I am banging my head in frustation lately at my son, who will be 17 next month.
Because he skipped transition year most of his friends now are either close to or are 18 and as a result have a bit more freedom, including going to the pub at night/staying out late. My son thinks he should be entitled to do this as well. Despite the fact he is only 16 and does not have a summer or part-time job (which a lot of his friends do) and expects us to fund his lifestyle. About 2 hours ago I gave him €20 as he said he wanted to go to get a bottle of mineral and some bread, said he might go for a walk as well. Now I have just been informed he is in town and staying out for a while.. and he thinks I am being unreasonable asking him to come home by 7 while we go out shopping as he doesn't have a key to get in and I am not prepared to leave one out "hidden" for him....
This is fairly typical, he has done little over the summer, it's a HUGE deal for him to wash the pots, hoover up, walk the dog...and as for cleaning his room!!!! Last week we allowed him to go to his friend's 18th at a nightclub ( private party type thing) and he was very put out that we insisted on collecting him at 1.30am rather than letting him stay out as long as wanted then walk home! When he got up at 1.30pm today he moaned and complained first there was nothing in to eat, then because I wouldn't make him a brunch!
We give him €20.00 a week plus I top his phone by €20 once a month, which I think is pretty generous.
I know it's a difficult age, not quite an adult but not a child either but I thought it would be easier by now. He's an intelligent, thoughtful, funny man/boy otherwise.
What rules and guidelines to folks here have/or had with their teenagers at this age? How do/did you cope with the last big leap? I am actually finding this period much more difficult than the hormonal years!!
Because he skipped transition year most of his friends now are either close to or are 18 and as a result have a bit more freedom, including going to the pub at night/staying out late. My son thinks he should be entitled to do this as well. Despite the fact he is only 16 and does not have a summer or part-time job (which a lot of his friends do) and expects us to fund his lifestyle. About 2 hours ago I gave him €20 as he said he wanted to go to get a bottle of mineral and some bread, said he might go for a walk as well. Now I have just been informed he is in town and staying out for a while.. and he thinks I am being unreasonable asking him to come home by 7 while we go out shopping as he doesn't have a key to get in and I am not prepared to leave one out "hidden" for him....
This is fairly typical, he has done little over the summer, it's a HUGE deal for him to wash the pots, hoover up, walk the dog...and as for cleaning his room!!!! Last week we allowed him to go to his friend's 18th at a nightclub ( private party type thing) and he was very put out that we insisted on collecting him at 1.30am rather than letting him stay out as long as wanted then walk home! When he got up at 1.30pm today he moaned and complained first there was nothing in to eat, then because I wouldn't make him a brunch!
We give him €20.00 a week plus I top his phone by €20 once a month, which I think is pretty generous.
I know it's a difficult age, not quite an adult but not a child either but I thought it would be easier by now. He's an intelligent, thoughtful, funny man/boy otherwise.
What rules and guidelines to folks here have/or had with their teenagers at this age? How do/did you cope with the last big leap? I am actually finding this period much more difficult than the hormonal years!!