I just have a few things to say.

[UptownZoo]

There are three people in my house in the throes of hormone-induced insanity - 15 yo DS, 13 yo DD, and almost-12 yo SD. Most of the time, DH, 6 yo DS and I just hide and do this: ::::: ::

If you see my house floating away on a river of hormones, just let us go. It's probably for the best.

I miss my sweet, loving, funny children sooo much. Who the he!! are these gigantic, sullen, unpredictable people living in my house? And why are they constantly asking me for a meal, a ride, or money?

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by UptownZoo

Who the he!! are these gigantic, sullen, unpredictable people living in my house? And why are they constantly asking me for a meal, a ride, or money?

Because they love you.

[Oriole]

I swear it must be the moon or something. Past few days have not been pleasant over here either. I can't concentrate on work today, just sad. I bet our houses will pass each other by in that river you were talking about.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by UptownZoo

There are three people in my house in the throes of hormone-induced insanity - 15 yo DS, 13 yo DD, and almost-12 yo SD. Most of the time, DH, 6 yo DS and I just hide and do this: ::::: ::

*sigh*
My 5 yo dd just says she wants to be a teenager...I thought I had at least a few more years before she hit puberty. I can't imagine hormones added to the mix!

[spero]

Yep, same thing going on here. Boy AND girl teen drama, 'tween angst, an 8-yo who often acts like a 15-yo, and too much free-floating estrogen just to add some flavor!

[chiromamma]

They are growing into thoughtful, intelligent young men and women.
Teens today have so much more on their plates...they are more aware of politics and the economy than I was as a teen. Weekend and summer jobs are not so easy to come by, it's harder to get into college and it so expensive now.
When my kids get sullen (they are in a good space right now) I remind myself of how much more they are carrying around than I did.

[Oriole]

Originally Posted by chiromamma

They are growing into thoughtful, intelligent young men and women.
Teens today have so much more on their plates...they are more aware of politics and the economy than I was as a teen. Weekend and summer jobs are not so easy to come by, it's harder to get into college and it so expensive now.
When my kids get sullen (they are in a good space right now) I remind myself of how much more they are carrying around than I did.

Not mine!
The only thing I acknowledge and remind myself of, is the difficulty of blended family. I've never been a part of one as a child, and that can't be easy.

Other than that - I know myself being more serious and "together" by the time I was 16. I might have pouted if things didn't go my way, but I did not say mean things if I didn't get something. I'm not sure how much of it should be excused, and how much of it is normal. I do believe that one way or another this too shall pass, and dsd will be sweet, appreciative, and kind once again. Right?.. Right?!

[UptownZoo]

Originally Posted by Oriole

I do believe that one way or another this too shall pass, and dsd will be sweet, appreciative, and kind once again. Right?.. Right?!

I sure hope so, because if there's hope for your dsd, there's hope for my crew.

Egad, it's so hard. I never would have imagined how hard it would be to parent teenagers.

[amynbebes]

I feel ya. In our house we have a testosterone a poppin' 12 yr old ds and a highly emotional 13 yr old dd. We're on the chapters covering teen years in my human growth and development class and I just sit there during lectures thinking "yep, yep, yep".

[TwinsTwicePlusTwo]

I already have plans to spend my kids' teenage years locked in the tornado shelter.

[Cherie2]

::

just find something that is nailed down and hold on for dear life .. lol
it comes and it goes - a couple of months ago with a house full of 16/17 yo boys i thought they were going to tear the place down! I think there were 3 holes punched in the walls in the matter of one week .. (at least they are not punching eachother) anyway things are cooled down now and I am enjoying the low tide

[Dr.Worm]

I read in a magazine once that Diane Lane said every mother should be handed this certain book when their kids hit 12. It is called "Get Out of My Life but First Could You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall?" by Anthony E. Wolf, Ph.D. I was like, Diane Lane is cool and I like her and I am going to get that book when DD turns 12....well, so far 9 is seeming a lot like what I expected at 12....:

[kblackstone444]

My son is almost 14. I miss my "little boy". This changeling who's living with me... well, I really don't know who the heck he is anymore except that me and my Hubby are "mean", "ruining his life" and are "so unfair". Oh, and "all the other kids" get to (insert choice phrase here) and "all the other parents" are (insert choice phrase here). Where the heck did this child come from? I don't remember signing on for THIS when I had that sweet innocent little baby 13 1/2 years ago! Seriously, though, I'm not sure I'm cut out for this part of parenting. The first 12 years were a breeze. This? I'm lost.

On a side note, my Hubby points out that, with the 5 year age difference between our children, our son will be coming out of the "teen years" just as our little girl will be beginning them.

[PoppyMama]

I'm rolling on the floor right now reading this. These years are so so difficult but I've noticed that if I stop taking everything so seriously and hold on to the idea that everything will eventually be ok I can really enjoy some of these moments. Sometimes my kids are so much fun and if I let go of expectations I can enjoy them more than I ever thought I would. I did all manner of naughty things and I'm pretty happy with myself so I hold on to that and try to enjoy the ride.

[nolonger]

Just curious: I have an insanely easy and mellow one year old as well as the teenager from hell and an adult dd i don't like very much right now. Have any of you noticed a correlation as far as easy babies being easy teens or the easier the infancy, the harder the adolescence? People say things to try to comfort me about ds1 that wind up scaring the bejeezus out of me about ds2.

I mean seriously, this baby sttn (other than rousing to latch on) from day one and I went back to work when he was two weeks old because I wanted to. The others weren't like that at all. If I'm in for worse than what I've already got in eleven or twelve years, I'd better start getting ready for it NOW!

[Cherie2]

i have noticed crazy simularities between toddler temperment and teenage temperment

[nolonger]

We're just heading into toddlerhood, of course, but i feel a lot better now.

[MamaJenese]

I honeslty think my father deserves some sort of medal for making it through our teen years. 4 daughters and his wife all on the same moon cycle. I am not sure how he survived, but he may well be the most well versed man on tampons on the entire planet!!

[SRHS]

SO GLAD it's not just us!!! Misery does love company...I'll try to remember to NOT take things so seriously...a sense of humor ALWAYS helps!!! HUGS TO US ALL!!!