Teenager Wobbles

tiddles

Hello Empty Purse,

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I've had similar ones with my 15 year old daughter, but she does seem to be improving now. We allow her to go on MSN after school,but after tea (8pm) she has to stay off the computer, and we try and make her do her homework then.

If I were you I would make an appointment to go and see her head of year at school, so that they can make arrangements for her to catch up with any outstanding coursework and monitor her behaviour.

Does she receive pocket money? Perhaps you could work out a daily amount, to be added up and given at the weekend, conditional on good behaviour?

Try to remain calm, and not shout at her; I know it's difficult!

Good luck!

Tiddles

Cariad_3

My son loves MSN too and my other 10 year old loves a game called Runescape which you can play online against friends. They would both stay on the computer for ever so we have put a password on the computer and they are allowed 1 hour a night, prepared to give them a bit longer on w/ends. At Christmas we took the password off and gave them free access and it was amazing how their behaviour deteriorated, obviously there were other factors but I do think free access to the computer played some part. The password is back on and life feels a little calmer. I have used a little extra time on MSN as a reward for completing homework, chores etc

traveller

Hi, so it's not just me! My 12 soon to be 13 year old is glued to MSN and has started to 'change'-i'm not saying because of MSN.It's just that the computer is something 'extra' to argue about.I knew with age he would change, but it's the endless 'answers' for everything and the reluctance at doing as asked that is driving me potty! I keep telling myself it's just a phase-but still! I too have started to restrict his time on the computer, as it seems to keep him in line a bit.

EMPTY_PURSE_5

DD has now announced that she is thinking of leaving school at summer to go to college (apparantly this is allowed as long as school find her a placement in full time education as she is only 15).

Before reading all your words of wisdom I would have flipped, but now see the sense in it if she is not happy at school. To leave at summer instead of christmas then she would have six months head start on college instead of starting a year at school and not finishing ( which I think she wouldnt even bother trying).

I think the thought of her leaving school makes me realise that she is no longer dependant on me and can now make her own decisions - my little girl is now (partially) grown up ........... so thank you everyone for all your mutterings and I look forward to having a happy and contented dughter again.

Love millie xxxx