How much do your DC know about energy crisis.

[1099]

Trying to explain to DS (13) that in Oct our current fix ends and our bills are likely to treble, or increase even more, getting so frustrated that his response is "yeah so" shrugs shoulders. But then I'm thinking how much do I need him to understand that we will need to make some serious reductions in what we do and use etc and how fair is it to discuss how worried I am (single parent so no Partner to discuss it with) with him.
Got me wondering how much others are discussing with their kids.

It’s incredibly unfair to expect him to provide the support that a partner would.

look up parentification - which I’m sure you don’t want to be doing.

I think it’s reasonable to explain to him that some aciticird or whatever and might be reduced - but it’s really unreasonable that you want him to be worried and/or support your worries.

I don't think the OP is suggesting she should rely on him for support, more that she's worried he doesn't see the reality.

I know I have had several conversations recently with both our kids, much younger than the OPs, about needing to make some cut backs and that this includes being more sensible with lights, leaving things on when we leave the room etc. they understand that money doesn't come for free and if we spend too much on some things we won't have money for others. They understand that this winter is going to be harder than usual for us, but also that it's going to be scary and worrying for some of their friends at school. I support them, and reassure them but I also need them to understand the reality many of their friends from school will be living.

I would focus on discussing (lightly) some of the political causes (expect him not to care) but then share the specifics of what the impact will be for your household.
E.g. Our bill will go up by £300. This is the same as we spend on xx. We will need to look at using less energy. Can you think of any ways we can use less?

I've been talking to DD (15) about it every time it's gone up and about the headlines. Explaining that it was £100 a month, now it's £200 a month, likely to be £400 a month before long and the implications for us. Talking about sensible options for reducing use etc. If I say £400 that's a week's wages before any other bills etc it helps her put it in perspective. We are fortunate that we could just about take the increase until it goes up again so I feel I can talk to her about it without burdening her.

@1099 I’ve been honest with my boys. Our youngest is 14. I said that come October we will have to be even more careful with energy. I spoke to them about reducing PS gaming time. It didn’t go down very well, but I think it’s important that everyone in the house is onboard.

I have spoken to them about needing to make some cutbacks, that the heating will not be on much, or above 16 degrees when it is on, that they need to try and remember to switch things like TVs off when they leave the room (the 14 year old is terrible for this). It's hard finding the balance between making them aware enough and not scaring them.

Keepingupappearance I don't think it's parentification, just a need for him to understand that it is real and will affect our every day lives.

wonderingwhatsnext That's what I've been doing as well; and explaining how lucky we were to get a fix just before the bottom fell out of the energy market. I suspect though he's a bit fed up with it now because we haven't been affected by the increases yet.
I'm thinking of getting the smart meter reader thingy out and spending some time with him working out how much different devices use so we can look at what can be reduced, I can imagine time limits on the XBox being a point of lively discussion.

We have spoke to my Step DD 16 (lives with us) about the costs purely because she likes to do washing constantly like every day and use the tumble dryer regardless of the weather so that will he support and also the two teen SS that's coke about gaming the entire weekend and tvs on, tablets always on charge plus phones always on charge etc etc

Everyone has to be more mindful moving forward really

my 12&14 are aware of both the energy crisis and the water shortage, but nothing much has changed/will change for them - I’ve always told them to turn off lights/shut the door/don’t run the tap, so that’ll continue. They do what I say for an easy life. My dp however…

Mine know about it because we've been talking a lot about it as a family. A lot. This is mainly because I have a 14 year old who has 45 minute showers if I don't start banging on the door! The teens have been told they have to be no longer than 5-10 minutes in the shower and, so far, seem to be obliging!
It's now gone past the point of being a concern to me because I know that we won't be able to afford the bills come October so there is absolutely nothing I can do about it now.

We've discussed openly with our DC and they see breaking news headlines on their phones too so suspect they are aware anyway. We've been clear we don't need to worry about being cold but will be turning the thermostat down and expect them to wear their oodie-style tops when they are home in the winter as we find we need to turn the heat down when we're wearing those.

Openly discussed here too. Ds15 knows all about as he watches the news so understands how and why prices are rising. We have already talked through what we might be able to do to save money.

Tried telling Dd and she got angry and says the media are making it up. Said it’s like the loo paper crisis, everyone panic buying loo roll when there was plenty of it but the media scared everyone. I said it’s not the media making it up, peop,e are genuinely getting crazy high bills. Then she said me and dh are really tight. 🤷‍♀️

shes 21yo, should know better

My girls tell me they dont care if I cant afford the bills and to get a better job.

I would say they are not too bad with turning stuff off but sometimes I go in the lounge and six lights are blazing when they could be ok with one.

I've spoken to ds about it, he's 14.

Just in terms of remembering to turn off lights when you leave a room, not leaving devices running when not in use, not spending ages in the shower unnecessarily, not chucking clean clothes in the wash because you can't be arsed to put them away.

He gets it, haven't had any backchat or cheeky responses. Of course he doesn't always remember to be careful but he definitely gets it.

I've discussed it lots with my 13 year old. Both how it will affect us and others. And let's face it, it's not just utilitiy increases, it's the increased cost of everything.
I've actually had to leave my job and go self employed to afford all the increases (guaranteed work in my industry but incredibly long hard days which I really don't need at this point in my life!) Am also a single parent, so yeah they're aware of the impact, not least because I am around a lot less due to having to work more.

Only the privileged can be shielded from this.