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Teenagers

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

Please tell me stories of horrible teens growing up into nice people

22 replies

YippeeKiYayMakkaPakka · 25/01/2025 13:26

My youngest is only 12, knows everything and treats me like she’d prefer I didn’t exist. I’m far too thin-skinned and not sure I can cope with years of this. Please tell me they turn reasonable again?

OP posts:
TeaAndStrumpets · 25/01/2025 13:42

I try not to remember the teen years in detail! Raging hormones, pushing boundaries, criticising everything I do. You just have to play the long game. One day she will come through it, I promise.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 25/01/2025 13:46

Oh flashback time! OP, three of mine were human horrors (the other two were, strangely, perfectly nice teenagers).I could cheerfully have moved and not given them my address at times. I'd try grounding them for bad behaviour - they'd climb out of the upstairs windows and go off and do whatever they'd been forbidden to do, they wouldn't lift a finger to help around the house and I was treated like dirt.

We all went on holiday together this summer, it was ace! They paid for my meals, they take me out now and then, or drop by if they're passing for a cup of tea. They look after my dog without complaint if I go away (they all have their own homes) and are an utter delight to spend time with, either together (when we have a riotous time and they are all very amusing) or individually. Hold the line, it does improve (although that's no consolation when you're in the middle of it!).

TeaAndStrumpets · 25/01/2025 13:53

DD is my favourite adult now and when it comes to dealing with her own teenagers she knows all the tricks! I echo @Vroomfondleswaistcoat you have to hold the line.

Octavia64 · 25/01/2025 14:07

Secondary teacher.

Nearly all teens go through a horrible phase.
Most of them come out of it, sons quicker than others.

Detach detach detach.

Mrsredlipstick · 25/01/2025 14:11

My DD was horrible to me and herself from 13-18. Now 21 and one of the kindest people I know.

YippeeKiYayMakkaPakka · 25/01/2025 14:39

Thanks all, good to hear positive stories. Just need to try not to take her behaviour personally. Her 15yo sister is mostly lovely and we get on really well, I’m not sure if that makes it easier or harder.

OP posts:
Rawnotblended · 25/01/2025 14:41

What’s peak arseness? I have 3 teens and they’re trying my patience.

GrandmotherStillLearning · 25/01/2025 14:43

YippeeKiYayMakkaPakka · 25/01/2025 14:39

Thanks all, good to hear positive stories. Just need to try not to take her behaviour personally. Her 15yo sister is mostly lovely and we get on really well, I’m not sure if that makes it easier or harder.

Boundaries. I know it's harder than said. It does get easier.

CymruChris · 25/01/2025 14:43

Me 🤣 sad to say I was an absolutely vile teen, completely horrible to my poor parents. I like to think I'm a fairly responsible adult, good parent and a kind person. Very close to my parents who thankfully haven't held it against me!

Knockgour · 25/01/2025 14:44

It's a developmental stage, OP, even if it's unbelievably annoying while it's ongoing. (Mine is only 12 -- my 'wisdom' comes from observing my friends' teenagers morph into temporary beasts and then reforming as nice adults)

DrMadelineMaxwell · 25/01/2025 16:22

DD1 was always lovely and amenable. A little distant in the teen years but not really ever moody or rude.
Her sister made up for it in spades and had moments of being vile from about 11 til she was 16/17. Growing up and getting herself a part time job made a big difference. As did leaving school and going to sixth form college. She's now 20 and only has a few moments when she's pre-menstrual or feeling unwell!

roselilylavender · 25/01/2025 16:51

DD was quite hard work aged 12 & 13. In retrospect, she was struggling with friendship issues, sports team uncertainty, DH and I were really busy with work and not around enough to do low key stuff and she was getting used to the typical new levels of independence & accompanying responsibility. She's now 15 & we've had a lovely 18 months/2yrs and she's generally a very nice human being. We still have clashes but sometimes they're definitely my fault!

Pigsinblankets13 · 25/01/2025 16:56

Me. I was vile as a teenager to my poor parents. Now my mum and I are best friends and really close and I'm really close to my dad too...there's hope!

