Is your 16 year old DC driving you made yet!

[chocolate]

Hi

Just wondered if anyone else is pulling their hair out with their 'post GCSE' youngsters!! How many more weeks of this!!!!!!

One thing (amongst others!) that is bugging me at the moment, is that my DS just does not take care of his belongings? Examples of this are: loosing his mobile phone, breaking his teeth retainer, snapping his bus pass in half, breaking the zip on his NEW cricket bag, etc etc. Not only does he not look after things, but it's his attitude about it when I try to ask him how it happened or why he can't look after anything?

When he lost his mobile phone we gave him an old nokia (which used to be my husbands), last night I found a crack in the screen. I despair, but am wondering if I am over reacting, he just does not seem to see why it matters. Just says 'it was an accident, couldn't help it', or some other silly excuse. It really is bugging me now.

Interested to hear anyone elses experiences or opinions on this.

[Belinda]

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[chocolate]

Oh no please don't say that, they do seem to get worse as they get older!!

I've got an 11 year old DD in training!!! Am hoping DD's are easier!!!

Thanks for your reply Belinda.

[scary mum]

With mine it's more of an inability to get out of bed and do anything except watch rubbish on TV. I do understand they need to relax after the exams but...

[DenDe]

My DS isn't a teenager yet (he's 12) but similarly had no regard for taking care of belongings......... until we started to make him pay for repairs, replacements etc. It's funny how much more responsible he's become now he knows it's his pocket that will suffer not ours.

[chocolate]

Thanks Scarey mum and Dende, we do not replace the items he breaks, or even let him use his own money to replace them, we just make him go without, but it doesn't make any difference!! When he broke his retainer, I had to take him back to the orthodentist, I told him he would have to pay the £60 for a new one (out of his birthday money), and was not at all happy when the orthodentist let him off!!!! I should of made my username
'Evil mum' !!!

[Looking for help]

They must be forced into employment, that will soon sort them out
My post GCSE children all managed to get jobs which helped a great deal, plus gave them an incentive to get out of bed in the morning , with the added benefit of them hanging around less, and therefore having less time to irritate

[Amber]

Doing this small so no one thinks I am trying to gloat; but mine is being lovely and helpful and doing lots of really kind things and I love having her around. When she did something particularly useful without being asked the other day and I hugged her and thanked her she said 'this is me, exam-free'.

Am willing to admit it might not last, but just wanted to put in a good word for 16 year olds.

Agree with you though LFH, and in fact the CVs are already printed off on the kitchen table ready to go...

[marigold]

Mine has just given up the Saturday and Tuesday job she has had for two years in order to " enjoy my last summer of freedom " .
Obviously she includes relinquishing the chains of cash in order to enjoy this freedom, which can be so tiresome can't they, or do you think she is expecting me to finance the next couple of months ? Grrr.



PS she is nearly 19 but can be as maddening as a 16 year old.

[Guest55]

Mine had working experience post GCSE and carried on going in for orchestra etc for the summer concert.

If they are doing Maths AS may I recommend doing some preparation work? We set ours some holiday work so we can hit the ground running in September.