Yesterday we posted a compilation of tweets about parenting that either strengthened your resolve to never have kids, or, if you already have them, made you laugh and feel like you’re not alone. If you’re in the latter group, you already know what comes next, and we hope you’re prepared: your kids turn into teenagers.
Maybe it’s not as dramatic as it sounds. As a matter of fact, even if it’s been a while since you were a teenager, you’ll notice that not a lot has changed. Arguing about doing household chores is a time-honored tradition, trust and data privacy remain areas of contention, and parents are still bewildered by their teens’ surly attitudes. While it’s worth mentioning that 15 to 17-year-olds, in a recent study done in the US, reported higher rates of stress and mental health issues than adults, the researchers say teenagers self-awareness in this area makes them more willing to discuss and address its causes, and also noted young people’s attention to social issues.
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For generations upon generations, we as humans have been reminding our parents that their sense of humor and cultural literacy are being buried by the passage of time. Parents going through this process now say that they’ve never felt more “boring”, and complain about the quality of their kids’ memes (any teenager who shows their memes to their parents is a brave soul - I’m glad I didn’t show my parents some of the garbage I talked about on forums when I was in high school.)
Being a teenager is also a time when you learn the skills that you’ll take with you into adulthood. After all, if you don’t like what your parents are making you for lunch, it’s time to make it yourself, even if it means having to learn what a cabbage is and how to use it.
Check out these tweets by parents who rise to the challenge, as frustrated and confused as they may be by the things their teenagers do.
My sister tried to slam the lounge door once when we were young. It had a doorwedge under it though, and after three tugs she stamped to her room and slammed her door twice to compensate
Nothing to be alarmed about. He's just asking how much time he has with his girlfriend. Together. In his bedroom.
My daughter wakes herself up and gets ready whilst I still sleep. She is old enough to sort herself out and take responsibility.
Impressive. We try that but I think she feels it unfair we are asleep and she’s not, so she walks in to ask unimportant questions, favors. Etc.
Load More Replies...I once slammed my bedroom door on my dad. When I got home from school that afternoon I had no bedroom door.
We had to remove our son's bedroom door for a few months...
Load More Replies...I would just go in, turn the light on and start singing the "Good Morning song" to my teens as loud as I could. Plan B was much louder grumpier Dad to take their covers. Never progressed to plan b for some reason. Good morning song: Good morning to you. Good morning to" you. Good morning, good morning good morning to you"
I've had an alarm clock since I started kindergarten. I remember my parents RARELY needing to wake me up, and if they did there was probably an emergency they needed to tell me about.
My mom was usually at work by the time we needed to wake up and get ready for school. We couldn't miss the bus, because there was no back-up plan.
pfft when I was a teen I got up myself a bit before 8 here in Canada because school was at 8:25
My parents stopped doing that veeery quickly. 'oh, you overslept and we're late for school? Well, what a shame.'
All parents should just do that. If they want to live in a pit, let them. Pay professionals to clean it when they leave home.
I am 33 years old and I have never heard the hashtag symbol also being called pound sign.
As a 15 year old, this makes me feel much better about myself as I'm generally well behaved & polite to my parents. I wouldn't dream of acting so appallingly! These kids need a smack.
Don't be so mean to your parents! What will they complain about to their friends!
Load More Replies...All so relatable. My kids are two boys, aged 20 and 17, and a girl aged 14. Eldest moved out a year ago. The weird thing is my kids never went through the typical teen stage. They have always shown their affection to us, like to hang out with us etc. All their friends love us as well, we’re apparently the cool parents. BUT...they still don’t do chores without being asked
That usually means you bought stuff for them more then other parents .-.
Load More Replies...Does no one remember what it was like to be a teen? I'm a grown woman, but sharply remember what it was like to be a teenager. Be kind to them (unless they're turning into a total bick, then nip that in the bud). Being a teenager sucks, this I clearly remember. I wouldn't do it over for all the money in the world and I feel sorry for those currently going through it.
No one mentioned how all teenage boys are living breathing "trash" compactors, and that the "trash" is every bite of food in the house
I had neighbours who had their teenage grandsons stay for the weekend at times. In anticipation they would fill the fridge and all the cupboards with as much food as possible and then the boys would arrive and empty the house within hours! They were like a plague of locusts! Though lovely, funny locusts!
Load More Replies...When my son turned 13, we let him start going home after school instead of to a neighbor's house, although the neighbor did keep watch on him to a degree. The very first day we let him do this, I had to work late. Just as I'm approaching the house, I can see fire trucks, ambulance, police, a TV van, and lights galore. My first thought was "what did he do?" As I got closer, I could see that they were there for another neighbor whose house had just burned.
I’m a teen and reading these made me feel like the most easy going and complacent teen in the world. I do my best to speak politely and eloquently, don’t despise public displays of parental affection, and my room is almost always clean. (Accept for my sewing/drawing/painting/homework space but that’s more clutter than dirty clothes and food)
I hate that these people are s******g on their kids in the most insecure awkward and upsetting periods of their young lives
Amen to that! These kids deserve reprimanding for being so rude to their parents, but it shouldn't be broadcast to the world.
