Teenagers in lockdown. Grim.
Discussion
My son is 17 and getting a bit cheesed off with everything now. We are in West Yorkshire which has had some form of lockdown right from the start so all his usual school/Explorers/5-a-side/going out has been curtailed for a long time. He is in the Sixth Form and whilst school are keeping him busy, it's not the same as being there with his mates. He's despondent about A-levels as they've missed so much. He's applied to Unis, but can't go on open days. His driving lessons have been on/off/on/off. He did manage to get a theory test done so that was a bit of a boost.
It's all a bit crap, and I'm struggling to find words to encourage him that it won't be forever and he will be OK, even if this part of his life isn't what it should be. I really think it's awful for teenagers as they're missing out on being teenagers! It should be such an exciting part of their life, but it's not.
Anyone else got a teenager getting cheesed off with everything? How are you keeping their spirits up?
It's all a bit crap, and I'm struggling to find words to encourage him that it won't be forever and he will be OK, even if this part of his life isn't what it should be. I really think it's awful for teenagers as they're missing out on being teenagers! It should be such an exciting part of their life, but it's not.
Anyone else got a teenager getting cheesed off with everything? How are you keeping their spirits up?
Yep same here. He's 17 next month and climbing the walls
No college, no Rhinos to watch (we're season ticket holders), no smashing people around a rugby pitch, no parties and beer (cos let's be honest here that's what they're doing and he's pretty sensible now after making himself very ill one time
)
He spends too much time in his bedroom although on the plus side he does make sure he takes the dog out at least once a day
No college, no Rhinos to watch (we're season ticket holders), no smashing people around a rugby pitch, no parties and beer (cos let's be honest here that's what they're doing and he's pretty sensible now after making himself very ill one time
)He spends too much time in his bedroom although on the plus side he does make sure he takes the dog out at least once a day
Not got teenage kids, but I did post in one of the CV threads my symapthy for the teens and early 20's group who are missing out on so much development and most fun part of their lives.
I didn't receive much agreement, more along the lines of 'oh please, 17yr olds went to war in 1914, staying in for a few weeks in front of a Playstation isn't going to kill them'
I didn't receive much agreement, more along the lines of 'oh please, 17yr olds went to war in 1914, staying in for a few weeks in front of a Playstation isn't going to kill them'
Gary29 said:
Not got teenage kids, but I did post in one of the CV threads my symapthy for the teens and early 20's group who are missing out on so much development and most fun part of their lives.
I didn't receive much agreement, more along the lines of 'oh please, 17yr olds went to war in 1914, staying in for a few weeks in front of a Playstation isn't going to kill them'
Probably said by boomers who have had an easy ride through life and are sat in a comfortable financial position, don’t do anything other than visit garden centres and National Trust properties.I didn't receive much agreement, more along the lines of 'oh please, 17yr olds went to war in 1914, staying in for a few weeks in front of a Playstation isn't going to kill them'
Also the same people who will complain that the kids of today spend too much time inside playing games.
I've got two who aren't quite teenagers who are climbing the walls despite our best efforts. This latest lockdown has hit them quite hard compared to the previous two.
Feel sorry for them. When you're a teenager, seeing your mates is all there is to life.
It's not the Boomers, it's the milennials eating all the avocados and causing the issues.
Interestingly, given the "ooh, if you were born in 1900!" malarkey, if you're a DIRTY MILLENNIAL from the north you'll have seen:
The miners strikes causing mass unrest about the time you were born
The mass unemployment that followed
Your parents paying 15% interest on the mortgage
The unrest in Northern Ireland still going on
The twin towers attack,
The following war in the middle east
Daphne and Celeste getting Piss-Bottled at Reading/Leeds
Tuition fees introduced if you went to Uni
Axl Rose getting fat
Get a job just in time for the 2008 financial crash
House prices rising faster than wages
Global Covid Pandemic
Another recession
It's almost as if bad things and good things happen all the time, to all sorts of different people. Fancy that.
It's not the Boomers, it's the milennials eating all the avocados and causing the issues.
