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Teenagers

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

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3 replies

christologymum · 12/07/2023 20:29

I need some advice if possible re my 2 teens (well one pre teen)

My 15 year old son, usually as good as gold has started going out in the evening just walking round the village with his mates and I've found a vape in his room. It's a constant struggle to get him to school, is late most days but has decided form period is a waste of time and would rather get a 15min detention for being late. Puts zero effort in at school, scraping 2/3's when he could do so much better but I can't motivate him, and in trouble at school for low level disruption, talking etc. just not fussed about his GCSE's.

My daughter who is 12 just finishing year 7. She started school fine and everything was okay until the start of this year when she fell out with her close friend. Who then proceeded to spread horrible rumours about her. She refused school for a while so has poor attendance, would have people shouting stuff at her and following her at school but managed to move past that now and school did deal with it. But it's constant drama, falling out with people. I feel like she looks for trouble constantly. She seems to thrive on drama and bitching about people. She's now on report for talking, being on her phone in lessons. Keeps asking to move school due to previous rumours which Tbf now seem to have died down, so I'm not entertaining it currently as feel like she is running away from issues and not dealing with them, also she seems to be the common denominator with any drama so I feel like it will just follow her.

Out of school she is rude, disrespectful. She is obsessed with money and constantly asking for things, not happy with what she has. The only way to discipline her is to remove her phone which I have done a number of times but this has led to severe melt downs, literally throwing things turning the house up side down, becomes aggressive and out of control. She has always been prone to aggressive meltdowns since being young but it's getting worse. She struggles to manage her emotions. Her younger sister was diagnosed with autism 2 years ago and I can see traits in her, also ADHD. These are always on a Sunday evening like it's connected to going back to school. I've tried to deal with by ignoring but that only makes it worse, last time I had to physically remove her as it was getting so out of control, I'm surprised the neighbours haven't rung the police with how much she screams and shouts.

I've made school aware and senco said they would assess her but haven't been back in touch since, she doesn't present like this at school. I'm getting so any phone calls from school as they are worried about the deterioration in her behaviour. I've had complaints from the neighbours about her screaming, and one neighbour complained she was shouting rude things to her out of the window when her friends we've over basically showing off. I'm at my wits end.

She constantly wants friends over, most of which I've entertained as I would rather she was here than out walking the streets but I'm sick of having people here, even when I've said no they just turn up and I have to turn them away. Or she sneaks them in when I'm on a work meeting, then I can't get rid of them. She's pierced her ears, asks me to buy her alcohol, vapes, feels like she constantly wants to push boundaries. Which then leads to meltdowns when I say no. If I ask her to do anything she will shout at me to not talk to her like that, when I've asked perfectly calmly and nicely. I've just come home to find she's burnt a hole in my carpet with my straighteners and when I told her about it she stormed off saying I was being rude to her.

I really don't know how to handle it, at the moment I don't like her very much and I hate what she is turning into, I hear her talking to her friends and she's so rude. I feel like I'm living some sort of nightmare waiting for another friendship drama, phone call from school or meltdown. I even spoke to GP who said only school can refer to CAHMs.

Obviously ive talked to her about friendships and being kind etc. she hasn't witnessed anyone in the family carrying on like this. I've tried to be supportive and listen to her concerns and give her space. I've tried firm boundaries but she doesn't respond to that. I'm out of options and just don't know what is normal teen pushing of boundaries and what isn't .

Sorry it's so long any help or reassurance of what I can do.

OP posts:
Endofmytether2020 · 13/07/2023 17:37

Ok, this sounds tough. My 12 year old DD has had a similar situation with a girl spreading completely untrue rumours about her leading to online and in person bullying. It's really tough and is affecting her mental health - presenting in her being "harder" and affecting her behaviour in the home. The difference with her is that she is quite good at riding out the bullying, or at least seems to be. She has a really clear idea about what she can and can't control, and has instinctively taken a "grey rock" approach to the rumours. She doesn't want to involve school. Would looking at the "grey rock" approach help your daughter? Would show you are on her side if you are helping her with strategies. I think talking about being kind is difficult in this age group. Ultimately a lot of girls this age don't seem to be very kind to each other and she might possibly feel that you don't like her and don't take her worries seriously/think it's all her fault. It sounds to me like your DD is trying to do the 12 year old girl equivalent of "acting the hard man" because she has been hurt. She's also trying to figure out how to use the currency of this age group which seems to be bitching and gossip. What plans do you have over the summer? Is there a time when she might be up for a digital detox away from home so that she can reconnect with being a little girl again?

christologymum · 13/07/2023 20:27

Thanks for your response. I think your right re trying to play the hard man, and that does make sense. A lot of her attitude I would say is about her playing the big I am, and pushing her luck at home anyways. Also the bit about lots of girls being like this in terms of bitching etc. it would be hard for her not to get
swept up with it even if she doesn't intend to as it seems the norm.

I have tried being supportive with strategies to ignore and we talked about how she could respond to people when they ask if the rumours are true ie they aren't true please leave me alone, which did help but then on the flip side there are times when she comes with silly dramas that I have just told her to ignore without giving too much air time too, as quite frankly I've had enough of it all, which she could perceive as me not supporting her so will take that on board. I've heard of grey rock so will read about that and talk to her.

She is away most of the holidays, 2 weeks in France with me and extended family and then 2 weeks abroad with her dad so that's also a good point re having some detox and some perspective on things.

OP posts:
Fififizz · 17/07/2023 07:26

This ‘acting tough and being the hard man’ is exactly like my teen son. It’s really creating an atmosphere at home. Like you I try to be tolerant, supportive etc. I find I can’t really talk to him as he gets defensive and takes everything as personal criticism. I try to give him space which I’m not sure us the answer but feel it’s better than feeding into the drama. I’m hoping it’s the teenage years and they come through it. No advice unfortunately just solidarity!

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