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Teenagers

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

Just a friendly hand hold for any other mums of teens

964 replies

Pleasegivemeyourwisdom · 01/10/2022 22:25

I've 3.

It's a 'journey'.Confused

Just in case anyone wants to know another trying her best mum is thinking of them Grin

OP posts:
HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 16/01/2023 13:33

@Libre2
Thank you for the response

He finally got in for lunch

He has therapy starting next week and I pray that she can help him a little. His attendance is generally 88/89 % so not dreadful but bad enough to stress me out.

School have sent two letters. Not threatening but advising on acceptable levels etc.

But at least one morning a week I just can't get him in.

Where did I go wrong

It upsets me when I drop them off and I see all the kids messing about. Playing around and laughing with each other

He has friends but just hates school.

Libre2 · 16/01/2023 22:47

@HeBeaverandSheBeaver I feel your pain. I have DS up now saying he is not going to school tomorrow as he refuses to learn with psychopaths (some kids laughed at a seagull getting hurt - he does tend to get things out of perspective…). Tomorrow morning will be an absolute battlefield and I just don’t know how to manage it.

Well done for getting DS in at all today. I would see that as a win. I think some kids just hate school. I know my DH did - and he is now a teacher - go figure.

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 17/01/2023 09:52

Dd seeking an ADD assessment. It will be expensive but has to be done.

Ds went in fine today.

I've seen GP and got setralizne. I can't do this anymore. Stress levels to the roof Can't sleep, don't eat a lot. Worried constantly. Will start tomorrow morning. I hope they help.

@Libre2 sounds like your son is a sensitive soul like
Mine which is lovely but the playground is too lots of the flies for those lads.

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 17/01/2023 09:52

Lord of the flies I meant.

Libre2 · 17/01/2023 23:21

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 17/01/2023 09:52

Dd seeking an ADD assessment. It will be expensive but has to be done.

Ds went in fine today.

I've seen GP and got setralizne. I can't do this anymore. Stress levels to the roof Can't sleep, don't eat a lot. Worried constantly. Will start tomorrow morning. I hope they help.

@Libre2 sounds like your son is a sensitive soul like
Mine which is lovely but the playground is too lots of the flies for those lads.

Sensitive and over thinks massively. That said, we had a good day today. Both went in OK, both came home OK. DS and I went to the climbing wall again. They both went to bed OK. I am counting it as a win.

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 18/01/2023 08:18

That's a good day @Libre2

girlswillbegirls · 18/01/2023 08:59

@Libre2 that climbing wall activity seems to making a big difference. Delighted for you.

@HeBeaverandSheBeaver best of luck with the therapy. Therapy is making all the difference to my DD13 who started last September. Expensive but very worth it.

Libre2 · 19/01/2023 09:44

How is everyone? We’re doing OK. DS, somewhat amazingly, turned up yesterday with a history commendation and basically told me I was wrong about his lack of academic motivation (!!!). We have diabetes clinic today which is always slightly tense and I suspect we will be told we are not keeping him in range enough. It is just one.more.bloody.thing.

Pleasegivemeyourwisdom · 26/01/2023 06:46

Hanging in, thanks for asking.

parenting teenagers is a breeze I find

<kidding 😩>

OP posts:
AlwaysSomethingWithTeens · 26/01/2023 07:04

I've been quiet on here for a while because things seemed to be a lot better. But... obviously that hasn't lasted. Endless emails from school about various incidents/lack of effort. Currently waiting to hear back on something DD insists she wasn't involved in. So potentially lying to our faces too. What do we do? She's quite sweet at home. I just don't understand why she's being like this - or know what to do.

BeethovenNinth · 26/01/2023 11:04

Urgh. DD has had two days in school since the start of new year. She hates it. I’m beyond broken by it all

can a child have zero symptoms of autism and then have an onset at puberty? She seems overwhelmed

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 26/01/2023 21:21

Maybe consider adhd ?

My dd is being assessed now and the burnout often appears in late teens as they have to juggle more balls without parents help so slip through primary.

Tango2023 · 26/01/2023 21:52

Horrendous evening! Lots of shouting 13 year olds are such haaaaarrrrrrdddd work!!!! Aggggh

JT12 · 27/01/2023 07:54

Libre2 · 16/01/2023 22:47

@HeBeaverandSheBeaver I feel your pain. I have DS up now saying he is not going to school tomorrow as he refuses to learn with psychopaths (some kids laughed at a seagull getting hurt - he does tend to get things out of perspective…). Tomorrow morning will be an absolute battlefield and I just don’t know how to manage it.