Interestingly, given the "ooh, if you were born in 1900!" malarkey, if you're a DIRTY MILLENNIAL from the north you'll have seen:
The miners strikes causing mass unrest about the time you were born
The mass unemployment that followed
Your parents paying 15% interest on the mortgage
The unrest in Northern Ireland still going on
The twin towers attack,
The following war in the middle east
Daphne and Celeste getting Piss-Bottled at Reading/Leeds
Tuition fees introduced if you went to Uni
Axl Rose getting fat
Get a job just in time for the 2008 financial crash
House prices rising faster than wages
Global Covid Pandemic
Another recession
It's almost as if bad things and good things happen all the time, to all sorts of different people. Fancy that.
Buy a cheap car ? give them a few jobs to do, clean it up, little bits of maintenance/repairs.
Pair of RC cars to build and mess about with ? don't see an issue with walking to the park (or wherever) and taking them along.
Buy a few bits to build a PC ? raspberry pi so they can dabble with some code or do some little projects ?
brew some beer ?
Pair of RC cars to build and mess about with ? don't see an issue with walking to the park (or wherever) and taking them along.
Buy a few bits to build a PC ? raspberry pi so they can dabble with some code or do some little projects ?
brew some beer ?
Crafty_ said:
Buy a cheap car ? give them a few jobs to do, clean it up, little bits of maintenance/repairs.
Pair of RC cars to build and mess about with ? don't see an issue with walking to the park (or wherever) and taking them along.
Buy a few bits to build a PC ? raspberry pi so they can dabble with some code or do some little projects ?
brew some beer ?
They can be amused short term with all that, but they want (and should) be out with their friends going to pubs / concerts, exploring the world, I’m trying to keep my 20 year old daughters spirits up who is studying from home, I don’t honestly think I would have coped at her age.Pair of RC cars to build and mess about with ? don't see an issue with walking to the park (or wherever) and taking them along.
Buy a few bits to build a PC ? raspberry pi so they can dabble with some code or do some little projects ?
brew some beer ?
crofty1984 said:
Feel sorry for them. When you're a teenager, seeing your mates is all there is to life.
It's not the Boomers, it's the milennials eating all the avocados and causing the issues.
Interestingly, given the "ooh, if you were born in 1900!" malarkey, if you're a DIRTY MILLENNIAL from the north you'll have seen:
The miners strikes causing mass unrest about the time you were born
The mass unemployment that followed
Your parents paying 15% interest on the mortgage
The unrest in Northern Ireland still going on
The twin towers attack,
The following war in the middle east
Daphne and Celeste getting Piss-Bottled at Reading/Leeds
Tuition fees introduced if you went to Uni
Axl Rose getting fat
Get a job just in time for the 2008 financial crash
House prices rising faster than wages
Global Covid Pandemic
Another recession
It's almost as if bad things and good things happen all the time, to all sorts of different people. Fancy that.
To be fair if they were born in 1900 they probably weren't bothered by most of that It's not the Boomers, it's the milennials eating all the avocados and causing the issues.
Interestingly, given the "ooh, if you were born in 1900!" malarkey, if you're a DIRTY MILLENNIAL from the north you'll have seen:
The miners strikes causing mass unrest about the time you were born
The mass unemployment that followed
Your parents paying 15% interest on the mortgage
The unrest in Northern Ireland still going on
The twin towers attack,
The following war in the middle east
Daphne and Celeste getting Piss-Bottled at Reading/Leeds
Tuition fees introduced if you went to Uni
Axl Rose getting fat
Get a job just in time for the 2008 financial crash
House prices rising faster than wages
Global Covid Pandemic
Another recession
It's almost as if bad things and good things happen all the time, to all sorts of different people. Fancy that.
My lad is 15, life revolves around home schooling and doing "nothing" (his word).
Can't get him interested in much, it's been B cold outside, rained most days, he's got little in the way of hobbies.
There again, I posted a few days ago, I'm 67 supposed to be doing all the things in retirement that I couldn't do while working yet am in virtual house arrest .
Couple of nice cars in the garage., can't take them out and as a result can't be bothered to do anything with them. Totally lacking motivation
Can't get him interested in much, it's been B cold outside, rained most days, he's got little in the way of hobbies.
