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Teenagers

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

Feel like I'm failing my dd, need ideas to help both of us

1 reply

RelativelyNorma · 05/01/2020 20:40

Sorry, this is going to be a bit long. DD is 17, relatively recently diagnosed with Aspergers, at college in the 2nd year of A levels. There's been a fair bit upheaval in her life over the last few years. Her dad moved out when she was 14 & pretty much straight in with OW, she got a good relationship established with new partner (& her teen dc) then they moved apart. My DM was diagnosed with terminal illness shortly after exH moved out, and died recently. I've got a new partner and while he doesn't live with us he did end up spending a lot of time here in my DM's final illness to help me nurse her & support my elderly DF.

The problem is that dd is doing less and less independently - she does have friends to hang out with in college, but very much on the edge of a group, and she's been out with them twice in the year & a half since starting.

She used to have a couple of hobbies (drama & a sport) but has dropped both of them, & hasn't taken up anything else. Effectively she doesn't do anything outside of going to college unless it's with me or going round to help out my DF (she's very kind hearted and helpful, kind of your anti-teen in that respect).

I kind of figured it would all be OK, she just needed some time to regroup & recover, but it's really not happening. She's also not doing any college work at all beyond going to lessons, and hasn't really since the start of A levels. Basically she spends her time in her room on her computer messaging internet friends (I have actually met some of them, and they're harmless geeky teenagers into fandom stuff, which is one relief at least - but it's been a couple of meet-ups over several years) or reading fanfic/playing computer games. I could really do with some thoughts as to how to help support her to build a bit more of a life out in the world.

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RelativelyNorma · 05/01/2020 21:05

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