Older Dad Driving Me Nuts Funny

7th November 2017

My 12 Year Old Son is Driving Me Nuts!

I'm not even sure if I'll publish this post. I'm currently sat writing this without any idea of what direction it will take and with the only hope that writing it will help me see things a little clearer.

I also said in my previous Blogging Journey post I would be writing more honest stories about my life as not everything is always as rosy and easy as it appears. Social media doesn't share the flipping great big stand-off Coby and I had last Saturday night does it. It doesn't show the struggles and confrontations we sometimes have to go through.

So, here you have it, total transparency on what's it like when you're 12 year old thinks he rules the world!

My son, Coby, who I have spoken about quite a few times on my blog is driving me insane right now. Does that make a bad parent to admit that? I'm hoping it's just a stage – people say that it is with hormonal teens right? I'm desperately praying this doesn't last until he is 18 either. I may just end up losing the plot if it does. It's gruelling.

He doesn't scream or shout, in fact it's quite the opposite. He just shrugs his shoulders and says "I dunno" quite often. My handsome loving son, the boy who has always been so open with me about most things won't talk and it's making me feel like a bit of a failure. Sad right. I know that as parents we're not perfect, who is? And I'm well aware I'm not alone and we all feel like this at some point through our children's lives regardless of what age they are.

But how do you fix it? Can it be fixed? Do we just ride it out and follow the 'choose your battles wisely' option? I honestly don't have any answers, but if you do – please enlighten me!

The issue

It's mainly his attitude. With me, his Dad, all of his family really. He's great at doing his homework, he doesn't swear and his manners have always been lovely. He does backchat his teachers sometimes but generally his attitude towards us sucks. That's our challenge.

I know I'm not alone in this situation. Parenting teenagers makes even the most sane of us act nuts…right? Please agree with me here…ha!

Have you also found yourself horrified when stood in front of them arguing reminds you that you used to act or say exactly the same things? See, even most of us parents acted the same when we were at this age too. Don't deny it 😉

We usually have the most lovely days out together, our holidays are always exciting and we have the best of times. I'm scared that those moments are gone. I'm scared my kindhearted, sensitive, funny child has disappeared. I miss him. He still luckily tells me he loves me and we always have a hug before he goes to sleep every night so I know that we'll be okay, and I know he does care, he just doesn't understand how to express that right now. I'm the adult in the relationship and I still have to guide him on the right path.

I need him to understand the consequences of his actions and behaviour. What do you think he was bothered about when I took his phone off him at the weekend? It wasn't that he'd upset me, it wasn't that he was in the wrong and he certainly wasn't sorry. Looking at me like I was some sort of zombie one eyed cyclops his only concern was losing his 'streaks' with his friends on Snapchat!! It's bizarre. He was being very self-centered and I'm not going to feel ashamed by saying that about my own child either.

There are two ways I think about Coby.

The first is that I can see the person that he eventually will grow to be – smart, funny, caring and I know he'll fill me with pride and admiration. He does that already and we make sure he knows this. He's a good person.

The second is what I'm writing about now and the side that makes me….want to…. punch him in the mouth.

Can't believe I just wrote that and for clarity… I obviously wouldn't 😉

What next?

Maybe we're just having an off week? But it's been building up gradually over the last year so I don't think it is. I wrote a post once about knowing what he needs and I'm reading it back and reminding myself he needs alone time, he needs patience and he needs boundaries! Setting reasonable limits are important because eventually, he'll need to be able to set reasonable limits for himself. He's got to learn about self-control.

I have to remind myself I'm not his friend, I'm his parent. He doesn't need another friend, he has plenty of those. I think a bit of 'tough-love' is in the pipeline.

Determined not to lose the communication link we've always had, and always treasured, I'm hoping to have some one-on-one time with him this weekend so we can be together and re-connect. Part of me sometimes feels guilty for when I've been so busy with work and other responsibilities that I worry he needs me more than I've been there lately.

There's nothing that a little love and fun can't heal.

Monday to Friday Xbox is now banned. I truly believe the games he plays change his personality. I recently noticed he'd rather spend time playing Xbox and chatting to his friends through his headset over spending time with me, and his family. Without me even realising Coby's gaming time has slowly increased. It's time to knock that one on the head and I would highly recommend doing this to anyone struggling with their teen as I've noticed a pretty big change already.

Time out is good. I went to a spa on Sunday and as much as my thoughts were mostly around the situation with Coby it did give me time to reflect. It also gave us a little space from each other. Self-care and concentrating on ourselves sometimes helps to see things a little more clearly.

Parenting is tough. But it is also a unique gift that I love and treasure wholeheartedly. I love being a parent, it's my number one responsibility and we love our children unconditionally. Through their ups and their downs. Through their worst and their best parts. This is my first real testing time with him as when he was a toddler he was pretty easy! Maybe that's what is making this stage feel worse than it really is?

God, I hate hormones!

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Source: https://hellocuppies.com/12-year-old-son/