BellaOnline Forums Family Adolescence Life with a 14-yr old

I have 4 kids, 3 are grown and the baby just turned 14 in July. There is a 5 year age gap between the last child to leave the house and him. I thought 13 was an age LOL. Now that he is 14 he knows everything about everything !!

Ain't it the truth!

I'm 14 <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Well, that's not the same problem for all 14 yr.olds. What do you feel is your biggest problem? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Kids and parents always see things differently but it is always good to talk!

Trish

Sorry sweetie...didn't mean to offend you <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Just goes to show how different perspectives are!

I'm sure we felt the same way when we were 14, I just can't seem to dredge up those memories to be ale to relate with my son now! LOL

It was like, when I was doing the Collective Soul article, I figured he would be excited (I would have been at his age), but he was like, "Oh, neat."
<img src="/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

What must I do to impress my son?!?!??
<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue2.gif" alt="" />

When you figure out what to do to impress him it won't impress him anymore!

So take control of your house. No 14 yo has ever ruled or will ever rule my house

The title of this thread is a little misleading. From the title, I thought you needed advice with an unruly teenager. Now that I read the thread I think the title really should be "Why do I think it's so important to impress my son?"

I remember being 14. The only thing my mother could have done to impress me would have been to set her hair on fire and run bare breasted down mainstreet while singing "Purple Haze". That doesn't mean that we didn't have a normal healthy relationship. She was MOM. Mom's are supposed to love you and care for you. Impressing you is not in the job description.

LOL, you are too funny!

I was just making an observation about my son knowing everything. He was giving my daughter advise about child rearing (our first grandbaby, and she was about a week old then) and last summer he seemed to know more about making pickles than I did! It is just funny how all of the sudden he knows everything!

That would have impressed you?!?

That would have caused me to seek eternal sanctuary in a tibetan nunnery and change my name to Xgthkj. Something unpronouncable so no-one could ever identify me again! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Of course my Mom was the children's choir director at my church... that might explain the discrepancy in our reactions. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

LOL...the church might not be real impressed with your mom doing that either!

I guess it depends on how you define "impress". If my Mom had ever done anything like that, it would have left a lasting impression. That's for sure.

I guess I never really thought about what kind of impression she really made on me, because she always made motherhood look so effortless.

My big maternal wake-up call came when my son was about 4 years old. He asked me a question. I don't even remember what it was, but I told him didn't know the answer. He just sat there staring at me for the longest time and then finally he smiled and said, "Yes you do. You're my Mom. You know everything."

It wasn't until then that I realized how important I was in my own child's life. How could I ever live up to such an awesome responsibility?

When my kids figured out that I was NOT perfect and I didn't have all the answers, I was always a little nostalgiac for the adoration I was losing but enormously relieved that they knew I had flaws and they loved and respected me anyway.

I guess my Mom did make an impression on me after all. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oh, the other hard part of living with a 14 yr old - watching them get hurt. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

My son asked a young lady to the Valentine's dance that he has been friends with for several years, and she said, "no".

And I wanted to grab this little girl and shake her by the shoulders and go "Why not?! Don't you see how handsome my son is? How intelligent he is? He's done modelling! He lifts weights! He's already shaving! Do you see any of the other boys shaving?"

I was completely insane because this sweet little girl had said no to my child. I'm going to be a basket case during the High School years! <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Girls that age are real pieces of work. My son has many girl friends, but none of them are his girlfriend. He tells me he would love for one of them to be his girlfriend. At that age it seems like each day is forever.

My 20 yr old daughter (she has a 2 yr old) is having a hard time finding friends her age. Kids her age are going to college, dating, not thinking about their future like she has to. They have no clue what parenting is like. I feel for her as well as she is so lonesome for a friend that can relate to her situation.