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Teenagers

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

When is enough, enough?

7 replies

Ttcbaby5 · 26/08/2024 18:55

I want to keep it as short as possible, my eldest 14 year old girl is totally pushing me past my limits, she has 3 younger siblings all boys, and I always try to give her the benefit that when her bio dad was saw her the first few years of her life it wasn't great, that's always how I seem to justify her behavior, now she isn't violent towards me, she dosnt drink, dosnt smoke, but ever since she could walk and talk she has been challenging, she has always picked on her brothers beyond a normal level, took part bullying peers from time to time, always fighting for attention wether good or bad, it was so bad as far back as nursery she had to have a teddy to hold so the workers could let her know when she has it that it means others need their time and time to chat, she has NEVER followed rules, instructions or anything such. She talks to everyone in the house like crap, screams, throws the most massive tantrums known to man even laying in doorways refusing to get up, she often tells me that all of us, being me, my husband (brought her up 13 of the 14 years) & her brothers all make her unhappy and always saying she wants to leave, when in fact we are the ones being screamed at daily, she hits things, throws brushes, has broken furniture, she still can't follow simple rules, curfews, helps herself to everybody's stuff, lies, tells us things that happened didn't or that we are wrong or heard it wrong, the list goes on and on and on, she also thinks she's above everyone, peers included, screams at the gamily dog for barking, refuses to help with anything at all, told someone to 'die' on vinted unprovoked and thinks it's funny (she no longer has a phone) she's often grounded, has her privileges taken and just said today 'don't know why yous bother, not like it works' we have offered incentives, we have rewarded good behaviour, we do one on one time (tbh she's the only one who really gets it as she literally drains us of all energy, and we keep thinking it will help and have done for a long time but it dosnt) we are consistent, she is being assessed by neuro divergent team but is extremely high functioning if she is neuro diverse, we offer ways and solutions, anything u name, we have tried, we have had services involved to try help, I'm so so lost, so sad, and no idea what to do anymore, I'm terrified of her and asking her to do anything as it always ends up with her screaming at me, I'm due our boy in October so know my hormones are crazy however this has went on pretty much all her life 😭 I don't know whay else to do, I'm scotland based if that helps

OP posts:
CastlesinSpain · 26/08/2024 19:18

Take her out into the middle of nowhere and dump her with a compass and map.

ToBeDetermined · 26/08/2024 19:30

If you suspect ASD, then start looking for parenting resources for ASD girls.
The SEN board here is really good. Toss out every rule you think you know about parenting. They only work on NT kids.

It sounds to me that you are stuck in a cycle of trying to punish her into NT behaviour. This will either break you or break her or break her siblings.

Meltdowns after a day of masking are not to be punished, you need to give her space and a way to decompress. Find what helps her regulate her emotions and decompress after school- for many ASD kids a screen is useful.

If she gets the above, she will be less volatile and upset around the house. You will get a lot more advice from the SEN board as well. Very helpful to me.

Ttcbaby5 · 26/08/2024 19:52

My eldest son is on the spectrum, so we actually apply alot of postive parenting and techniques from learning about him into our parenting with her ❤️ I absolutely promise she gets down time, that I walk away from lots of arguments and pick my battles, she isn't punished for meltdowns, we speak about it after it's over and done with etc x

OP posts:
ToBeDetermined · 26/08/2024 20:01

Ttcbaby5 · 26/08/2024 19:52

My eldest son is on the spectrum, so we actually apply alot of postive parenting and techniques from learning about him into our parenting with her ❤️ I absolutely promise she gets down time, that I walk away from lots of arguments and pick my battles, she isn't punished for meltdowns, we speak about it after it's over and done with etc x

Great! I do know girls can be very different from boys though, maybe ask MNHQ to put this in the SEN section? You will probably get a mum that has had similar difficulties to you. Many girls with ASD also have PDA (pathological demand avoidance) for example and you mentioning how she will deliberately not follow rules sounds a lot like what I have read other mums talking about.

Some of her unhappiness might also be hormones and stuff, I think some girls with ASD find puberty and their changing bodies to be really distressing. It is also an age where they figure out how very different they are from their peers and they can feel horribly alone at school and are often targets for bullying by exclusion.

RabbitsRock · 26/08/2024 20:14

I would recommend NVR ( non violent resistance) - first of all I thought it was some sort of self defence but it’s about finding different ways to resist challenging behaviours & to set boundaries whilst (mostly) keeping your dignity. DD15 hasn’t been officially diagnosed but we are more or less certain she is on the spectrum with possible PDA & ADHD. It’s still very tough but we can definitely handle volatile situations much better. We have been doing the work/therapy since January & still have some sessions left.

Ttcbaby5 · 26/08/2024 21:20

Do u have any links to good resources I can read for nvr
It's a tough gig, good moments are worth it, it's just very hard right now x

OP posts:
RabbitsRock · 27/08/2024 14:25

Ttcbaby5 I don’t remember being given any links but if you google NVR some good info/explanations pop up.

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