A positive one - what has your teenager been great at during lockdown?

[weegiemum]

I've got a 20 year old (away from home and I miss her horribly) and then ds18 and dd216. Many of my friends are having a horrible time with their teens but mine have been great.

I'm disabled and can't drive so ds, who has recently passed his driving test and has a wee car that fits my wheelchair has been taking me out for a wee drive or a trip to Tesco. So I've been listening to his music and it's been great. Real appreciation for Stormzy and Gerry Cinnamon! (Gerry is born and bred in the area of Glasgow that we're from so ds is very happy about this). Plus I've been learning about his top graphic designers and why - he's off to study GD in the autumn.

Dd2 is starting a course in beauty therapies (she maintains she's not Frenchie from Grease as she won't be dropping out!). She's been doing thorough preparation so my face is in top form, I have great eyebrows and my nails are fantastic.

Just wanted to appreciate pur teens.its not been the Young dream of their first year out of school, they've missed a lot.

Have yours been noteworthy??!

Mine have been looking after the dogs, tidying up ( some days) and cooking dinner as I m a key worker and have been working long hours. More important than that they have been making me laugh and that’s a real medicine after a long day at work. Single parent and I love them more than they will ever know ( I try to tell them but apparently it’s embarrassing)

Really upped his cooking game, cooked lots of meals.
Always does stuff like empty the dishwasher without being asked.
Volunteering: mowing lawns for frail neighbours (in a totally distanced way).

Been very patient about the whole lockdown situation, despite several majorly disappointing cancellations of social and fun events.

I don't have a teenager but an 11 year old. She's been amazing and such a great help to me. She makes lunch for herself and her sister while I'm working (wfh) and I've been teaching her to cook so she's been helping me cook dinner every day.

She's also great company and has the best sense of humour!

Saving water by not bathing. Well, maybe once a week 😷

Mine has been really nice to have around. Don't get me wrong, he has his moments, but he has been genuinely lovely, and interesting and sympathetic company.

Helping around the house with chores
Being hysterically funny
Getting up in the morning even during the Easter hols and making the most of the day
Doing all their remote schooling
Giving me and DH cuddles
My children have really made us so proud.

But no we haven't done a million annoying new family things together and yes like lots of teenagers they have spent endless hours gaming , on social media,
Clothes shopping, and watching Netflix

So nice to hear all this! Great that there are some decent young people out there!

Ds has just come down to "do jobs" (his decision). He emptied and refilled the dishwasher but has then just headed back upstairs with a 4-pack of Tennnants!

They have stayed in
They have been doing some regular studying without asking
They have not been noisy and woken me up when I've gone to bed before them
They have tried to bring down their cups daily

They also empty their bins day before bin day
They make their own breakfast and lunch
They make lists of food before I go to the supermarket
They give me meal ideas
They haven't been fighting

Well, mine's been good at not going to school. He hasn't moaned about it at all.

And he's been good at not going out at all - or complaining that he can't. He's sort of resignedly settled into his bedroom and Xbox to be honest. He's not done any real school work or chores - but at least he hasn't moaned at the restrictions on him.

I have a 19yo who has been going to work regularly
He offers to buy me food using his 20% staff discount at the M&S near his work
He cut his brother's hair
He hasn't been arguing with any of us
He managed to get his brother to help do some gardening. They jet washed the driveway and mowed the grass
He sometimes buys his brother sweets with no strings attached and doesn't charge him

My DD17 has looked after my DS2 whilst I have been WFH. Has helped around the house and generally been the perfect company! We have had nights together and some doing our own thing (in the house) she has not complained and got on with things even though I know she misses her bf and freedom!

My only teen has had to cope with the abrupt end of her A level course and the uncertainty that goes with that, the cancellation of all her 18th birthday celebrations and it took her a while to work through that.

Now however she has no work to do and is loving life! She helps with anything we need, plans meals and bakes. She has made doughnuts, done lots of crafts and yesterday she decided to learn to crochet. She is also doing a bridging course in her chosen subject.

She and her older sister who is furloughed spend hours doing each other's hair and play board games. We also try and spend an hour or two in the garden together. She has always been easy going and I am loving her company.

Walking the dog and baking brownies

DS(15) has a live timetable for remote learning at school which he has done without complaint and has done all his homework too.

He takes it in turns to make lunch in his lunch break.

He has been good company.

We have told him we are very proud of him, how well he has adapted to all the changes without complaint.

My dds are 13 and 15 and they've been cheerful and nice company. (No dh as was widowed 2 years ago.)

No child care as it's usually my mum and she's isolating. I'm a key worker so hours are long and job is stressful, my dd19 who was due to start her degree has taken over watching dd2.

Husband works away a lot so she's literally doing 99.9% of all child care without moaning and is bloody good at it. She takes her little sister out daily for a walk and keeps her entertained with various activities throughout the day.

I'll be treating her to something special when this is all over. I could not have gone to work without her.

Mine have been really great. Doing all their schoolwork and sending it to teachers. Bringing all the plates, cutlery and glasses downstairs regularly (never used to happen!). Trying to get their friends socialising online - seems a bit futile sometimes as most of them seem to be isolating themselves completely but we have games nights with a few of them each week which is good fun. Dd is painting a fab mural on a wall in the garden. They aren't moaning and are just getting on with it. Very proud of them as i know they are really missing school and their friends.

Sleeping ....
Eating ....
Playing on Xbox ....

But seriously they have appreciated the need to stay in, had great time as a family, humoured their parents need to spend time with them!

My older dd has returned prematurely from her final year at uni and joined my other dd age 16 at home. Normally they get on better when apart, but have joined forces to play amicably for hours on the Nintendo Switch. They have also planned and cooked some meals together on a theme for the past few Fridays. Last week was Italian night and tonight is Mexican night. The younger dd has her first boyfriend and is otherwise glued to her phone, so I appreciate it when she enjoys doing something creative. She sat for ages yesterday to make some flowers out of tissue paper to decorate the table with tonight. Definitely not been all fun and games over the past seven weeks, but we have made a few nice family memories of our time in lockdown.

Dd (19) - occasional run and walks each day with us, but does a daily online work out with me. She FaceTimes her friends but today she said this has made her realise she’s a bit introverted! She made me laugh because she said when she’s older and has children and is arguing about going out - she will say “well when I was your age I had to stay in for 3 months so you can stay in for 1 night”- made me chuckle!

Sleeping ... but (during waking hours) been cheerful, positive and not complained about lockdown. Happily played lots of board games and cards. Taken his very elderly grandfather out for a walk (possibly not allowed but he suffers from dementia & finds it very hard to comprehend the ‘stay at home’ message).

Our 14 year old has had a few wobbles, but has been helping to home school her 2 siblings and made such a good effort with her own work. I had an email from one of her teachers recognising this which made me so proud

This thread is making me wish I had a teenager not a 1 year old!!

We are on a family farm and have been lambing.

My 15 year old niece took on the role of the outdoor lamber when he could not get here due to travel restrictions. She's worked so bloody hard, long hours, every day and never shown a moment sign of quitting.

I'm so so proud of her, love that girl.

She finished today and is now sleeping till Wednesday she says.

Her exams were cancelled and this has incorporated school holidays and exam leave so not missed school work to do it.