I think you lot are being unfair, she says a lot of good things about them, too (can you tell I'm a faithful reader). But it's always a mixed bag, bittersweet. I like to think I wouldn't let my son call me THAT NAME either, but obviously it just doesn't bother her. Maybe that's how to make the name-calling just a passing fad; besides, we do not know what language the parents use in front of the teens!
Once the boys were being shits but the girl was being helpful & nice, goes out to lunch with mum, and then warms up to asking if mum will buy her a new nice leather jacket. Or the boy who had been a superstar at school bombed out his A-levels, saying "I don't want to be like you Dad" (even though mum could see little difference between father & son). Meanwhile the girl comes home saying "I know I'm not as bright as big brother so please don't be disappointed that my GCSE results aren't like his", and the mother is just so chuffed that the girl has tried her hardest, never mind the actual results.
Last week she said how the younger lad ALWAYS came home at time he said he would, which is why when he was late one night the mum got so worried.. .he turns up drunk and having been very sick. Suddenly he was just a stupid vulnerable 15 yo.
Although I did think she should have made him sleep in the sick clothes and left him to clean himself and the bed and the rug up in the morning.