There again, I posted a few days ago, I'm 67 supposed to be doing all the things in retirement that I couldn't do while working yet am in virtual house arrest .
Couple of nice cars in the garage., can't take them out and as a result can't be bothered to do anything with them. Totally lacking motivation
Thanks for all the replies. We do try and go out for walks when the weather permits, and I drag him into the garage from time to time, but it's not the same as hanging out with his mates or playing footie. I was always one for saying "get off the Playstation", but at least he can use it play and chat to his friends. They had a Poker night last weekend. He put his best shirt on. 
Good luck to everyone else in the same boat. It's absolutely rotten for teenagers. A boring year at my age is not the end of the world, but at 17 it is!
Good luck to everyone else in the same boat. It's absolutely rotten for teenagers. A boring year at my age is not the end of the world, but at 17 it is!
It is tough for them and you just got to keep giving them hope that we will be out of this and things will get better..
My son who is in his final year at Uni, got selected last year for a year long internship at JLR. Very few get accepted so was ecstatic. It was a dream internship for him, however Covid meant it was cancelled, he was gutted! Just trying to keep him positive.
G
My son who is in his final year at Uni, got selected last year for a year long internship at JLR. Very few get accepted so was ecstatic. It was a dream internship for him, however Covid meant it was cancelled, he was gutted! Just trying to keep him positive.
G
I’ve got a 15 year old son and 17 year old daughter so I feel your pain. It’s tough for them.
One tiny thing that might raise a smile in your son (it did with my two and has been referred to subsequently) is to point out that this pain now will pay dividends later. Specifically, when your son is a parent he’ll be able to trump any complaints from his kids by saying “You think you’ve got it bad? I grew up in a pandemic and we weren’t able to play/socialise/shop/party/drink/etc (insert as appropriate) so stop whining!”
One tiny thing that might raise a smile in your son (it did with my two and has been referred to subsequently) is to point out that this pain now will pay dividends later. Specifically, when your son is a parent he’ll be able to trump any complaints from his kids by saying “You think you’ve got it bad? I grew up in a pandemic and we weren’t able to play/socialise/shop/party/drink/etc (insert as appropriate) so stop whining!”
chemistry said:
I’ve got a 15 year old son and 17 year old daughter so I feel your pain. It’s tough for them.
One tiny thing that might raise a smile in your son (it did with my two and has been referred to subsequently) is to point out that this pain now will pay dividends later. Specifically, when your son is a parent he’ll be able to trump any complaints from his kids by saying “You think you’ve got it bad? I grew up in a pandemic and we weren’t able to play/socialise/shop/party/drink/etc (insert as appropriate) so stop whining!”
WOWOne tiny thing that might raise a smile in your son (it did with my two and has been referred to subsequently) is to point out that this pain now will pay dividends later. Specifically, when your son is a parent he’ll be able to trump any complaints from his kids by saying “You think you’ve got it bad? I grew up in a pandemic and we weren’t able to play/socialise/shop/party/drink/etc (insert as appropriate) so stop whining!”
Now that is lateral thinking
Hats off to you !
Yep these are crap times for young ones. My 15 year old lad is not too bad we have a decent home gym so he trains with me every other day, then has a bunch of mates on xbox that he talks to all the time but would rather be out on his bike with his mates.
My 18 year old daughter should be at Uni, she has general anxiety disorder so going off to uni was a big thing, then this crap happened, initial stint at uni was just spent on her own in a crappy little room.
Now at home she is very down and struggling to put any effort in to her work.
Yes it's s
tty for everyone but really crap for the young ones.
My 18 year old daughter should be at Uni, she has general anxiety disorder so going off to uni was a big thing, then this crap happened, initial stint at uni was just spent on her own in a crappy little room.
Now at home she is very down and struggling to put any effort in to her work.
Yes it's s
tty for everyone but really crap for the young ones. No children myself, but background in psychology. Schooling, playing out and learning resilience all bring life skills that are taken for granted by many of the older generation. I personally know a couple of families whose (younger) children are having (remote) counselling to help them deal with the situation. It's a terrible state of affairs for the under 25s, a portion of society paying a high price for something (covid) that has virtually no effect on them. Expect future behavioural issues.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff