My teenage son must be stressed...
By schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
United States
February 8, 2011 2:34pm CST
My oldest child (I have 4 children) is currently enrolled in his first semester at college. I really think he is stressed out. He does not want to fail any of his classes and he is taking 13 units right now - 4 classes. He also enjoys playing World of Warcraft. He is trying to work out the balance between school, leisure activities, and chores at home and I think the stress is getting to him. Also, everyone here at home is sick with a cold or flu (myself excluded) so he is cranky.
We have a two story home and I called him on his cell phone to his bedroom upstairs to tell him lunch was ready. He answered the phone by saying "Go away!". Well, this took me aback. It really made me angry that I had made lunch for everyone and called him to tell him his food was ready and he didn't even have the decency to say "hello" when he answered the phone and to just start the conversation like that. I chalked it up to him being stressed out but if it keeps up I will be addressing this with him. I would never answer the phone like that no matter how busy, stessed, etc. I was. That is just not polite.
What do you think? Do you think he is just stressed out? Other than this he is polite for the most part. Maybe I am just bothering him too much at other times and he has met his breaking point.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!![
em]niceday[/em]
What do you think? Do you think he is just stressed out? Other than this he is polite for the most part. Maybe I am just bothering him too much at other times and he has met his breaking point.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!![
em]niceday[/em]2 people like this
11 responses
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
8 Feb 11
He's not old enough to know how to handle that stress and still be decent to his mom. We all assume our moms don't need the consideration we feel we have to give others when we're that age.
Have a talk with him and tell him you know he must be under a lot of pressure. Maybe he'll open up and that will surely make him feel a bit better. Later maybe you can mention how his behavior made you feel.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157622)
• United States
9 Feb 11
That first semester was a real eye opener when I went to college, but that was ages ago. I bet it has gotten more challenging. My speculation is that perhaps he is actually addicted to WoW, and in need of time to wean himself from it. He is cranky because of it. I would not have put up with the rudeness, though. Maybe let it pass this one time or some calm time let him know how much this offended you when you are just trying to help him.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
9 Feb 11
One thing I holler DInner or Lunch is ready if someone cant hear or dont come I go tell them.
Cell phones for that would be a no no here for we dont have them on us all the time .
No he shouldnt have answered that way.
$ classes dont sound like to big of a load and if he gets all that cranky Warcraft would have to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
9 Feb 11
Hi Schulzie,
I have 4 kids too and I think they all have at one time or another snapped at me like that...totally uncalled for and unjustified. Yep...I can feel your anger. In all fairness, while I never would answer the phone the way your son did, I have been short with them at times even if only with tone of voice. Don't take it personal but I would give it a little while and then talk to him. It's not ok to talk to you like that. He is young and needs to learn to balance his time and priorities. Maybe less of the Warcraft?
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
11 Feb 11
I remember quite well what it was like when I was in my first semester of college and I know that the adjustment was not something that was really easy to make. Of course, I was also living away from home. That said, I would think that he probably is under a lot of stress trying to get his life straightened out with the new expectations that are placed on him. As a mother, the best thing that you can probably do for him is to be supportive of him, but try not to place too many additional demands on him until he has fully adjusted to college life.
@amirev777 (4117)
• India
9 Feb 11
Hi
There is no doubt that your son is stressed, or rather overstressed. But at his age, he does not have either the experience or the resources to deal with it. But that is no justification to be so rude, that too your own mother. Physiologically speaking, at this age, his body must be undergoing lot of chemical changes in his body which can lead to mood swings, depression, etc, but I feel it is a passing stage and he should be able to get out of it.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Feb 11
hi schulzie oh he is stressed out and a male teen with the flu
maybe they all start this early but my sweet wonderful husband
used to be a bear with a thorn in his butt when he had the
flu. He would moan and groan and act like he was dying
and snap my head off. think its something in their genes'
that makes them into Mr Hydes when they are ill.I think once
he gets to feeling better he will become your loving and polite
son again.We woman on the other hand were taught to always be polite even if we feel so rotten we have a right to gr
umble we do not do so as we are women.
umble we do not do so as we are women.
@cowboyofhell (3063)
• Philippines
9 Feb 11
Yes mom I am coming would have been a better response. From bad example we find the good. I do not consider it a big issue. Maybe he's just hungry and he lost control or maybe it was his way to vent from a long time not venting his stress. 
