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??!

Sleeping
Staying in
Not moaning

Both mine DD (14) and DS (13 and ASD) have been lovely. DD has been studying hard doing school work and extra studying off her own back. She's also tidied her room and painted her walls. She often cuddles our cat. She comes from chats. She's made us all English breakfasts a few time. She and her brother took vegetables to the zoo animals in the village as they were sort. She's been out for walks. She's happy not to be going to school and in a good mood. She keeps in touch with friends in group chats. She has also been practising her singing. Does some food shopping and her own washing.

DS has been doing his school work or alternatives with me helping / finding solutions. He's looking after our 3 silkie chickens and looks after our indoor rabbit, well apart from the cleaning for both both he feeds, waters and opens and closes coop each day for chickens. He's baked a few cakes. He discusses the news with me and comes for chats, mainly about chickens

It's lovely to have them both home.

My DD has her exams cancelled. She is working overtime to fund her studies.

She has done washing & cookin for us.

Believe me there's been ups and downs! Took a while to get into the habit of school work!

Anyway, generally they've been nice to be around.

DD (15) has cooked a lot of our evening meals and also baked the most amazing cookies. She been great at always being available for her (older) best friend (who's at a different school) as she is going through a very turbulent time, suffering with depression and having online counselling. DD will talk to her friend for a long about her troubles even when DD is tired or not really in the mood.

DS 13 has been trickier but he's been drawing and sketching like mad. He's learnt how to apply watercolours and has found an interest in concept artwork for films. He's also cooked a few evening meals.

On the whole they've been great in lockdown. I had unrealistic fantasies about them going off on their own extensive home learning program and finding joy in academia. That (or course) hasn't happened but at least they're doing some work and are fairly pleasant to be around.

These are lovely to read! My girls are younger so it’s nice to hear how lovely yours are!

DS1 is 19 and on his year out. He has been working 12 hour days in food production. He would find staying in tough so happy he is working hard and tired when he gets back. Ds2 15 normally does a paper round on Sundays but has really stepped up to help out doing extra rounds in the week to help out when others have given up and going to help stack shelves when the owner comes back from the cash and carry (normally the owners parents help in the shop but they are stranded in India since lockdown and his wife is pregnant so he really needs the help). Dd 16 has started doing wheelchair yoga (she isn't in a wheelchair!) online with my sister who is in a care home to help keep her company

Dd13 has been brilliant with her school work and generally good natured. She goes on a bike ride by herself after school most days and has embraced baking all sorts of goodies. I worry about her as she does get lonely but we are having lots of chats and she is speaking to friends online.

I'm not sure mine have been "great" but they've certainly been no bother.

They've both had far too much time on gadgets but a lot of that is interacting with friends and they're not complaining they're bored.

We've made a point of having meals together and they've been good company. They done some odd jobs when asked. We've done some cooking together which has been lovely.

I have a 12 year old who has been amazing at doing school work unprompted.

Not only that, but due to a combination of him being ill and a family bereavement he was behind for a while, but he worked every day from 10-5 to catch up!!