Support thread for parents of teenagers

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ThorntonRunner Oct 2022 8:47am, 13 Oct 2022 6,262 posts	0 ThorntonRunner Yep she's done well there. "The pressure to learn and cram is relentless" sums up what is wrong with our approach to young people at the moment. It's so damaging to their mental health
Lizzie Whizz Oct 2022 8:52am, 13 Oct 2022 27,026 posts	0 Lizzie Whizz Excellent work, Teen, and top supporting. I don't have a mum buddy to compare notes with and I think the carefully constructed coping is cracking. Meeting the tutor tonight for a "settling in" chat (only 5 mins ha). Cornet lessons are another problem: 20min plus transit time out of a different lesson each week - disruptive to T11 and probably everyone else while he crashes around packing his bag in the middle of science or whatever. I really want him to carry on with the lessons, but I'm not sure if this is in his best interests.
Cheeky’s Dad Oct 2022 8:53am, 13 Oct 2022 2,706 posts	0 Cheeky’s Dad Well done Dipps teen!
halfpint Oct 2022 9:03am, 13 Oct 2022 38,285 posts	0 halfpint Well done to Dipps’ youngster. I hope it’s not too much of an effort and she has some strategies to decompress after all that swimming.
Serendippily Oct 2022 9:23am, 13 Oct 2022 26,816 posts	0 Serendippily Fwiw Lizzie I think there’s a struggle I’ve never resolved how much structure and intervention really help build strong adults. I would have ditched guides and piano as a child but I ended up grateful for both. When a child really needs to be in control, do you facilitate that so they can cope, or does that set unrealistic expectations and lead to a lack of resilience? Cornet keeps T11 part of another group and it’s a skill which is not reliant on anyone else - but if he’s telling you he wants to give it up and never expresses any enjoyment it is expendable You pretty much have to arrange separate additional time with tutors if you have a child that tries and get stressed and needs rules to work because when they hit secondary the default assumption is they are mostly oblivious to school
Serendippily Oct 2022 9:25am, 13 Oct 2022 26,817 posts	0 Serendippily Thanks all I’m both proud and relieved. It feels like GCSEs are not dead in water after all. I won’t be going back to work anytime soon though, and although I’m sad about that, it will be worth it if this ends up with a more self sufficient child and a greater ability to work in future. Jam tomorrow
jelly Oct 2022 11:15am, 13 Oct 2022 3,859 posts	0 jelly Well done Dipps teen x
LindsD Oct 2022 11:49am, 13 Oct 2022 57,455 posts	0 LindsD Good news on teen's progress. Lizzie, I concur w Dipps. You know where we are x
sallykate Oct 2022 12:04pm, 13 Oct 2022 10,464 posts	0 sallykate Really pleased to hear good news re teen Dipps.
LindsD Oct 2022 9:20am, 19 Oct 2022 57,538 posts	0 LindsD LittleD won't get up and we know she's been on the phone all night. I'm so exhausted and I have parenting classes this morning, which always leave me in a heap as I come away feeling like a total failure.