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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Are your teenagers driving you mad?

38 replies

motherhoodismad · 26/02/2021 16:45

Are they all like this?

In dark rooms all day
sleep late
Dont appreciate a beautiful spring day
grumpy
wont interact with family
wont leave fridge alone

Thank god one back in education soon or i may run away !

I miss them being with us and being all cheerful....

OP posts:
JaneMcDoe · 26/02/2021 16:46

Yeah let's hope Summer school happens and we can push them off again!

Original poster
motherhoodismad · 26/02/2021 16:50

So are ours not unusual? I see pics on Fb of friends with younger kids in the park on a sunny day and mine are still in bed or in rooms...... a strange breed arent they?

OP posts:
Chewingle · 26/02/2021 16:51

I go in at 8.15am (during home schooling. 11am on weekends), open curtains and tell them breakfast on the table in 5.

I do good breakfasts! Bacon sandwiches / smashed avo on toast / smoked salmon bagels etc

They don’t know it - but it’s the equivalent of bribing a toddler with a smartie.

It gets them up and moving and on a normal ish eating schedule.

Works all round

Tiggerdig · 26/02/2021 16:51

It’s fairly normal teen behaviour I think. Doesn’t stop me pining for when they were little!

BiddyPop · 26/02/2021 16:53

Won't leave the fridge (or freezer) alone, need specific healthy foods (but yet eat their body weight in chocolate and icecream), actually required a specific shelf dedicated to "their" food in the freezer, yet can never find anything to eat...…

And as the Junior exams were cancelled, 5th years have taken the slot that 3rd years should have had for going back to school - meaning we still have another 6 weeks before return here.....

Original poster
motherhoodismad · 26/02/2021 16:55

Even nice breakfasts dont lure mine out.

Do they come out the other side in a few years????

OP posts:
Original poster
motherhoodismad · 26/02/2021 17:06

How do you cope? Does it drive you mad? Do you force them up and out or leave them???

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 26/02/2021 17:09

Have you started two threads? There's an identical one in AIBU?

I am coming out the other side. Youngest is 19 and working FT, gaming or asleep. There's hope!

Original poster
motherhoodismad · 26/02/2021 17:11

Yes i posted in 2 :)

OP posts:
Goingferalonfurlough · 26/02/2021 17:20

Mine (17) is up before me every day and so brings me a cup of tea in bed. Does all her online lessons without prompting and does bits of housework between them. She has just gone out to do her 10,000 steps before tea.
A few years ago she was a horror but she’s bloody ace now

Original poster
motherhoodismad · 26/02/2021 17:24

omg she sounds perfect!!!

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 26/02/2021 17:26

@motherhoodismad

Yes i posted in 2 :)
You might want to get one deleted.
Chewingle · 26/02/2021 17:27

@motherhoodismad

How do you cope? Does it drive you mad? Do you force them up and out or leave them???
Depends age Until 16 - yes, they get up and moving at a reasonable time. Over 16 - they’ve generally matured a bit and want to make more of the day anyway
Chewingle · 26/02/2021 17:27

I meant I make sure they get up and moving and decent time
Whether discrete breakfast bribery
Or plain “ok get up now please, I want to vacuum”

Original poster
motherhoodismad · 26/02/2021 17:28

Ha ha i have 17 and 19 and neither want to make more of the day as yet...............

OP posts:
Lotsachocolateplease · 26/02/2021 17:31

I have ds14 who gets up for his paper round at 7.20 each day, grunts and leaves the house. Ds19 is home from uni and gets up at some point to watch an online lecture.
I go to work from 8-4 and come home to an empty fridge, plates all over the place, cushions off the sofa and on the floor, and both boys in their rooms gaming saying they’re chilling now as they’ve been working hard all day 😂

Chewingle · 26/02/2021 17:31

Maybe because I’m a single parent it helps
But I have also been known to jokingly Wail... I’m lonely, can someone come for a walk with me!!

That usually gets at least one up

Chewingle · 26/02/2021 17:32

@Lotsachocolateplease

I have ds14 who gets up for his paper round at 7.20 each day, grunts and leaves the house. Ds19 is home from uni and gets up at some point to watch an online lecture. I go to work from 8-4 and come home to an empty fridge, plates all over the place, cushions off the sofa and on the floor, and both boys in their rooms gaming saying they’re chilling now as they’ve been working hard all day 😂
That is just not on.
AlexaShutUp · 26/02/2021 17:34

They aren't all like that, no, but I do think it's very common. I'm sure they'll come out the other side at some point, OP.

megletsecond · 26/02/2021 17:37

Yep.
Mine are active in normal times but it's all gone to rack and ruin now.

They'll be going back to school pasty and puffed out after the walk.
14yo DS has been signed up to army cadets and D of E. And yes jane I'd happily get him in summer school.

I'm basically being annoying mum and trying and failing to get them out every day.

Goingferalonfurlough · 26/02/2021 17:59

@motherhoodismad

omg she sounds perfect!!!
I’m very proud of her. She isn’t perfect but she is turning out to be a really decent young adult
MadameTuffington · 26/02/2021 20:43

DD14 grumps about like an elderly warthog, eats stirfries for breakfast, took a vague interest in the frogs and spawn in our pond, makes chicken wings and Ketchup at 4am and is pretty much a pain in the arse. The routines of the schoolday will be massively welcomed by us all - her room today was VILE - DS23 told me to leave it and not tidy it up but I said as a parent, I couldn’t see her living like that - not so much dirty, but complete CHAOS - this is a pretty good reflection of where her brain is currently at - not good 🤔

Original poster
motherhoodismad · 27/02/2021 10:23

My daughter's room is awful, clothes all over the floor, plates of rotting food, how can they live like that.........

OP posts:
Chewingle · 27/02/2021 10:27

@motherhoodismad

My daughter's room is awful, clothes all over the floor, plates of rotting food, how can they live like that.........
How how how do you allow that??!!

Rotting food!!

Op - plates just be brought to the kitchen and washed / dishwasher at end of every day or food banned in bedrooms

Come on OP.

Original poster
motherhoodismad · 27/02/2021 10:28

yep i do tell them that, but found some manky looking cucumber and carrot sticks and pizza.....she has been told now !!

OP posts:
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