my partner has difficulty understanding and dealing with his teenagers...

Deals_2

i find my partner very impatient with his teenage kids from his first marriage. i have read and read a lot of psychology but he still does not believe me. i am not saying i know everything but i dont find he listens enough to what is being said. what would your recommend? i find it affects our relationship.

Savvy_Sue

I have difficulty understanding and dealing with MY teenagers ...

It's the grunting and muttering and mumbling which does my head in ...

More seriously, would your partner be willing to attend a parenting class aimed at the parents of teens? I know they are available in some areas.

Deals_2

he needs a parenting class. any ideas how i find out about them?

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I have difficulty understanding and dealing with MY teenagers ...

It's the grunting and muttering and mumbling which does my head in ...

More seriously, would your partner be willing to attend a parenting class aimed at the parents of teens? I know they are available in some areas.

Savvy_Sue

Might depend where you are.

A google for 'parenting classes teenagers' limited to the UK brought up quite a few sites, including this one from the BBC. Which I'd have thought would be fairly sane ... Adding your local area to the search would narrow it down.

Also if you have younger children (or even if you don't) then you could approach your local Health Visitor - they should be able to point you onwards ... Or even the school the recalcitrant teenagers attend!

Not coming up on the first page of that search is Parentline Plus, although I see that the BBC page links to them for their 'find a class' bit. There are lots of tips there.

However, I'd still recommend a class, ideally for both of you to go to together. I'd go alone if he won't go with you. You'll feel so much better when you realise what other parents (and step-parents) battle with ... But if he's a bit wary of going, maybe you could present it as YOU wanting to improve your parenting skills, especially as you're not their mum, and how helpful it would be to have his support ... He may see right through this, but you can but try!

Oh, and remember, as with the Terrible Twos, this too shall pass ... if they live that long! I now have an absolutely charming almost 20 yo, we used to reduce each other to tears at regular intervals. I learned a little for his brother, now 17, and we are almost out of the woods there, but the 15 yo! :eek: :eek: :eek: