Do you actually like your teenagers?

[cherylannet]

My DD is 16, nearly 17, and an awful lot of the time I really dont like her. Is that a terrible thing to say? Do any of you ever feel like that?

Tonight for example, she wanted to bring her laptop into the living room and I said no, it lives in the dining room and that was the agreement when she was bought a new one (after she left her previous one on the floor and it got destroyed by a friend spilling water on it). Well that 'no' set her off on a pretty nasty verbal attack on me, her stepdad and our marriage - which is great by the way. She really has what my Mum might have called 'a vicious tongue' when things dont go her way, and she can be unbelievably nasty. Tonight she came to say goodnight and I couldnt even look at her I was so sick of being spoken to like that. Then of course the old guilt kicked in. But tbh, she speaks to me on a daily basis in a way that I have never spoken to anyone else.

Is it just us, have I bred some sort of wicked child, or do some of you really not like your teenagers either?

Thanks

I love teenagers - have worked with teenagers in care for 15 yrs and have a now 19 yr old of my own. I think that maybe because i understand the reason behind the kids at work behavior i am able to let it go (also they dont push my buttons) .... so anything my son does seem irrelevant compared

Yes I do, I deal with mine rather like 40+ seems to, but I won't go into details about how lovely they are because I don't want to upset people and get flamed for smugness. It seems to run contra to the Code Of Mumsnet to consistently enjoy your children and want to spend a lot of time with them.
I'll miss them when they leave for good, and if they never do, that will be fine as well.

My son has really got his arse into gear over night.My dp had a long talk with him he apologised and thank god is back to his old self!he has been given a list of 'no negotiation' chores as he doesn't seem to do anything off his own bat.We have always got on well and spent lots of time together but I am also enjoying the freedom of his independence.We went shopping yesterday for his prom stuff and he was grateful and normal!I even ate in burger king for lunch with him which I hate.I agree with the pick your arguments and sometimes walk away advice I really was rising to everything he did as he was irritating me so much Lets hope it lasts

good luck noddy, long may it last

Thanks AF it was becoming unbearable