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Teenagers

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

If you have teens do you manage to work?

93 replies

Itistheweekend · 08/05/2026 12:02

My 15teen DD is on my mind all the time. She is a good girl but it is a tricky age where they need do much support with the ups and lows.

My job is not too stressful fortunately; but some days I am not very efficient.

DH is supportive in the practical things but very busy with work.

How do you manage?

OP posts:
Abandofangelsincivvies · 08/05/2026 22:54

distinctpossibility · 08/05/2026 21:47

I work with a ND teen who has been through a nervous breakdown in the last 3 years. She is much better now but it was incredibly hard to work. In hindsight I should have been signed off myself as trying to support her was exhausting.

I have 3 other children as well who as aged 7 to 12 now.

I intend to take a year or two out in the next couple of years. I've saved hard to enable this. I can't be all things to all people and I don't want to be. DH does his fair share and all 4 kids are worth it, but you do need to look at your resources and decide how best to spend them. For me, very fortunately, my time and mental health during DD1's GCSE years will be more valuable than the income to our specific set up

Edited

I had exactly the same experience distinctpossibility
but with fewer children.

It was exactly that; I came to the conclusion that I simply couldn’t be all things to all people 100% of the time. The couple of years I took off helped my dd, took the pressure off me, and took the pressure off us all as a family. I refuse to be made to feel inadequate because of it!

Maybe someone can explain to me why is it a good thing that we all have to feel stretched to the max all of the time? And under massive financial pressures so that we can’t prioritise our teens if and when necessary? I don’t think that is anything to be celebrated particularly.

ItTook9Years · 08/05/2026 22:58

Mine is 15. I’m 200 miles away for work 50% of the time.

She has a perfectly capable father. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Motheranddaughter · 08/05/2026 23:03

Mine are a bit older now but yes worked throughout their teens
Was a great example to both
of them (boy/girl )

distinctpossibility · 08/05/2026 23:35

Was a great example to both
of them (boy/girl )
Yes, but it isn't the only way to set a good example. Keeping oneself mentally well, cutting cloth / making choices to meet the circumstances, and recognising that working hard, being purposeful and contributing doesn't always have to mean financially are all equally positive behaviours to model.

Notmeagain12 · 08/05/2026 23:45

distinctpossibility · 08/05/2026 23:35

Was a great example to both
of them (boy/girl )
Yes, but it isn't the only way to set a good example. Keeping oneself mentally well, cutting cloth / making choices to meet the circumstances, and recognising that working hard, being purposeful and contributing doesn't always have to mean financially are all equally positive behaviours to model.

It doesn’t always have to model that mum is the one to hold everything together by reducing her financial contribution, while dad continues as if nothing is wrong.

when my teens needed someone at home, it was dh that reduced his hours. Same when fil needed a carer. My DD’s see us sharing financial contribution and non financial- we decide on who is in the best position to take things on, rather than dividing by traditional sex based roles.

ItTook9Years · 09/05/2026 09:08

Notmeagain12 · 08/05/2026 23:45

It doesn’t always have to model that mum is the one to hold everything together by reducing her financial contribution, while dad continues as if nothing is wrong.

when my teens needed someone at home, it was dh that reduced his hours. Same when fil needed a carer. My DD’s see us sharing financial contribution and non financial- we decide on who is in the best position to take things on, rather than dividing by traditional sex based roles.

Same here, and my parents were the same.

distinctpossibility · 09/05/2026 09:12

Notmeagain12 · 08/05/2026 23:45

It doesn’t always have to model that mum is the one to hold everything together by reducing her financial contribution, while dad continues as if nothing is wrong.

when my teens needed someone at home, it was dh that reduced his hours. Same when fil needed a carer. My DD’s see us sharing financial contribution and non financial- we decide on who is in the best position to take things on, rather than dividing by traditional sex based roles.

Oh completely agree. In our house we both work 4 days at the moment. DH does all the school drops and 3 pick ups. Not to get at you, but the fact that you assumed that I was saying it should be the mum just reflects how deeply those gender based roles are embedded in us all.

As I said, each family should work out best use of resources for their specific circumstances. 100% of everything in one pot (time, money, earning potential, skills) and then split it out thoughtfully.

Natsku · 09/05/2026 09:15

I have a 15 year old and work full time, I don't find it an issue but she isn't a high needs teen, the emotional support she needs is easily handled outside of work time but if she were to have a problem she can text me or call me when I'm at work and its not a problem for me to answer, or if there's a big issue (never happened yet) I have a flexible job so I could leave and deal with her and make up the time later (I will be leaving in the middle of the day next week to go to a doctor appointment with her though)

Sweetandsaltycaroline · 09/05/2026 10:24

Teens are 16 and 19. I worked ft for the past 5 years, and have been fortunate that so far working around teens has been easier than when they were primary age. but im fortunate that they havent yet any significant issues and I work for myself so there is some degree of flexibility. I arranged to wfh or take time off when DD had gcses, on days where she had 2...possibly even 3.
DS has just started gcses, Ive gone through his time table and asked if he would prefer me to be at home for any days but he thinks its fine. I am not customer facing or have meetings so if either of them need to call or message during a working day, I can usually be available.

