Page 7 | What have you done to ruin your teenager's summer so far?

NotDarkGothicMama · 2026-07-21T21:15:48+00:00

I have: - Woken DS up "too fast" to unload the dishwasher when I got home from work at 7pm. - Locked down DD's phone after 3 hours of asking her to put away the vast array of dirty crockery, nail art supplies and dirty socks decorating the sofa. - Booked a holiday in accommodation without a swimming pool. - Arranged to take DS and DD on a work trip abroad with me. - Refused to exclude DD from said work trip at DS's request. How have you ruined your teenager's summer?

Rothburypixie · 24/07/2026 16:48

SisSuffragette · 24/07/2026 11:13

I asked my daughter to take her duvet cover off! It makes her feel sick!

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Poor lamb, sending her thoughts and prayers at this sad time 😂

NImumconfused · 24/07/2026 22:54

BebbanburgIsMine · 24/07/2026 00:06

No, they absolutely were not!

No teacher, no Brownie or Guide leader, no Sunday School teacher, absolutely no-one on earth has ever had a bad word to say about my girls. Both one many awards for excellent behaviour, including a Diana Award for setting up an anti bullying place in school for the younger children to go and talk about things, school counsellor on hand if needed. They never had lines or a single detention or got into trouble at school, or beyond.

My XH was english so we lived in England for a while ( now back home in NE Scotland). The english school system being different to here meant that they were at different schools, when the time came for DD2 to move up to DD1’s school there wasn’t a place for her. I said I would have to move DD1 to DD2’s school as they had a place for her there. Not sure of the year now, but here in Scotland they’d have been P3 and P4. I had the headteacher and DD1’s teacher pleading with me not to move her as she was such an asset to the school. Funnily enough, after I said I had no choice, they found a place for DD2.

So please don’t tell me my daughters misbehaved, and were rude, because they just weren’t. You don’t know them or me, so you can’t possibly say they were badly behaved.

Both in their 30s now, they have never given me, or anyone else a moment’s worry.

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Thing is, my mum (and the assorted teachers, youth leaders etc) would have said exactly the same about my middle sister, but the reality was she was just incredibly good at not getting caught. She's confessed to doing all sorts as a teenager now, but since we're all in our 50s mum can just laugh.

Original poster

NotDarkGothicMama · Yesterday 08:11

NImumconfused · 24/07/2026 22:54

Thing is, my mum (and the assorted teachers, youth leaders etc) would have said exactly the same about my middle sister, but the reality was she was just incredibly good at not getting caught. She's confessed to doing all sorts as a teenager now, but since we're all in our 50s mum can just laugh.

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Same. I'm pushing 40 and my mum would have kittens if she knew what I got up to as a teenager. I was the most perfect angel at school.

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Original poster

NotDarkGothicMama · Yesterday 08:15

DD has gotten over her vaccination experience. DCat had her annual checkup and vaccinations that afternoon and was a lot less bother. I can't wait to repeat the drama in Year 9 🤦‍♀️

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Gardenflowering · Yesterday 08:21

Told him to come off his game because:

It was 12.15 midnight
he was shrieking, shouting and being very loud
the other 3 people he lives with have to be up in the morning for work
he needs to clean his teeth as he hasn’t done so for 3 days in my estimation
tomorrow he must get up, shower, clean his teeth, take the cups, bowls, bottles, rubbish, dirty laundry downstairs and deal with it all.

Threatened to disconnect the internet until all of the above was done therefore NO gaming shall take place.

”I hate my life bro, seriously hate my life” was his reply…
So, there we are then.

Rocknrollstar · Yesterday 09:27

Meadowfinch · 23/07/2026 15:19

Nothing. He finished his a'levels in June and has had 6 weeks of lie-ins. He's worked a few shifts at the leisure centre but otherwise, I've left him to sleep.

Things are going to change in August 😊He's having a crash course in food prep, laundry and domestic budgeting.

6 week of lie-ins? Could you adopt me? I got home from school in the middle of my A-levels and my mum told me she had answered an advert and got me a job starting the Monday after they finished. tbh I did pretty much the same to my two DC but they had much nicer jobs than me.

Rocknrollstar · Yesterday 09:28

FarmersBlonde · 22/07/2026 16:48

I won’t give dd15 money everyday for a KFC/McDonalds/etc and make her eat vegetables. It’s ruining her social life. I don’t mind once or twice a week but it’s just pure shite she’s eating. Plus I want her to learn that the money I do give her needs to last her. I may sound really tight but she’s had £50 + what family gave her this week as she went to the seaside for a couple of nights with her friend.

Can she earn money from you by doing chores? We used to have a list up with how much I would pay for each job.

CorvusPurpureus · Yesterday 10:47

We’re relocating so I asked dd2 to sort through & pack her enormous fold out box of makeup, none of which could possibly go in the sea freight a month ago as she ‘uses it all every day’.

Now, however, ‘it’s all crap, give it all to <housekeeper - (she’ll be thrilled to be fair)>. I’ll buy more in <destination> with the $200 you owe me.’

Have pointed out that a) I don’t ‘owe’ her $200, I just offered her that as a bribe for decluttering her clothes pre shipping, & the deal was that it was to top up essentials in her wardrobe & b) some of that make up is only a few months old because she begged for it for her birthday & c) if she needs more cash, there’ll be plenty of settling in chores to earn some once we’ve moved.

Summer. Ruined.

Nofeckingway · Yesterday 11:21

Not a summer one but I went to pick up my DD from school in a newish SUV I had bought . It was to accommodate the regular long motorway trips I weekly had to do as well as moving stuff to various college flats for her siblings.

