Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Teenagers

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

Coping with 15 year old son

2 replies

User125179313 · 17/01/2026 16:59

I’m not sure if I’m looking for advice, just need to vent or need reassurance that I’m not the worst mum in the world!

My 15 year old son is often difficult, rude, and he lies a lot (over small things but still lies). He wants to spend all his time in his room either on his phone or on the Xbox. He has no interest in school or studying (but claims he wants to earn lots of money). Today we told him to get all his homework as he’ll be at football for most of tomorrow. Instead he lied about doing his homework and went on his Xbox. I told him he could finish the game and then he must sit at his desk and do his homework. He got angry and kicked his chest of drawers very hard, nearly knocking his tv over. I lost it and switched off his Xbox and took his phone. He then sent me an email saying that ‘he had had enough. I don’t care about him. All I do is take his things away and shout at him’. I tried to go back to talk to him but he told me to go away so I did. I don’t think I did anything wrong. He never takes responsibility for anything and always finds a way to blame someone else. I don’t know what else to do but I really hope this gets easier soon as I’m not enjoying parenthood at all at the moment!! I see other people who look like they have a great relationship with their teens and it makes me so sad that isn’t me 😭

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 17/01/2026 20:27

Parenting as teens get older is more and more by consent. Telling him is going to get his back up and it’s easier to discuss things and reach agreements. Eg ‘I was thinking as you’re going to be most of the day at football on Sunday, it might be easier to do your homework today. What do you think?’ You can then reason with him rather than tell him. And if he refuses, you can then say. ‘we aren’t going to be able to take you if your work isn’t complete so it’s up to you’.

I get where you're coming from. However, you’re using absolutes to define him, which again annoys people - I do it myself and it needed pointing out to me. Ie he does or is like x, he never does y. he always does z etc.

As for the next steps after his behaviour, which is totally disproportionate to you telling him to do his work, I would have thought the natural consequence to this is no football tomorrow.

Shambles123 · 21/01/2026 15:01

I think removing football is not correct though, that's a good activity. Xbox is a crap activity. Why stop the good one?!

Similar but different with DD1 OP so watching with interest...

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread