My teenager is stressing me out!
By dlkuku
@dlkuku (1935)
United States
March 16, 2007 7:13am CST
We moved from Pennsylvania to N. Carolina a year ago, it's 500 miles to drive home. My 16 year old daughter wants to go home for spring break, which starts April 5th. I don't have a problem with that, what I have a problem with is that every day she is NAGGING me about getting her plane tickets.
My husband (her step father) promised he would pay for the tickets, which is all well and good, except I am stressing enough over paying my mortgage, phone bill and light bill.
This morning when I was taking her to school, she asked me AGAIN, and I told her to please not nag me about it. Then she got mad at ME!
Fine, whatever, let her be mad. She is old enough to understand that I can't just go and pick money off the money tree in the back yard.
My husband is going home next month to see his parents, I asked him if he can't drive up that week, but no, he wants to go later in the month. That would make it so much easier, but here I sit, in the crossfire, stressing over this.
The both of them sometimes make ME want to run away!
3 responses
@RivahGal (34)
• United States
17 Mar 07
If money is an issue, then there's probably no way around it. Mortgage has got to come first. She may have to wait until summer. If so, in the meantime she could work to earn at least part of the money...babysitting, lawncare, house cleaning, washing dishes or bussing tables at a restaurant, etc. Tell her that she's old enough to help earn the money for the things she wants.
Hope that helps some.
Julie
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MeanMomClub/
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
21 Mar 07
She actually did talk about getting a part time job to make the money herself, which I thought was an excellent idea. It sure would teach her responsibility. But that is when my husband stepped in and told her not to, that he would pay for it. I wish he would have talked to me first though instead of just promising her something like that.
@LeanneBorrett (129)
• Australia
16 Mar 07
Your husband can do whatever he likes, so there's nothing you can do in that department.
As for your daughter, she needs to learn that the world doesn't revolve around her, and she should have more respect than to go off at her mother for not giving her what she wants 'right now.'
If I was you, I'd explain to her the situation (about your husband going away, finances being tought etc) let her know that you WILL stand by your promise, but she is going to have to be patient. If not, she won't go.
Simple. You need to set boundaries and rules with her. She's old enough now not to throw a temper tantrum when things don't go her way.
1 person likes this
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
16 Mar 07
You're right, I think I am going to have to sit her down and just talk to her. I know she wants to go home, heck, so do I!
But she needs to be patient and I need to be less stressed out.
And yes, she is old enough to not throw tantrums, she didn't throw a tantrum exactly, but I could tell by the look on her face that she was mad.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
16 Mar 07
Keep bugging your husband the way your daughter is bugging you, then he'll know what YOU are going through!!!
1 person likes this
