Monday, July 21, 2014

Dealing with Teenagers

I must confess, when we decided to start our family at the tender ages of 21 and 22, we planned a pregnancy. A baby, maybe we projected far enough to toddler-hood and the first year of school. But honestly, most of the "Let's start a family" discussion was really "Let's have a baby".

But babies have a strange little habit of growing.
And they become tantruming toddlers, and boundary pushing children. They become smelly and busy school kids. 

And then... then they become teenagers.

Dealing with teenagers can be fun and funny, it can be enlightening, rewarding and awesome. It can also drive you demented and make you want to stab yourself in the eye with a teaspoon.

Trying to communicate with teenagers and anticipate their moods is a hit and miss game of epic proportion.
I can't remember a day in the past 4 years when at least one of my teens wasn't defensive, moody and offended by something I said.



I know I know, just let it go... 

... except it's bloody hard to keep on trucking through the bewildering and unpredictable spurts of anger and still lovingly care for the large darlings.

Today in the space of an hour I managed to annoy Miss 18 by asking her to write her work shifts on the calendar ( you know, so I can DRIVE HER TO WORK ! )

I am now receiving the silent treatment from Miss 16 because I bought the wrong sort of bread ( actually someone else bought the bread but apparently I am the Grand Pooh Bah of food stuffs in our home so the buck stops here). 

Someone called the house asking for him, so I made the outrageous decision to wake Mr 20 at 8am and clearly he's not appreciating the gesture, given the huffing and muttering from his bedroom.

And Miss 10 , a newly minted tween as of last Thursday has begun teen-practice, so she was truly angry, sulky and generally unpleasant because she had to brush her hair for school.

Right now, the only ones in the house who aren't displeased with me are the fluffy four legged members.

(actually the cat doesn't like me much either).

Linking up with Ann from Help I'm Stuck for I Must Confess Monday, 
holiday hosting for lovely Kirsty who is having a much deserved break xx









6 comments:

  1. Oh dear, and I thought I had it bad with 2 teens - I think I'm glad we stuck to only 2 kids!

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  2. Ha ha love this term - Grand Pooh Bah - I have all that to look forward to. Perhaps I should be grateful with being screamed at by a 3yo because he wants this teddy bear PJs!

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  3. Oh dear! I am really not looking forward to the teenage years. I get enough attitude around here now!

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  4. I've had it far too easy for far too long with my girls. They are now 13, 14 & 16 and only just starting to get super moody and give me attitude. Honestly in the scheme of things (ie. what I've seen from friends' kids) it's nothing but not being use to it, I'm almost wanting to book long service leave just in case it gets worse. Luckily they all still get on but gosh just lately I always end up feeling like the whip cracker or bad guy.

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  5. My eldest is 10 and I'm starting to see some signs of pre-puberty happening. He's starting to sleep in and starting to become more touchy (if that's possible) on some subjects. And Miss soon to be nine is not far behind. I'm so not ready for this!!!!

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  6. Gosh, I am so looking forward to the teenage years!

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Your comments are welcome, please be kind and respectful. We all have different views of the world, sharing your view with gentle words is appreciated.xxx Lisa