Secondwifenotsecondbest · 25/01/2025 17:00

OP I was a horror as a teen- drinking, smoking, lying, boys….. my poor mother was at her wits end with me! HOWEVER she never gave up telling me she loved me and was always there for me. I turned out ok (I think!!) I have had a great career, wonderful friends, found my soulmate (lost him but hey ho, found a ‘better’ one that I absolutely adore), have had my own kids and seen them through their teens too (by adopting my dear mum’s attitude).
what I want you to understand is that the teenage years are supposed to be kind of difficult- your DC are trying to understand who they are and want to be and you have to bite your tongue a lot and let them screw up so they learn valuable life lessons. All you can do is be there, remind them often how much you love them and I promise it will somehow all be okay one day.
And the best thing is that you get to watch them become parents and finally understand what it was like for you! Wishing you luck and happiness xx

modernshmodern · 25/01/2025 19:28

Eldest dd hit about 12 and went from being the sweetest kindest little girl to an absolute cow. She hated me and her sister, I was a crap mother. Honestly I cried so much, I felt worthless. It was like she rewrote history and made out everything was awful and we were all against her . Thank fully at about 17 she massively improved and became lovely again.

The younger one didn't start until she was about 15 , I'd actually started to get complacent and think maybe she wasn't going to. With her it was more pushing boundaries and epic strops. Lasted until she was about 18 she's amazing now.

I have a theory that they go through this phase to prepare you for when they leave home so you are a bit less sad 😂

MrsJHernandez · 26/01/2025 02:05

I was a disgusting, vile teenager to my parents! Refused to go to school. If I was physically taken, I would walk straight out. Refused to be home when they said. I smoked. I drank to the point I could barely walk home. Smoked weed. Screamed that I hated them and wished they were dead. Called them the C word. Self-harmed. Lied about where I was going and who with. Shouted, stomped and slammed doors. Everything they did or said pissed me off. I smashed things in my bedroom. Went to pubs and nightclubs. Moved out at 16 to live with a 28 yo man - I couldn't wait to get away from them. It took a lot to get my Mum to lose her temper, but a few times she hit me and I hit her back. She's freakishly strong though! I blamed them for everything and despised being told what to do. I knew better!!

My main problem was my SD I think. He was so rigid, opinionated and judgemental. He really wound me up. He used to work away occasionally and I used to love it being just me and Mum. We used to have nice chats. He had been there since I was a baby so it's not like I felt he took her away from me.

You'll be pleased to know I did grow out of it! Dad died in 2012, but honestly, Mum and I aren't particularly close. I only see her a couple times a year, and speak on the phone occasionally. But I'm crap at keeping in touch with everyone so its not personal lol.

She says she tried her best, but I still hold onto some blame and resentment towards her for not getting me help as a teenager seeing as I was obviously depressed, self harming, had a rage problem and possibly other undiagnosed issues. But I guess it was the 90's and I was just being "dramatic" and "attention seeking".

I do feel for you. I couldn't cope with a "me". You need to learn to let the insults wash over you and remind yourself that she's just a hormonal teenager who can't really help it. She WILL grow out of it, I promise.

Please remember, if you weren't there, she'd be devastated.

Biffsboys · 26/01/2025 02:33

My eldest ds was hard work from 15 - 18 but then became a joy to be around . Youngest ds is 17 and has always been lovely and has great empathy and chat , just hoping he’s not going to turn moody as he gets older lol 😂

JMSA · 26/01/2025 03:39

It doesn't surprise me that this thread has been dominated by the mothers of girls specifically GrinGrinGrin

MermaidEyes · 26/01/2025 10:38

JMSA · 26/01/2025 03:39

It doesn't surprise me that this thread has been dominated by the mothers of girls specifically GrinGrinGrin

I do think girls are definitely harder in a way boys aren't, plus there's always a level of drama around girls. I also think, as a mum of girls, you worry a lot more for their safety which ends up being more rules and boundaries for them to rail against.

JMSA · 26/01/2025 16:46

@MermaidEyes

I have 3 daughters, two of whom are teens.

My sister has 3 teenage boys.

Can you guess who is living the easier life?! Grin

AngelsWithSilverWings · 26/01/2025 17:08

DD was so awful btw 13 and 15 that I wanted to run away and never come back. Won't go into detail but trust me when I say she was awful and was occasionally violent towards me ( not all her fault - mental health issues made her so much worse than a regular hormonal nightmare teen) SS were involved at one point because she got so bad ( they were utterly useless sadly)

She is now 16 , caring , thoughtful , helpful, worked hard on GCSEs , working hard on her college course , doing well with a part time job. Was recently given a community award by a local youth organisation she is part of.

She buys coffee and cheap primark gloves and hats for the local homeless people she sees on her lunch break and goes out of her way to chat with them so they know her name now.

Everyone who meets her says how lovely she is. There is hope!

MermaidEyes · 26/01/2025 20:37

JMSA · 26/01/2025 16:46

@MermaidEyes

I have 3 daughters, two of whom are teens.

My sister has 3 teenage boys.

Can you guess who is living the easier life?! Grin

I'm sure I can guess 😆

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