Talking to a Teenager is like trying to nail Jello to a Tree

Have only one daughtr and at 15 she got a bit stroppy but it did not last. Good luck! Actually my boys went stupid for a while at 15 too! I think that you should give them away for a few years

As usual, you are so right. Parents will get themselves in debt for their kids. My teenage boys who were at Boarding school had to work on the farm during the holidays. They were paid a small wage and then they had to give half of what they earned to me to help with their school uniform etc for the following September.

At 15 they tried to rebel but my husband was not having any of that! and it did not last long as they knew my husband was an ill man and they did work hard on the farm to assist him when they were home.

Isn't that something? What a brat. If I had teenagers then I would laminate this poem and read it to them every time they got stroppy with me.

Honestly he's a year younger than me. And I know at that age I did my fair share of begging but I don't know that I would of called CPS of even known what CPS was @ that age. Talk about guts... if he wanted to call someone he should of called his deadbeat biological father for the pants*LOL*

I'm waiting for hubby to read it. I bet he'll say the same thing as you, we'll have to use that when the kids get sassy. I"m workng on the line my MIL had or atleast I was earlier today... We may live in a democratic country but my child you do not live in a democratic household. Not that they understand what that means yet but I'm sure any adult within earshot hear me in the store!

That's a great line that your MIL has. Really great. Actually teens do like boundaries even though they may protest.

Well we'll see how it works as my kids get bigger and drive me even more bats with their demands. At 7yrs my oldest likes to tell me what she's going to get for her room ect & when am I doing it? When I get the ladder out and harvest the imaginary money tree.

I've looked so hard for the money tree all of my life and never found it!

I have given your question considerable thought and I can honestly say that it must be genetically programmed. All of my children tried to get stroppy as soon as they became 15 but it is different for every child. It did not last long though - my husband saw to that! Even the adored girl tried to get stroppy and I dealt with her. Mine too, were so well mannered outside of the home and I can vividly remember one Sunday lunchtime when I spoke to them. I told then that they could criticise me and tell me that I was wrong. I did not have a problem with that but I am their mother and am worthy of respect. Therefore they speak to be respectfully as I speak to them respectfully. This was the first and only time that the three boys (3 in 3 years!) tried to gang up on me. I said a few other things too but I never said what my friend said to her children. she said 'I gave you life and by God I can take it too"!

From what you said I thnk that it has already started with your son!

So first you give me hope saying age 15, then you decide in my case it could be ten. I'm going to put the latest down to temprorary aberration through tiredness and hope it doesen't appear again for a few more years yet. He could do with a firm male hand at times, and always does do exactly what My Greek tells him to do without arguing, so maybe a mountain trip is in order at the weekend.

Definitely - he just needs a mountain top experience! Kids all have off days and yes, I can change my mind frequently. I try to get rid of baggage meaning that I still believe in something that I believed in 10 years ago. But now I don't think that way anymore. I think it is because I am still growing up. The only things that do not change are my theology and love of my family and friends. Can't survive without either of these in my life.

You have made me laugh as my mother used to say that to me too! Basically mine were o.k. Many parents have it rough though. The kids are just awful and the parents get stupidly in debt. Give your kids time not things

My mother used to tell me this all the time, too, lol. Only she didn't say it that way. She would say, "Well, you will see how it is when you have children someday." Kathy.

@Kathy - all mothers say something similar!

I am glad too. I hadn't read it before but hought it may help someone here to do the best thing for their kid - time not things

I couldn't do it either but thought that is becase I am older. I prefer to deal with small babies and children.

I know exactly hiw you feel. I had three boys in tbree years and this seemed a good idea at th time and then they all grew to be teenagers! Fortunately we lived in a desrted part of the Island and we did not allow the eldest boy to get his driving license until he was 19 - so this delayed things a bit. I never slept until I heard the pick up coming up the driveway.

Give thanks!

Hooray!

But they are not yet in their teens are they?

Yep, the mother's reply is so good.