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Teenagers

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

DS14 not coming home from school

22 replies

newyorkbreakfast · 18/10/2025 22:22

We set a home-time every single day of 7.30pm which includes a gym hour from 6.30.
Every single day he is late and recently we have had to drive out looking for him. Doesn’t help that his phone was robbed last week so his location can’t be tracked.
it is extremely stressful not knowing what the evening will hold - on Thursday he wasn’t home until 10pm.
Has ASD so shows no remorse. Doesn’t care about the fact that homework is not being done.
Has detentions every day for truancy /messing about but does not care. Has EHCP but refuses the support.
Very hard as parent to set consequences as he does not care.
Is hanging around with similar kids but they are dragging each other down.
Has given up all sports and hobbies - just does a bit of weight lifting about 2 nights a week.
Have tried fining him for being late - the fine is going into his 18+ savings account - but he does not care. He will just go out and spend no money. Or maybe borrow /steal.
Incentivising does not work either.
is there anything I can do?
Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
CarrierbagsAndPJs · 18/10/2025 23:11

Taking out of his 18+ account isnt a punishment as it isnt immediate. you need effective immediate consequences. Why has he been allowed to not come home from school until 7.30?

TartanMammy · 18/10/2025 23:15

That sounds stressful but also 7:30pm seems quite early for a 14yr old. Is there a specific reason it's set so early?

My ds is 9pm during the week, but he'll usually come home and eat after school, change and head back out again.

stichguru · 18/10/2025 23:15

He's 14, if he isn't coming home when he is suppose to be, he's picked up from school by a parent!

stomachamelon · 18/10/2025 23:18

@newyorkbreakfasti agree with others that a compromise should be reached eg can you come home first, eat and check in and then go back out for a while? Ask him what he would like to happen.

I know the obvious thing is to punish but you want to keep the channels of discussion open (and know what he is up to) not firmly close them and drive him away.

CarrierbagsAndPJs · 18/10/2025 23:27

TartanMammy · 18/10/2025 23:15

That sounds stressful but also 7:30pm seems quite early for a 14yr old. Is there a specific reason it's set so early?

My ds is 9pm during the week, but he'll usually come home and eat after school, change and head back out again.

It isnt esrly at all. he isnt doing his school work. Op you need to have him home straight after school, do his homework and then go out. But if he wont come back when he is told to, he stays in.

Pryceosh1987 · 19/10/2025 01:50

I think it is best to take him to see the counselor at school. There is someone who can talk to him and help the boy see the value of school. Perhaps you may be able to speak to the headteacher about options.

AngelofIslington · 19/10/2025 02:08

can you not pick him from school when it finishes? What is he doing for tea?
7.30 isn’t late for a 14 year old but it is very late to be getting home from school, 10pm is ridiculous

suburberphobe · 19/10/2025 03:51

@@stichguru

Any evidence of that?

Yea, Id be worried too.

WoahThreeAces · 19/10/2025 05:06

stichguru · 18/10/2025 23:15

He's 14, if he isn't coming home when he is suppose to be, he's picked up from school by a parent!

Don't most parents of secondary school kids have jobs?? I couldn't go pick my 14yr old up, I work til 6 every day

Soluckyinlove · 19/10/2025 05:21

Is there a reason that he hates being at home? Have the household arrangements changed in some way? Does he have younger, squabbling siblings?

Lurkingandlearning · 19/10/2025 06:34

CarrierbagsAndPJs · 18/10/2025 23:11

Taking out of his 18+ account isnt a punishment as it isnt immediate. you need effective immediate consequences. Why has he been allowed to not come home from school until 7.30?

I think she takes the fine out of whatever cash he has now and puts the fine into hi 18 savings account so he doesn’t get to enjoy it now but will when he is a bit more mature.

cheeseandbranston · 19/10/2025 07:55

It sounds like you have slipped onto opposite teams… I have a boy of a similar age and similar diagnosis. He also has friends that don’t go to school and are a bit wild. He also doesn’t do homework.

Our situation got a lot better when I realised that he is not a normal kid. It simply isn’t as natural for him to worry about time, obligations, engage in productive activities etc, under all the ‘not caring’ is actually quite a bit of overwhelm and anxiety and simply not knowing how to be like most people.

the more understanding and empathy you have for him, the easier it is to get back on the same team.

our conversations have shifted from ‘how dare you, this is unacceptable etc’ to ‘I know this is important to you/ difficult for you, but I worry. Can we figure out something that works for you and also isn’t unreasonable’ etc.

our conversations have got a lot better, and he’s inclined to meet me half way because I am not his enemy. We are in a relationship where he wants my good regard. If I should and lay down the law, he just thinks ‘stuff you, this is my life, I’ll do what I want’

its not what people of more straightforward kids want to hear you say. They want you to say ‘I am being super firm and now he is complying’ - but it doesn’t work.

people talk about parents being to soft and say things like ‘it’s not an option, or he simple must do x y z, I wouldn’t tolerate it etc’ … but the reality is, they are talking about a different kind of kid, and their tactics just don’t work with the kind of kid you have.

people find it hard to think about or sit with an unresolvanle situation, it’s uncomfortable to think about, so they try and ‘solve it’ by being forceful and absolute. Rigid rules and punishments. But It doesn’t work. It just makes your kid feel lonely and more inclined to not care what you think and stay with his friends.

cheeseandbranston · 19/10/2025 07:58

*if I shout - not ‘should’

Comedycook · 19/10/2025 07:59

TartanMammy · 18/10/2025 23:15

That sounds stressful but also 7:30pm seems quite early for a 14yr old. Is there a specific reason it's set so early?

