Since I'm new here - just curious - how many of your have the "dreaded" teenager(s) in the house? My daughter is now in college and I must say I had no trouble at all with her. Now my 16 year old son will be the one to kill me off. He is in a rock band and just started dating...lots of worries....these are the roughest years - much easier when they were babes.

By Ilovetom on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 06:13 pm:

LOL. See my son is fixing to be 20 and is away at college- only thing he ever got was 2 speeding tickets. He has been such a good boy.

Now...my girls....one just made cheerleader and she is all that and more. She thinks. Plus they both just got their driving permits. Ugh. It's going to get tough.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 07:24 pm:

I've raised and lived throught 4 teenagers, 2 boys and 2 girls, and it IS possible! LOL

Actually, I found boys are easier. Girls are all about drama, hysterics, rebellion, temper tantrums, huge motional ups and downs........that is not to say boys don't present their own but my experience is the girls were harder. I love all of them though!

Peggy, my X was a musician and both my sons are musicians. My youngest son got his first guitar at age 5. He's in a band, he's an assistant manager for Guitar Center (at age 20!), has had 1.5 years of college so far as a music business major and will be returning to school in August. His band just released their 3rd CD and they also just released a DVD/music video. They are playing in a talent competition next weekend, he has high hopes since talent scouts will be there and I'm so afraid he's going to be disappointed.

He is the child I am closest to, he was never any trouble and has always been very mature and responsible. It's the girls that drove me nuts!!!

By Pamt on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 07:39 pm:

No teenagers officially in the house (oldest is 10 y/o), but my DH is a youth minister so we have teenagers AT the house a lot. We are around teenagers 7 days a week and try to go to at least some of everyone's sporting events, band competitions, plays, speech competitions, etc. They call us when they are mad at their parens and discuss dating, values, confusion, problems, etc. with us that they are not comfortable talking about with their parents. Dh also does a lot of counseling with parents on how to deal with their teens too . Girls definitely seem to have more drama, but guys can certainly be challenging too. In our experience the sophomore year of highschool seems to be a really crucial year when they seem to pick the path they will ultimately take (rebel, loner, independent, obedient, leader, follower, responsible, etc.)

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 08:43 pm:

I have two daughters, 14 and 12, so I'm about 11 months away from having 2 teenagers in the house.

By Michimo on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 09:39 pm:

I have 2 dd's, 13 and 9, and a son, almost 7. I have to agree w/ Karen - Drama, with a capital "D" is the best way to describe my 13 yr old!

By Bobbie on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 10:11 pm:

I have a 14 year old DD and a 12 year old DS and 7 year old twin DD's. And my oldest 14 is a good kid so far. And we have survived her Freshman year of high school with no battle scars... YEAH!!! It is like babies are hard then they get easier when they hit around 7 or so and then once they hit those pre teens it starts going down hill... LOL

By Texannie on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 10:30 pm:

I have a 14 year old boy and a 10 year old girl and if the boy is easier than the girl, I will go shoot myself right now!!!! I love my boy child with all my heart, but he is going to be the death of me!

By Janet on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 09:28 am:

Hey, good question! There are more teen moms here than I realized! LOL I've got a 14 yr old dd, and she has given me no trouble except for the moodiness and drama. She & I are very close, and I'm hoping this will last, although I've been told to look out. Maybe...
Now my 8 yr old dd, she'll be another story! (High school orientation tomorrow night...yikes! Is that possible????)

By Ladypeacek on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 09:30 am:

Well does it count to have an 8 year old going on 18, LOL!!!!!!!! Karen hit the nail right on the head! Girls are drama queens, atleast mine is!!! Only 8 and i can't imagine when she turns 13 or 16. I am dreading it!!!!! But you gotta love them, i know i wasn't always easy either!!

By Kernkate on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 09:46 am:

I have a DS Tom who is 18 and will graduate in June...I can actually say I didn't mind his teenage years at all. He is an excellent kid, and we are very close. I am sure going to miss him when he goes to college Now I also have a DS who is 9 and a DD who is 3 so I will see how I survive those teenage years! I can already see with Alissa thats girls are so much different then the boys!

By Happynerdmom on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 10:00 am:

My dd will be 14 in June. My ds just turned 11, so I have a few years until he's a teen. My dd is really a great kid. The biggest thing right now is that she is in with a group of friends that she wants to be with ALL THE TIME. They are great kids, I love them, and I'm glad that she has such neat friends, but ALL THE TIME?? She acted like it was torture that we took her away to Florida for spring break! When I tell her sometimes that she just needs to be with her family for the day, she acts like I killed her dog, or something. I try to get them to hang out at our house as much as possible, but we live in a pretty affluent area, and our house is just not as exciting as some of her friends'. (I can't compete with a giant, plasma flat-screened tv in a room full of pool tables, air hockey, etc.) I think some of it is also wanting to be away from her annoying little brother, which I can't fault her for. She just doesn't understand my wanting to put any limits on how much she hangs out with her friends. By the time this summer is over, I probably won't even recognize her! Anyone BTDT? Any advice?

By Sunny on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 10:20 am:

My oldest is 15 and I have another one turning 13 next January. I am learning as I go along!
My oldest is a good kid and doesn't give me much trouble. We've butted heads on different subjects, but that's to be expected. The other day, we had a discussion on a hot topic, but we both were respectful in our disagreements and listened to each other rather than tuning each other out (which he has a tendency to do, but don't most teenagers?).

My 3 younger ones have a few years to go before they reach adolescence. I'm in no hurry!

By Texannie on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 12:32 pm:

Adding to my post, that it's the obstinance and moodiness that gets me. He is really quite charming and funny. Then the hormones take over and poof, that is all gone bye bye! LOL

By Peggy13 on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 01:22 pm:

Thanks for all your responses. Well, since my daughter was my only daughter and she was easy, I have my 3 sons to go. My 16 year old is tough so far, but hopefully will turn out OK. Hey Karen - a music business major - that's an idea. I know he has no idea what he wants to do in college - all he knows now is he loves to play his guitar (and he is pretty good). I think its the hormones and the new girlfriend now (first girlfriend) that have got me worried.

By Kay on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 01:48 pm:

My children are now 20 (ds), 18 (dd), and 13 (dd). Only the youngest is at home - the older 2 are away at college. My ds was pretty much a breeze in his teens, it was when he was about 3 that he drove me crazy! ;)

My youngest is going through some of the same mood changes, etc. that her older sister did. All normal, of course, and despite the occasional clash, we get along fantastically. (She's the one most like me, so it should be interesting.)

What is most interesting is to watch the teens turn into young adults - it's really tough to let them go and make their own decisions, but it's a good feeling that they are making smart choices.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 08:09 pm:

Kay, you are so right. Letting go HURTS! I look back now and wish I could do it all over again, with all FOUR of them, and know what I know now. I keep thinking I could have done things better. LOL

By Bobbie on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 09:35 pm:

But Karen isn't that just life? I think I have those feelings about almost everything. "Man I didn't see that coming." Or "jesh that really was minor." Wish I could just do the whole life thing over again. I would have played a little harder, learned a little more and just enjoyed a lot of the things I stressed over as I went through them... And I surely wouldn't have stressed so much over the small stuff. Which I am trying really hard to instill in my children. I think life is about making regrets some times. Regrets and memories.. We learn as we go... All kids are different and no one can tell you how to raise yours. Just doesn't work that way...