Well done for getting DS in at all today. I would see that as a win. I think some kids just hate school. I know my DH did - and he is now a teacher - go figure.

I think your son sounds nice. I would feel the same way about people laughing at a seagull getting hurt. Maybe he is just mature and more advanced than the majority of his peers. I admire him for being true to himself and taking a stance for what is right. I wish more people were like your son to be honest ❤️

Libre2 · 27/01/2023 20:14

JT12 · 27/01/2023 07:54

I think your son sounds nice. I would feel the same way about people laughing at a seagull getting hurt. Maybe he is just mature and more advanced than the majority of his peers. I admire him for being true to himself and taking a stance for what is right. I wish more people were like your son to be honest ❤️

Thank you @JT12 - what a lovely thing to say. When I look at him objectively he is lovely - he just drives me crazy. He is 14 today. Can I go to sleep and wake up in 7 years when both kids have left home?

Mollyplop999 · 27/01/2023 20:37

It has really helped reading this thread, makes you realise that you're not alone . Hugs to everyone struggling with their kids .

Yetanothernamechangeagain · 27/01/2023 21:17

Happy Parent Mental Health Day to you all 💐

JT12 · 28/01/2023 01:17

Libre2 · 27/01/2023 20:14

Thank you @JT12 - what a lovely thing to say. When I look at him objectively he is lovely - he just drives me crazy. He is 14 today. Can I go to sleep and wake up in 7 years when both kids have left home?

Ha, ha! I am with you there. I found 14-17 to be the worst ages for both of my sons!! They are now 19 and 21 and so much easier. Mostly lovely - although on the days that they revert back to being awkward, lazy, argumentative, teenage boys I have to remind myself of that 😂😂

duvet · 28/01/2023 18:40

Thinking of you all ... it's encouraging to hear some light at the end of the tunnel mine could be much worse. I think I'm just feeling a bit tired today and I'm struggling to guage the rudeness - things like 'you could've told me my lunch was on the table' when she just asked me to get it out the fridge.
ME 'Would you mind emptying your bin please? (she has forgotten job) replies 'You know it makes me stressed when you ask me to do chores, you're so mean'.
I cant believe youre not giving me a lift, you know how anxious I get getting the bus at a different stop.' - to this I caved and gave her a lift but did say that I wish she would be a bit nicer to me - to which she replied - ' well now you've just made me feel even worse!' Cue loads of guilt - I feel like we're just caught in a trap of making each other feel crap.
Sorry am rambling now but also feeling the teenage angst today of guilty parent, must try harder!!!

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 30/01/2023 20:43

Dd just been diagnosed with inattentive adhd. Everything falls into place.

Praying meds help her.

She is relieved and I feel better too.

Hope your all ok out there.

Libre2 · 30/01/2023 22:22

@duvet - I hear you on the incessant circle of guilt - it’s emotionally exhausting.

@HeBeaverandSheBeaver - I hope ooh get sons support off the back of the diagnosis.

PixieAndProsecco · 30/01/2023 22:24

I posted this in aibu and some lovely soul directed me to this thread.

My DS is 12, turning 13 this summer, and I am at my wits end. He is about 5ft3 and built - so not a small child - and this is relevant.

For as long as I can remember he will blow up over the smallest things. By blow up I mean shout, scream, throw things, refuse to do things and so on.
The older he's become the worse it has become - he can become verbally hurtful and aggressive, often 'squaring up' to adults but never getting physical.

He has refused to attend school because his hair won't sit the way he wants and there is nothing I can do. He is too big for me to move, I cannot drag him out the house. If he refuses then he refuses.

His attitude and behaviour to being asked to do things or when he is spoken to about how he speaks to others is disgusting. He shrugs, walks away, rolls his eyes, mimics etc and then eventually storms off.
He lies constantly to family and friends, sneaks food, takes care of nothing (constantly leaving platea and rubbish in his room, not putting clothes away, everything left at his bum).
He can be vile to his grandparents too.