Apparently it soooo embarrassing as it made me look well off and she would get teased about it . So it was too big and too show offy .

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NotDarkGothicMama · Yesterday 11:36

@Meadowfinch would you care to include my DS in your food prep lessons? His attempt at baking a cake this morning is quite spectacularly disastrous so far.

DD has been spying on him and sending updates by WhatsApp.

What have you done to ruin your teenager's summer so far?

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Meadowfinch · Yesterday 11:53

NotDarkGothicMama · Yesterday 11:36

@Meadowfinch would you care to include my DS in your food prep lessons? His attempt at baking a cake this morning is quite spectacularly disastrous so far.

DD has been spying on him and sending updates by WhatsApp.

Edited

Christ !! I'm not teaching my ds to make cakes.

I've come up with 14 simple, reasonably healthy dishes that all take 10 mins or less, and that ds will eat. They may just stop him getting scurvy In the autumn term.

He's had lesson 1 - How to plan & shop for a week's food. We hit Tesco at 9.40 this morning with his list and left at 11. 😁

If he wants cake, I'll send him one via Evri when I remember.

Meadowfinch · Yesterday 11:57

Nofeckingway · Yesterday 11:21

Not a summer one but I went to pick up my DD from school in a newish SUV I had bought . It was to accommodate the regular long motorway trips I weekly had to do as well as moving stuff to various college flats for her siblings.

Apparently it soooo embarrassing as it made me look well off and she would get teased about it . So it was too big and too show offy .

I love this.

My ds turns my car radio off whenever I drop him off anywhere. Apparently the fact that I listen to Heart FM while driving is too embarrassing for words. 🙄

Gelatosummer · Yesterday 12:24

@Meadowfinch 14 healthy meals that take 10 minutes or less? Maybe include me in your food prep lessons!

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NotDarkGothicMama · Yesterday 12:46

And me!

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blabbermouth12 · Yesterday 12:56

NotDarkGothicMama · 23/07/2026 12:33

I was a horrible teenager so am definitely getting my comeuppance.

I'm allowed to make polite conversation with the DC's friends, but only in unavoidable circumstances like when I'm giving them a lift. I am absolutely not allowed to have the radio on or play music in earshot of any other living being. All music must cease before I get home in case the neighbours hear while I'm parking up.

I've ruined DD's day by making her get the HPV vaccine, which she's already refused twice at school. Even the offer of Starbucks afterwards didn't stop the crying, refusal to get out of the car and wails that I don't understand/care. I'm afraid my sympathy has been exhausted and she's now sitting in the clinic waiting room, playing on her phone and throwing me the odd scowl.

My ds14 is the same with music and has been for years! I don’t get it!!!
but grateful to see I’m not alone 🥲

allaboardthetram · Yesterday 13:32

refused to put up his new curtains at 9pm at night when they were delivered by Amazon as I leave at 5am for work next day.

telling him off for swearing while gaming and his friends heard

Suggesting I was too tired to cook on Friday evening and ordering a takeaway which isn’t healthy

asking for dishwasher to be done daily whilst at work.

suggesting trip to seaside for arcades and food.

simply existing

ivegotthisyeah · Yesterday 13:40

Asked me if we were in ‘financial poverty’ as there was no food in the house.
there was plenty of course, but because there wasn’t a Starbucks matcha and toastie waving at her from the fridge when she opened it she had a melt down
🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

AddictedToBooks · Yesterday 15:52

Love this thread! This is the type of thread that I come to Mumsnet for.

Not my own child but my 17 yr old nephew - he found it "shocking" that I used the word "fam" (apparently I'm "too old" to "talk like that").

He was horrifically embarrassed (to the point of going red) when I bought a book and he claimed that "reading books is a total waste of time", but then constantly moans about being bored.

He thinks I'm embarrassing because I nickname all of the wildlife that come into my garden (he claims that the names "Lizzie" and "Ray" are names "so old-fashioned that they're extinct" - when I told the cheeky little bugger that one of my middle names is Elizabeth, he said "point proven".

He does have his lovely moments though - he stays over quite often and calls me his "second mum" and said he loves my cooking and he does help with the housework - but then slates my furniture saying it's "ancient crap that should be burned" - he likes IKEA style furniture and light colours whereas my style is cosy Victorian. He told me only yesterday "When you die and I get your house, I'm painting everything white and throwing out your cheap sofa (it's a vintage Chesterfield that I had to really save up for the cheeky little sod, lol) Plus I'm only 49 so hopefully not dying anytime soon and nobody has actually said who gets my house - for a start I have a DH who lives here too and I have 8 nephews and 2 nieces, not just him.

Namechangee11 · Yesterday 16:07

Made them empty a dishwasher...

Atefartoomuch · Yesterday 20:10

Evacuated the shop as instructed when the fire alarms went off rather than continuing painful search for holiday clothes that were in budget and fit for purpose (my criteria) and not cringe (her criteria)

Original poster

NotDarkGothicMama · Yesterday 22:15

Did you set off the alarm on purpose @Atefartoomuch?

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sashh · Today 05:47

Hamela · 22/07/2026 17:01

No I didn't. Because I wasn't in a loving or safe enough environment at home to express my natural moods due to normal teenage hormones. It forced me to be secretive, to make dangerous mistakes and to surround myself with people who were bad for me.

I would 100% rather have an inconsequentially sassy teen, who feels safe and nurtured enough to speak their mind and actually express good and bad emotions.

It is literally how children develop to become young adults and then secure grown adults. Do some reading into psychology and educate yourself! They push against boundaries to find themselves. Having loving boundaries and space to explore all of their emotions is nothing but a good thing.

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I could have written this.

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