Load More Replies...My mom said: Keep them in a barrel and feed through the hole until they turn 13. At 13, seal the hole.
These are really funny ... but they make me super thankful that my son (an only child) wasn't really much trouble as a teen. We had one "rough" year when he was about 14 where he rolled his eyes a lot and spent a lot more time on his own and pushed us away. And then he turned 15 and he was our wonderful, fun, loving son again. Yeah, I don't know what we did right, but I'm thankful! (At 26 he's still really awesome.)
I feel like there is no "teenage" in my country because An Indian teenager would have been whipped to blue black for any of the above. Saying shut up to my dad hahaha can't even imagine, a slipper to my face even if I was dying. There was no closed door concept too so no slamming.
I found this article hard to relate to as my son was very easygoing. In fact the only time he squared up to his dad was when he was 12 and still small. Thank goodness! He is pretty big now and a lot older and has never given us any grief.
Every time I read these articles, I'm more and more happy i don't have kids and probably won't have any ever <333 I don't always make good decisions, but this one is def one of the best of them all.
When my daughter hit her teen years, I remember calling my mother to apologise for being such a s**t of a kid..I felt so bad for all the dumb c**p I did. She thought it was funny and never once said “I told you so”.
I hate labels, generalizations and stereotyping to the extent that this post is not even funny for me. Grow up people.
As a 15 year old, this makes me feel much better about myself as I'm generally well behaved & polite to my parents. I wouldn't dream of acting so appallingly! These kids need a smack.
Don't be so mean to your parents! What will they complain about to their friends!
Load More Replies...All so relatable. My kids are two boys, aged 20 and 17, and a girl aged 14. Eldest moved out a year ago. The weird thing is my kids never went through the typical teen stage. They have always shown their affection to us, like to hang out with us etc. All their friends love us as well, we’re apparently the cool parents. BUT...they still don’t do chores without being asked
That usually means you bought stuff for them more then other parents .-.
Load More Replies...Does no one remember what it was like to be a teen? I'm a grown woman, but sharply remember what it was like to be a teenager. Be kind to them (unless they're turning into a total bick, then nip that in the bud). Being a teenager sucks, this I clearly remember. I wouldn't do it over for all the money in the world and I feel sorry for those currently going through it.
No one mentioned how all teenage boys are living breathing "trash" compactors, and that the "trash" is every bite of food in the house
I had neighbours who had their teenage grandsons stay for the weekend at times. In anticipation they would fill the fridge and all the cupboards with as much food as possible and then the boys would arrive and empty the house within hours! They were like a plague of locusts! Though lovely, funny locusts!
Load More Replies...When my son turned 13, we let him start going home after school instead of to a neighbor's house, although the neighbor did keep watch on him to a degree. The very first day we let him do this, I had to work late. Just as I'm approaching the house, I can see fire trucks, ambulance, police, a TV van, and lights galore. My first thought was "what did he do?" As I got closer, I could see that they were there for another neighbor whose house had just burned.
I’m a teen and reading these made me feel like the most easy going and complacent teen in the world. I do my best to speak politely and eloquently, don’t despise public displays of parental affection, and my room is almost always clean. (Accept for my sewing/drawing/painting/homework space but that’s more clutter than dirty clothes and food)
I hate that these people are s******g on their kids in the most insecure awkward and upsetting periods of their young lives
Amen to that! These kids deserve reprimanding for being so rude to their parents, but it shouldn't be broadcast to the world.
Load More Replies...My mom said: Keep them in a barrel and feed through the hole until they turn 13. At 13, seal the hole.
These are really funny ... but they make me super thankful that my son (an only child) wasn't really much trouble as a teen. We had one "rough" year when he was about 14 where he rolled his eyes a lot and spent a lot more time on his own and pushed us away. And then he turned 15 and he was our wonderful, fun, loving son again. Yeah, I don't know what we did right, but I'm thankful! (At 26 he's still really awesome.)
I feel like there is no "teenage" in my country because An Indian teenager would have been whipped to blue black for any of the above. Saying shut up to my dad hahaha can't even imagine, a slipper to my face even if I was dying. There was no closed door concept too so no slamming.
I found this article hard to relate to as my son was very easygoing. In fact the only time he squared up to his dad was when he was 12 and still small. Thank goodness! He is pretty big now and a lot older and has never given us any grief.
Every time I read these articles, I'm more and more happy i don't have kids and probably won't have any ever <333 I don't always make good decisions, but this one is def one of the best of them all.
When my daughter hit her teen years, I remember calling my mother to apologise for being such a s**t of a kid..I felt so bad for all the dumb c**p I did. She thought it was funny and never once said “I told you so”.
I hate labels, generalizations and stereotyping to the extent that this post is not even funny for me. Grow up people.