At the weekend he threatened to leave the house because he was told he couldn't go out. I had to move away from the door and he barged out, no phone or jacket, and off he went. He eventually went to my parents house but my heart was in my mouth trying to track him down.

He's moved school recently (less than a month) and I have had 1 email, 1 phone call and a visit all because of his behaviour. He is a bright boy but this is being overlooked constantly.

We take his phone from him, we stop him going out with friends, we "ground" him essentially as a result of his actions and there is no change to his behaviour.

I feel like I'm constantly walking on egg shells. Just now he has tripped the fuse because he "needs" to straighten his hair before bed and then in the morning. His straighteners have stopped working as a result and he's already started the "I'm not going to school" tomorrow nonsense. I got a mouthful of abuse when I told him you don't need to do your hair before bed and in the morning.

We are all so done. The slightest thing and he kicks off ridiculously. We have consequences and they don't work. I am verbally abused every single day. I am scared he will snap one day and physically assault myself or his step-dad. I am scared he will run away from home.

I know that there has been some trauma, especially regarding his dad (not physical or sexual) and this may be resulting in some his behaviour. However this behaviour has also existed long before these issues.

We've told school but he isn't engaging with them.
We've approached the GP and they've just said it's not an issue.
At his choice he has no contact with his own dad.

I don't know what to do anymore. I'm convinced there is more to it than just being a horrible person but there is nowhere to go, no one to help.

I already know that tomorrow morning it's going to be awful and I can't face it.

Emsb2022 · 31/01/2023 07:33

PixieAndProsecco · 30/01/2023 22:24

I posted this in aibu and some lovely soul directed me to this thread.

My DS is 12, turning 13 this summer, and I am at my wits end. He is about 5ft3 and built - so not a small child - and this is relevant.

For as long as I can remember he will blow up over the smallest things. By blow up I mean shout, scream, throw things, refuse to do things and so on.
The older he's become the worse it has become - he can become verbally hurtful and aggressive, often 'squaring up' to adults but never getting physical.

He has refused to attend school because his hair won't sit the way he wants and there is nothing I can do. He is too big for me to move, I cannot drag him out the house. If he refuses then he refuses.

His attitude and behaviour to being asked to do things or when he is spoken to about how he speaks to others is disgusting. He shrugs, walks away, rolls his eyes, mimics etc and then eventually storms off.
He lies constantly to family and friends, sneaks food, takes care of nothing (constantly leaving platea and rubbish in his room, not putting clothes away, everything left at his bum).
He can be vile to his grandparents too.

At the weekend he threatened to leave the house because he was told he couldn't go out. I had to move away from the door and he barged out, no phone or jacket, and off he went. He eventually went to my parents house but my heart was in my mouth trying to track him down.

He's moved school recently (less than a month) and I have had 1 email, 1 phone call and a visit all because of his behaviour. He is a bright boy but this is being overlooked constantly.

We take his phone from him, we stop him going out with friends, we "ground" him essentially as a result of his actions and there is no change to his behaviour.

I feel like I'm constantly walking on egg shells. Just now he has tripped the fuse because he "needs" to straighten his hair before bed and then in the morning. His straighteners have stopped working as a result and he's already started the "I'm not going to school" tomorrow nonsense. I got a mouthful of abuse when I told him you don't need to do your hair before bed and in the morning.

We are all so done. The slightest thing and he kicks off ridiculously. We have consequences and they don't work. I am verbally abused every single day. I am scared he will snap one day and physically assault myself or his step-dad. I am scared he will run away from home.

I know that there has been some trauma, especially regarding his dad (not physical or sexual) and this may be resulting in some his behaviour. However this behaviour has also existed long before these issues.

We've told school but he isn't engaging with them.
We've approached the GP and they've just said it's not an issue.
At his choice he has no contact with his own dad.

I don't know what to do anymore. I'm convinced there is more to it than just being a horrible person but there is nowhere to go, no one to help.

I already know that tomorrow morning it's going to be awful and I can't face it.

It might be worth joining the 'Not Fine in School' (NFIS) Facebook page, you will find parents on there in a similar situation, plus help and advice

Emsb2022 · 31/01/2023 07:42

Also Teen Anxiety Parent Support (TAPS)

AlwaysSomethingWithTeens · 31/01/2023 08:05

She feels sick again. Two weeks since the last time. She does have a cold but I don't think it's bad enough to stay off. Is she putting it on or not?!?