his share though!! Grin

Ivebeenaroundtheblock · 11/02/2018 21:08

the thing is they have their moments. at times you see the diamond in the rough. at times your question what kind of hellish parallel universe you are in.
i was okay 1-1 with them but occasionally i had 3 against 1 (me) and it was tough.

Sparklingbrook · 11/02/2018 21:09

Mine both sleep for England too, DS2 was still asleep at midday today. I think that's only fair after the years of 5am starts when they were little.

Isadora2007 · 11/02/2018 21:09

No- not any more than all toddlers are brats!

IWillSurviveHeyHey · 11/02/2018 21:10

Teenagers are wonderful beings of wonder

Stillnotready · 11/02/2018 21:10

No, mine were funny, interested in the world, passionate, scared at times and a bit tearful, but never horrible.
And also, never stop hugging them even if they looking over your head. Teenagers are a bit like toddlers, living through an energy zapping growth spurt, making sense of an alien seeming world, but also keenly in need of reassurance and rules.

junebirthdaygirl · 11/02/2018 21:10

They are great fun ..very entertaining. You can have great chats and they keep you young. I love all their friends as they create a great buzz around the place.
They introduce you to movies you would never watch and music you would never listen to. My 3 are grown now in their 20s and l did have a few hair raising experiences with my first but overall they were brilliant.

MrsEricBana · 11/02/2018 21:11

Definitely not. One of my dc was v tricky from 2 to 14 and has been an angel ever since. The other one lovely all along with a few teenage moments. I really enjoy their company as teens. Don't worry!

MMcanny · 11/02/2018 21:11

My 14 year old ds is a real sweetheart. So helpful and sensible. Can’t imagine him changing much tbh. I think you get out what you put in. But i’m Willing to review this stance in 5 yrs. Grin

Original poster
Gekkoforprimeminister · 11/02/2018 21:11

Ah I feel much better now, thanks!
Am looking forward to all the sleeping anyway... Still on 5.45am starts here Grin

OP posts:
ljlkk · 11/02/2018 21:12

Bizarre creatures. Drive you nuts with irrational thinking & then make you laugh with charm then go all cuddley then eat half the house out then pick stupidest fight with siblings then just when you want to throttle & eject they make you laugh again.

feelingdizzy · 11/02/2018 21:12

Mine are mostly great,kind and funny , also messy and obstinate. Bit like their mother thenGrin

LizzieVereker · 11/02/2018 21:13

No - svecondsry school teacher and parent of 2 here - the vast majority of teens are absolutely lovely. You only hear about the tricky ones, that's all.

MinnieMousse · 11/02/2018 21:14

Are the ones that are little monsters as toddlers more likely to also be hideous as teens I'm looking at you DD2?

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