Does any one have trouble getting the older kid's to listen

Tisha - posted on 06/14/2009

Oh Lordy, yes!! My 14 year old and the backtalk!! She has a comment for literally everything I say...she's had stuff taken away for days at a time b/c of it...I wish duct-tape was legal lol (just kidding...kinda)!!

Jennifer - posted on 06/13/2009

I have 3 children, 21,18 and 14. Can I just say that teenagers NOT wanting to listen is perfectly normal and though nothing to worry about is very frustrating. I agree with Meg M. when she reminds us that we were all like that too. It's just part of growing up. Children from around 10 - 16 are beginning to develop their sense of who they are. Part of that process involves them questioning their moral,social and spiritual beliefs, and questioning those that have the greatest input in their lives...mum and dad!! Please continue to be patient, loving and most of all consistant in your parenting. From my own experience, being open and approachable to them when THEY want to talk is a huge thing. Sometimes they need space to think and process their thoughts without us as parents impinging on that basic right of respect. I have not been the perfect parent and I don't have perfect kids but they are loving and respectful and really lovely people!! Hang in there!!!! Jenny K

Laurie - posted on 06/12/2009

ya know its a daily thing in our house. sometimes they all listen perfectly and others i wonder if the dog hears me. haha so yes i have trouble and no i dont. depends on the day!!!!!

Julie - posted on 06/12/2009

I have 5 boys and 2 girls from 7 months to 14. My most useful and recommended tool for training children is the book. Tomato Staking raising Godly Tomatoes by Elizabeth Krueger. I've read it twice in the last year and I can truly say that these principles work. Of course if you don't think the Bible has any use in your life than this book will be of no good to you.

Annapurna - posted on 06/11/2009

hi1 I have two sons - 13 snd 10 years old.They are fine and miss each other when in school(both are in hostel) ,but after an hour or so they are like cats and dogs. I used to yell earlier but now,i just tell them to make peace with each other!its usually the younger one who bugs the elder one!

Tammy - posted on 06/11/2009

Absolutely. I think there are target ages where it is worst and you just have to get them through those ages without going insane. Two years old is the first bad age and then mine did fine until about 10 or 11. The worst time ever was around age 12 when they are the world's expert on every topic and their parents are blithering idiots. Then there is a lull until about 16 where, once again they become geniuses. I've not gotten any farther than that but I found the 16 yr old one fairly easy to straighten out. It's the 12 year old that I'd like to box up and ship to Siberia. ha

Claire - posted on 06/11/2009

i have 2 boys 1 nearly 13 n the otha 5 my elest 1 seems to think hes above every rule in the book n that they dont need to listen i just find that if i ignore him the same way it works as kids hate being ignored especially off thier parents

Girlio - posted on 06/11/2009

Did ANY of US listen to our "know it all parents" that in our minds knew NOTHING! Because we did in fact know all? Didn't any of you talk back to your parents (and likely suffer the consequences?) I don't think that there is anything to change this, I don't think there is any hope other than waiting for them to grow up and realize that we as parents really aren't completely stupid. Granted should I ever have a child like me its boarding school and boot camp!

Shanna - posted on 06/11/2009

I have a 5 girls 17,14,13,11,10 and a boy 8,we seem to have phases where at least one of them is what I call mouthy,they feed off of each other though.I try to catch it right away and stop it in it's tracks,the others see that it is a waste of time and usually don't even try,sometimes I think they want to argue just for the sage of arguing.I tell them that e can argue all they want but in the end I will win and it's a waste of their and my time or we can let it go and spend that time together doing something they would enjoy.

Tami - posted on 06/11/2009

My husband and I have 3 children, two of which are 10 and 13. I also have a very good friend who has 4 boys: 21, 19. 17, and 16. I asked her pretty much the same question. She responded with, "Oh, I remember that age. I wanted to disown each and every one of them." Now her oldest son is a missionary in Asia, and her 19 year old is becoming a EMT. All I can say is that I guess we have to go through this and try to be the best parent we can be!

Casey - posted on 06/07/2009

My two oldest boys are 15 and (soon to be) 13. They are respectful, well adjusted young men. They aren't perfect by any means, but they are fantastic kids who behave quite well, even at home. I had plenty of difficulty with them when they were little, but consistency is key. We also use Biblical principles for discipline and it has created in my children a sense of appreciation for standards and guidelines that keep them out of harms way. We eat out often and get compliments a lot on how well behaved our boys are. I believe it is critical to have the punishment fit the crime, so to speak. If your child has broken something, he should have to help clean it up and work to pay for it's replacement, no matter how small he is. I went through periods of time where I thought, "Is any of this working?" because I didn't always see instant results from my actions...but I must say it has paid off big time. I need to mention that my children have been through a divorce (when they were 6 & 4) and remarriage (both me and their dad are remarried). They are now home schooled and that has helped to shape their character. I've been able to instill in them the type of character needed rather than relying on school do so, which they don't have time for. These are some of the things that have worked to create a calm, peaceful relationship between me and my two boys. I read a lot as well...(parenting and such) and my boys read a lot of books about character growth and spiritual growth. HTH, Casey

Tessa - posted on 06/07/2009

I have an 11 and 6 yrold boy's and boy do i have my share of getting them to listen,and boy are they mouthy so anyone has any ideas let me know

Ashley - posted on 06/04/2009

omg yes. My 4 year old forgot his listening skills when he turned three. So for a year now its been brutal. Terrible twos are out the window. Terrible threes are so in. I sure hope 4 is better but not looking that way so far. We just ground him from the things hes into at the time but its not really effective. I hate the word no! LOL! IM looking forward to others posts on this cause Im all sure we could use some help!

Christin - posted on 06/04/2009

I have a 11 year old boy and yes I have a problem too with him not listening. driving me crazy.I am to the point i am thinking Total Transformation. If any one has any ideas i would love to hear them.