My ds is 9pm during the week, but he'll usually come home and eat after school, change and head back out again.

I have to say I disagree with this. I find it incredibly odd that anyone is fine for their teen to finish school for the day and then hang round for hours before coming home. Surely they just finish school then come home? Unless they are doing a specific thing afterwards.

TheBlueHotel · 19/10/2025 08:01

TartanMammy · 18/10/2025 23:15

That sounds stressful but also 7:30pm seems quite early for a 14yr old. Is there a specific reason it's set so early?

My ds is 9pm during the week, but he'll usually come home and eat after school, change and head back out again.

When does he do his homework? It's unusual for 14 year olds to be allowed out after school until 9pm. Fine if you want to do it with your kid but it's not a common practice.

TheBlueHotel · 19/10/2025 08:02

Pryceosh1987 · 19/10/2025 01:50

I think it is best to take him to see the counselor at school. There is someone who can talk to him and help the boy see the value of school. Perhaps you may be able to speak to the headteacher about options.

Most schools don't have counsellors these days and the ones that do have long waiting lists

newyorkbreakfast · 19/10/2025 12:45

Thank you all for your comments. To respond to those who think it’s ’not normal’ for a teen to be out so late, I agree and it’s not my preference. But I cannot physically stop him from walking out of school with friends and hanging out. The area he hangs out is closer to school and home is a bus ride away where he has nothing to do.
We are talking about a fiercely strong-willed boy on the autism spectrum for whom consequences are meaningless. His priority is to be accepted by his friend group, at all costs, for fear of missing out and being rejected. That’s the cost of having poor social-communication skills…
I have tried to have calm conversations and meet him half way - I already think 7.30pm on a Tuesday school night is over generous but he does often go to the gym around that time.
I was just interested to hear from parents who have had similar and how they dealt. @cheesethank you as I think you might have similar!

OP posts:
Needlenardlenoo · 19/10/2025 12:49

cheeseandbranston · 19/10/2025 07:55

It sounds like you have slipped onto opposite teams… I have a boy of a similar age and similar diagnosis. He also has friends that don’t go to school and are a bit wild. He also doesn’t do homework.

Our situation got a lot better when I realised that he is not a normal kid. It simply isn’t as natural for him to worry about time, obligations, engage in productive activities etc, under all the ‘not caring’ is actually quite a bit of overwhelm and anxiety and simply not knowing how to be like most people.

the more understanding and empathy you have for him, the easier it is to get back on the same team.

our conversations have shifted from ‘how dare you, this is unacceptable etc’ to ‘I know this is important to you/ difficult for you, but I worry. Can we figure out something that works for you and also isn’t unreasonable’ etc.

our conversations have got a lot better, and he’s inclined to meet me half way because I am not his enemy. We are in a relationship where he wants my good regard. If I should and lay down the law, he just thinks ‘stuff you, this is my life, I’ll do what I want’

its not what people of more straightforward kids want to hear you say. They want you to say ‘I am being super firm and now he is complying’ - but it doesn’t work.

people talk about parents being to soft and say things like ‘it’s not an option, or he simple must do x y z, I wouldn’t tolerate it etc’ … but the reality is, they are talking about a different kind of kid, and their tactics just don’t work with the kind of kid you have.

people find it hard to think about or sit with an unresolvanle situation, it’s uncomfortable to think about, so they try and ‘solve it’ by being forceful and absolute. Rigid rules and punishments. But It doesn’t work. It just makes your kid feel lonely and more inclined to not care what you think and stay with his friends.

I've got an AuDHD 12 year old with an EHCP and this is good advice.

You need the connection and to be curious.

TartanMammy · 19/10/2025 18:33

TheBlueHotel · 19/10/2025 08:01

When does he do his homework? It's unusual for 14 year olds to be allowed out after school until 9pm. Fine if you want to do it with your kid but it's not a common practice.

Edited

He doesn't really get a lot homework, and it always gets done - predicted all As so it's not a concern. He comes home from school first though which is the difference between op's son. He goes out maybe 4 evenings a week.
Sometimes he will go to a friends, the driving range, for a kick about, the gym, or just hang about, I can't get worked about coming home at 9pm. I'd be just as worried if he was alone gaming all night, he's active and with friends (in my ds case it thankfully a positive peer group - hasn't always been).

The gym is a positive way to spend his time op, he's safe and exercising. Can you agree a time to collect him from the gym?

This is tough op, the advice from @cheeseandbranstonis very sensible, try not to punish to discuss and leave doors open. Parenting teens is not for weak, nevermind ND teens.

stomachamelon · 19/10/2025 19:15

@cheeseandbranstonsuch advice!

cheeseandbranston · 20/10/2025 19:04

they do sound similar. You just can’t get the same response from ND kids. If my boy is backed into a corner he will happy lose everything (including the relationship) rather than capitulate. And then he’s on his own in the world. Staying in team is the most important thing at this age

stomachamelon · 20/10/2025 21:28

@cheeseandbranston sorry that should have said ‘good’ advice! I think parents that don’t know children like that see it as capitulating to their wants and needs. I have children (now grown) and teach children like it. They dig in and don’t care about consequences/ removal of things. You have to reframe your thinking. Or the teens/ early adulthood will be a very stressful experience for all involved!

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