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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Not all teens are bad!

35 replies

twistyizzy · 16/02/2025 10:43

Just hosted sleepover for 5 x 13 Yr old girls. All, without exception, were polite, chatty and lovely. Lots of laughter, hilarious banter and they support each other. Happy to sit and talk to me.
Teens get such a bad rap, and I'm fully aware that some give their parents a really rough time (I was one of those teens who was pretty wild and put my parents through hell) but not all are like that and some are amazing!
Just hope I'm not speaking too soon though 😆

OP posts:
SunsetCocktails · 16/02/2025 11:05

Haha give it a couple of years 😉

Seriously though, they can all have their moments and definitely go through phases of being absolute nightmares sometimes but teens are great. It's lovely to see the adults they're slowly becoming.

Original poster
twistyizzy · 16/02/2025 11:09

SunsetCocktails · 16/02/2025 11:05

Haha give it a couple of years 😉

Seriously though, they can all have their moments and definitely go through phases of being absolute nightmares sometimes but teens are great. It's lovely to see the adults they're slowly becoming.

I love their conversations, they are hilarious.
Yeh I'm fully aware I could be speaking too soon but I just hope that if this is their baseline characters then they will get through the next few years and come out the other side ok 🤞

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TheaBrandt1 · 16/02/2025 11:10

Mine are both lovely.

TheaBrandt1 · 16/02/2025 11:12

As are all their friends. Not one grim one. And dd1 is 18 before I get the “just you wait” comments!

TheaBrandt1 · 16/02/2025 11:13

16 year old had girls night last night they cooked pasta and chocolate cake we went out got back kitchen pristine.

dizzydizzydizzy · 16/02/2025 11:14

My DCs are 20 and 22. I can honestly say that they and all their friends were very decent human beings - kind, honest and hardworking.

Original poster
twistyizzy · 16/02/2025 11:15

TheaBrandt1 · 16/02/2025 11:13

16 year old had girls night last night they cooked pasta and chocolate cake we went out got back kitchen pristine.

DD has done all the tidying up, hoovering etc herself, didn't have to be asked!

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SunnieShine · 16/02/2025 11:16

So true, my yoinger brother was an annoying child but morphed into a mature and likable teenager. It happens.

1SillySossij · 16/02/2025 11:18

Not all teens are bad?
Talk about damned by faint praise!

MumChp · 16/02/2025 11:20

Our two oldeste were excellent teenagers. A joy to parent. Most of their friends were as well.

Original poster
twistyizzy · 16/02/2025 11:22

1SillySossij · 16/02/2025 11:18

Not all teens are bad?
Talk about damned by faint praise!

Oh get lost! Most posts about teens on here are about problems/issues so yeh not all teens are bad and many are amazing human beings.

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StMarie4me · 16/02/2025 11:24

None of mine were bad ( I had 4) and none of my teenage grandchildren are either.

CandiedPrincess · 16/02/2025 11:27

The teenage years have been an absolute joy. I've loved every minute!

TickingAlongNicely · 16/02/2025 11:30

In my volunteer role I get a succession of Duke of Edinburgh teenagers. Never had a bad one. They all want to learn

Although this is a self selecting group... they have to be pretty patient to want to work with children!

lovingmememe · 16/02/2025 11:40

Some teens are lovely some could do with a slap.

beasmithwentworth · 16/02/2025 11:47

No one ever said that all teens are awful! There are many who are delightful. But obviously we hear the most about the difficult ones. Also - Almost without exception (I have a fair bit of experience of this) - teens know how to tow the line and be perfect at a sleepover or in company that isn't their parents.
I hope this continues for your DD but they are 13 Which I think is a lovely age despite what social media might say.

Original poster
twistyizzy · 16/02/2025 11:49

beasmithwentworth · 16/02/2025 11:47

No one ever said that all teens are awful! There are many who are delightful. But obviously we hear the most about the difficult ones. Also - Almost without exception (I have a fair bit of experience of this) - teens know how to tow the line and be perfect at a sleepover or in company that isn't their parents.
I hope this continues for your DD but they are 13 Which I think is a lovely age despite what social media might say.

Yeh I think my personal experience of being a teen had coloured my expectations of having a teen and (so far) the 2 experiences have been poles apart!

OP posts:
FrenchandSaunders · 16/02/2025 11:49

13 is a lovely age for girls generally … 15-17 however … god give me strength (and plenty of gin)!

Original poster
twistyizzy · 16/02/2025 11:50

FrenchandSaunders · 16/02/2025 11:49

13 is a lovely age for girls generally … 15-17 however … god give me strength (and plenty of gin)!

Yeh I'm very much aware we are only at the start!

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TeenLifeMum · 16/02/2025 11:53

Dd1 had a sleepover after prom with 7 of them (all 16yos). I went to work before they woke but dh wfh. At 4.30pm he messaged to say they’d all now left but before going they’d cleared up, sorted the recycling and run the hoover round 😂 They are awesome!

dtd1 has a lovely group of friends too at 13, dtd2 friends are a bit more lively and drama llamas but still nice kids.

i like teens (with the exception of dd2s sulks).

GutsyGertrude · 16/02/2025 11:55

I work in a secondary school and about 80% are absolutely lovely! Some a bit surly but otherwise fine, some cheeky but actually lovely when you get to know them and a very small percentage pretty badly behaved basically everyday or give me genuinely 'bad vibes'. I'd say only a very few of them are like this though. Not even one per year.

It's only in large groups that they become horrible ime. 1-1, they're mostly just ordinary people.

Jinglehop · 16/02/2025 11:56

On balance … mine are great, as are their friends. There have been times when I have found parenting hard, exhausting and somewhat unappreciated. But I’m proud to support really decent, fun human beings as they work out how to adult.

Titsywoo · 16/02/2025 16:51

Mine are now 18 and 20 and at no point have they been rude, nasty etc. Sure they can be lazy, messy, forgetful etc but mostly they are lovely, kind, funny people as are their friends.

TheLionandAlbert · 16/02/2025 16:57

I am out the other end of having 2 teenaged boys and can attest they were never anything but a delight. Funny, kind, increasingly appreciative - we absolutely loved this phase. Their friends too were great to have around.

The fact I went into town today and got a huge bear hug from a rugby kitted giant 22 year old mate of my son’s says it all.

Decisionsdecisions1 · 22/02/2025 17:03

Polite pleasant and helpful is how DD is described by parents of her friends. And her teachers.

It's only with me and dp that she is surly, inconsiderate, selfish and sometimes really quite mean. Occasionally I get a glimpse of the person they routinely see.

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