Someone please tell me the best way to deal with teenagers!?

thunderbird

CATS wrote: »

Hi OP,

I have a beautiful 13 year old son, ,who I am told will soon turn into a monster, however up to now he still behaves better than I did at his age. The only thing I am currently struggling with is he wants more freedom,

What sort of freedom does he want?

CATS

Hi thunderbird,

I guess simple things like being allowed to go to the town center with his friends until 7pm, we compromise, he can stay till 5pm in winter 7pm in summer, not that he goes often. Going to the park with his bike until 7pm on weekends. We have same arrangement, 5pm in winter 8:30 in summer. For some reason its about being allowed to stay out till late and this is what I find difficult. I have no problem with him going cinema or anywhere else in the day time, it's the evenings I worry. Lucky I think he gets it for now and we have reached compromises.

WantToBeSE

Hi everyone.
Well, tomorrow its my sons 13th birthday and i am taking him and his brother out to dinner to celebrate.
when i asked him who he wanted to come with us, he just said he wanted me and his brother because we are the 2 most important to him.
Gosh, he can be so sweet sometimes, in amongst all those raging hormones! Its times like this that get me through the difficult times

CATS- i am quite lucky in that we live in a very small town, but i totally agree with your worried in regards to freedom. I think that your time limits (5pm in winter, 7pm in summer) is very fair.

Spendless

Have a lovely meal WantToBeSE Have you implemented the money yet? My son hasn't touched his pocket money since Monday when he was asked to pay for his own extras. :rotfl:

WantToBeSE

Thanks Spendless
I am starting the pocket money as from tomorrow. I wanted to coinside it with his birthday, so to (hopefully!) get the message across that i recognise he is getting older, and part of that it taking some personal responsibility....we'll see how that goes!

VJsmum

My nearly 14 year old DS is very similar to much of what has been posted here.

I am going away for a week tomorrow for work, I asked him if he'd miss me - knowing full well the answer would be "no".

Except it wasn't just no - he said "no. I don't miss people. It isn't in my book of necessities".

:rotfl:

WantToBeSE

Just re-reading this thread...one of those days!

Spendless

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Just re-reading this thread...one of those days!

Just searched through my facebook pages to find this quote for you. :D

The definition of Insanity is trying to reason with a hormonal teenager and expecting a different respectful result!

WantToBeSE

Haha, thanks Spendless
He said to me this afternoon "I will do the dishes so that i get my pocket money tomorrow".

Hmm...as if that'll happen! I have yet to tell him he wont be getting pocket money this month!

Lunar_Eclipse

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Agree. I also wonder if it can be worse with girls since generally, girls are much more vocal (as opposed to the silent treatment) and mine are very quick with words.

This thread is brilliant. I've laughed lots and it's reminded me to stay calm and keep going. I have two girls and am currently having a very hard time with my 11 year old. The almost 13 year old is delightful, although I know she was pushing back, unco-operative and suffering from bouts of anger/you don't understand me at exactly the same age.

When this current phase passes, we'll be ready for the next round (14?) with DD1.

Oh how things change!

Maybe I tempted fate, but I can report that we are having loads of "fun" with the 13, soon to be 14, year old! The now 12 year old is currently delightful, touch wood!

Must remember all the brilliant advice on here, and that 'this too shall pass.'