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Teenagers

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

Can i compare teen behvaiours with you?

1 reply

Ledkr · 10/04/2019 09:05

DD is 17 and in her 2nd year if college.
She's not been too much trouble as far as teens go. The usual laziness and bit of cheek etc.
However she's always had this thing about not going to sleep at night. Not trouble sleeping iyswim, more not wanting to actually settle down to sleep.
Used to be a pain when she was little and I always dreaded sleepovers as to her this meant not going to sleep at all even when her friends wanted to.
I had to use an app to switch off her phone because she'd literally be on it till the morning but obviously at 17 I no longer do this.
She has a boyfriend now and he sometimes stays here or she at his. They will sit up watching Netflix till 3am. Then sleep half the day (weekends and hols)
Even on her own she will often be still mooching about at 1 am or sneaking downstairs for snacks or endless cups of tea.
The thing is, I can see what an impact her sleep patterns are having on her life. She is so disorganized and often misses her bus due to getting up at the last minute and not having anything ready.
She leaves college work untill the last possible moment and then rushes it in one night (late again) and gets a basic mark which she hates.
Her mood can often be quite low and she is extremely snappy with everyone. This makes it really hard to discuss anything with as she will quickly close me down with "I don't need this right now" or just shout at me so I can't be bothered to continue (I have a 7 year old so don't want the drama)
She isn't that nice to her boyfriend at times either and I fear she has become manipulative by shouting everyone down if they want to talk to her about anything she doesn't want to.
I don't want to paint her as a monster as most of the time she is a lovely kind and friendly girl.
I just think her sleep thing is so badly affecting her and I wondered if this is a common theme.
I have three grown boys who sometimes got caught out on the play station late or couldn't sleep but nothing on this scale.
She occasionally has insight into how her sleep patterns are affecting her Life but does nothing to improve.
I think I am going to set the internet to go off by 12 now but apart from this I'm not sure how much control I can impose on a 17 year old.
What do you think ?

OP posts:
FundayFriday · 12/04/2019 08:48

I was lile this. Suggestions are 11pm switch off net to allow downtime, use a blue light filter app (Twilight)-screen glare afffects melatonin production the sleep hormone, see GP (melatonin can be prescribed), also suggest blood test to check no deficiences etc., recommend cod liver oil and healthy diet with good fats (milk, avocado good sleep snacks). Help to get college books/clothes/breakfast organised night before. No BF on weeknights. He doesn't sound a great influence-is he the problem?

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