InfoSecInTheCity · 09/05/2026 10:27

I can’t relate but I’ve worked FT since DD was 9 months old so maybe that’s why. When I’m at work I’m at work, she’s off at school and I know she’s well and safe so there’s nothing to create a distraction.

FiolaFun · 09/05/2026 10:29

Oh I hear you so much.

Mine are teens and the worry and involvement never ends. However I feel it's borderline enmeshment, these days we are to close up with our daughters, every little tiny thing matters and causes dram and issues. Let them deal with it or with most of it.

For me working is a blessed relief from family drama.

ItTook9Years · 09/05/2026 12:22

I really struggle to understand why this would be thought of as an issue. Are we asking men these questions?

90+% of the parents of teens that I know work
fill time. It’s completely normal to do so, isn’t it?

PygmyOwl · 09/05/2026 12:30

I have two teens (plus a 20yo away at uni) and DH and I both work full time. It probably helps that my teens are fairly straightforward (the girl as well as the boy) - clearly some teens are trickier than others.

Clogblog · 09/05/2026 12:41

As someone who doesn't have teenagers yet, I found this an interesting read.

I can't really see how giving up my job would help me be a better parent to teens. I am sure a lot depends on your job. We both WFH some days and so if our teens really needed something after school, one of us would generally be available. Work is also somewhat flexible.

I think it's also personality to some extent, I think I would feel depressed and resentful if I gave up work rather than rested and rejuvenated. But I like my work and I feel better not worse usually when I am busy

LiveLuvLaugh · 09/05/2026 12:44

Working wasn’t a choice. We had to feed, clothe and put a roof over our kid’s heads and it’s increasingly impossible on one salary. I became much more focussed at (full time) work as my time was really precious. Took late lunch breaks, went for a walk and FaceTimed teen daughter when she got home to hear the friend dramas and homework plans. Batched cooked at the weekend so time in the evenings to taxi them around. Target for each teen to cook 1 meal per week. Some friends did way better than me at getting kids to do daily chores, DS fed cats and scooped litter 2x daily; the other emptied car after weekly big shop and put food away and took recycling out.

BreakfastWithMacy · 09/05/2026 12:50

I am a single parent to two boys, one with additional needs and a 15 year old. It is tricky, but I work full time in management. I think, severe disabilities aside, if I can do it with zero support (literally, zero) anyone can!

Surreyblah · 09/05/2026 12:54

Am very sorry your DD and you are going through that @Plumnora I have some experience with that and it was and remains rough. Hope you’re able to access help and that things stablise soon.

Some of the posts on here are judgmental, along the lines of ‘what’s the problem?’ ‘You’re the problem’, ‘you’re doing it wrong!’

perhaps posters are responding about OP’s turn of phrase about her job. If OP finds it hard to work full time and parent teens, without any additional needs or immediate serious problems, that’s her experience. She’s not alone in that.

Most fathers are the higher earners with longer hours, don’t do 50% and so on. Easy to day ‘go back in time and choose a better H’, far harder in reality! it’s often mothers squeezing in stuff and trying to be physically and mentally present, both day to day and id the shit hits the fan.

Some tweens and teens are fine, or fine overall with a few blips or bad year(s). Many though are not.

Mine were - or seemed - fine, until they really weren’t. Then it was and remains difficult and intense.

DH has found it more difficult than a parent’s illness and death when he was a teen.

Have always worked full time, middle management type job I dislike and find hard, and usually juggled and compartmentalised OK, but have found it very difficult, both before and after the bad teen stuff has gone on.

There is often an undercurrent in threads (outside the quiet children’s MH board) about teen mental health of ‘it’s the parents’ fault’,’ including on this thread. ‘my teens are fine: I’ve done it right!’ ‘you have done things wrong!’

Surreyblah · 09/05/2026 13:04

Working FT is for most of us necessary financially and has a lot of pros.

The cons (or opportunity costs), however, include 50 hours plus a week of time (working / travel etc), physical and mental energy, being in the home.

I dream of SAH, if could magically take away the financials I believe it’d make it easier, for me, to be a good parent, partner and to look after myself.

For parents of many teens with mental health, eating disorder, substance abuse or other serious problems, it’s challenging, working or not.

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