Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Teenagers

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

Is 16 the worse age for teens in terms of their rolly-eyed disdain?

32 replies

BuckyBarnesArm · 16/10/2021 12:04

Because it fucking feels like it! 16 yo Dd, barely see her and when we do, it's sarcasm, disdain and aloofness. It kind of hurts actually. Do they become more human as they get older. At the risk of sounding pathetic, she was a really lovely affectionate girl a few years ago.

OP posts:
MushMonster · 19/10/2021 17:26

That everything we do and say is wrong seems to be a common factor here.
Sometimes I actually wonder if I am wrong about everything in life, more often than not. I am getting myself 8n a more practical approach, thanks God, because I would say it was starting to depress me.
At the end of the day, in the middle of covid, there was not much else to do than mingle with your very own family, or work, so having someone eye rolling every day was tough.

MushMonster · 19/10/2021 17:27

Ladyof, I hope your teen finds her way around with her friends soon.

Gherkingreen · 19/10/2021 17:37

@Musthurry brilliant post, thank you for articulating the madness so well. I have two DSs 18 and 15, the older one doesn't eye roll too much but his room is disgusting and he's a bit scattered but he's loving and kind, and doing well at college so am picking battles.
He has a fast food part time job and that has been brilliant for challenging him and for having to answer to someone that isn't me!
DS15 spends 99% of time in his room, and his mood tends to dictate the day, if I let it. I have to work really hard not to ride the rollercoaster with him. He's chatty at mealtimes and when he's in the mood, otherwise he's sullen, sarky, truculent, puts minimal effort into schoolwork and has mild or major disdain for everything and everyone.
I try to push past it and let him know he's safe and home is a secure place. I tell him I love him every day and show it through actions.
They've had a really shitty couple of years on top of the usual teen madness, but am hoping we'll all emerge unscathed eventually!

RealDinosaurofBarnardCastle · 19/10/2021 17:40

@Musthurry

With mine it's been 14-18 yrs and they are starting to improve now. Still quite self centred though. They can't help it; something to do with brain plasticity. It's not fully formed again until they are 24 apparently!

Step back, don't take it personally, be confident and do things to boost your own happiness as it is a very draining time when they are constantly pointing out all of your weaknesses and you get ignored or spoken to dismissively when you ask them something benign like "please pass the peas"! Grin

Don't follow them too closely up and down the emotional rollercoaster. Be available to talk and keep the lines of communication open, but aside from anything really life threatening or dangerous, leave them to make their own mistakes and be less "available". Focus on your own well-being and reach out to friends with teens. Model happiness to your adolescents! Don't expect them to show much interest in you or anything that concerns or interests you.

They need you there and will come and seek you out (usually at the most inconvenient time known to man) if there is anything really bothering them and it's then you drop everything and give them your full attention. You can also check in with them from time to time by inventing an errand and taking them on a drive with a lure of picking up food on the way home.

Other than that, provide bowls of healthy food that are available at all hours in the fridge , be cheerful, do your own thing and largely ignore the rudeness. Obviously decide on what you will and won't tolerate and set your boundaries but choose your battles.

Good luck op. Hang in there. Sending you strength as I know first hand how draining this stage can be. We love them to death but adolescence can be very hard emotionally for the entire family, especially mothers! Flowers

Great post
MsTSwift · 19/10/2021 17:40

Mine are quite nice (13 and 15) but sometimes seem to feel mildly sorry for me which maybe is worse?

Gherkingreen · 19/10/2021 17:41

@hamstersarse yes! It's all part of the separating process and that's what we want for our DCs isn't it? That thing about roots and wings. God knows I don't want two hairy man babies living here when they're well into their 20s Grin

Alfxn · 19/10/2021 17:47

@Musthurry that's one of the best posts I've ever read on MN. In fact my daughter is only 3 months old and I'm sitting here wondering how I can possibly save this advice in my brain for when she's a teenager!! Grin

New posts on this thread. Refresh page