Ever had a teenager around?
- Thread starter An Officer
- Start date
I wish you were my big sister when I was a teenager!
I had some cool buddies back then but having a sibling is something different. I was a very introverted teen, and I kept a lot of stuff locked inside (something I still do). I found a very good friend eventually, but that was around 18 so at that time many emotional habits and responses were already in place. Sometimes I wonder if I would have turned out different I had any sibling.
That was something I definitively didn't feel at the time.
Not all teenagers are like that. I spend about 5 mins in the bathroom (With the exception of showering, obviously). I hate makeup, It makes your face sticky and you usually look better au-naturale anyway But I do admit I have wierd sleeping habits, I do leave most things in a mess and I do shout a lot.
But I do admit I have wierd sleeping habits, I do leave most things in a mess and I do shout a lot.
I did enjoy the freshness and enthusiasm a teenager can bring to the house - energy levels most adults would struggle to muster. We went for long walks and ate masses of food together, there went my summer diet... I found myself with a pizza and fries take-away in no time!
Although I did feel obliged to cook and turn out healthy and balanced meals for us in the kitchen myself. She ate them up like she hadn't been fed in years - her mother doesn't cook, too busy working. I made her a salmon, cheese, and salad wrap the first day, and she thought I was a genius "cook"!
Although I did feel obliged to cook and turn out healthy and balanced meals for us in the kitchen myself. She ate them up like she hadn't been fed in years - her mother doesn't cook, too busy working. I made her a salmon, cheese, and salad wrap the first day, and she thought I was a genius "cook"!
Yeah, I've had a front row seat to the entirety of my sister's teen years. I find she was worse from 13 to 16. These last few years she's been ok, except for the fact that she has no concept of personal property and takes my stuff without telling me or putting it back. I get along with her now that she's 19 a whole lot more. We even hang out and go to concerts together because we enjoy each others company.
The amount of time they spend in the bathroom (2 hours at least)
The amount of mess they can leave behind every step they take
The absurd sleeping hours
The amount of nutrients they can pack away, and still remain hungry
The strong emotional outbursts, whether of happiness or annoyance
The shoes that have to be left outside
I have three adult sons who naturally were teenagers for several years.
I just spent over 2 weeks schlepping my 17-yo nephew all over Italy. So yeah...I've had a teenager around lately.
My biggest frustration? The kid only eats about 3 things, and none of them are on a typical Italian menu. So he spent 19 days in the best-eating country on EARTH living off of cheese pizza, spaghetti and red sauce and....wait for it....MacDonalds.
Gah!
I mean, seriously - who eats MacDonalds in ITALY????
This kid will not eat:
*seafood or fish of any kind - fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, etc.
*pork products of any kind - no sausage, ham, bacon or Italian 'cold cut'-like meats
*bread except for plain white "American" bread - won't even eat a croissant
*fruits - no fruit or fruit juice of any kind, including orange juice
*veggies - no veggies of any kind, including salads, unless there is Ranch dressing, which cannot be found in Italy.
*cheese of any kind - except on plain cheese pizza
*coffee
*any beverage at all except for Diet Coke or, if his back is to the absolute wall, milk.
*rice, except if it is cooked a certain way, which is not the way they cook it in Italy.
*anything that he has never tasted before in the U.S. and liked.
The kid was stunned that Italy was not a country full of Chick-fil-a sandwiches, MacDonalds burgers, and plain lettuce with Ranch dressing.
Made me absolutely CRAZY running around looking at restaurant menu after restaurant menu, trying to find a place this kid would eat at.
He claims he wants to travel, and even says he wants a career in the State Department. But unless he widens his food options to include more than just American fast food establishments, I told him I'd advise against it.
When I told him what I ate in China, Vietnam and Cambodia, I though he'd get the dry heaves.
My biggest frustration? The kid only eats about 3 things, and none of them are on a typical Italian menu. So he spent 19 days in the best-eating country on EARTH living off of cheese pizza, spaghetti and red sauce and....wait for it....MacDonalds.
Gah!
I mean, seriously - who eats MacDonalds in ITALY????
This kid will not eat:
*seafood or fish of any kind - fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, etc.
*pork products of any kind - no sausage, ham, bacon or Italian 'cold cut'-like meats
*bread except for plain white "American" bread - won't even eat a croissant
*fruits - no fruit or fruit juice of any kind, including orange juice
*veggies - no veggies of any kind, including salads, unless there is Ranch dressing, which cannot be found in Italy.
*cheese of any kind - except on plain cheese pizza
*coffee
*any beverage at all except for Diet Coke or, if his back is to the absolute wall, milk.
*rice, except if it is cooked a certain way, which is not the way they cook it in Italy.
*anything that he has never tasted before in the U.S. and liked.
The kid was stunned that Italy was not a country full of Chick-fil-a sandwiches, MacDonalds burgers, and plain lettuce with Ranch dressing.
Made me absolutely CRAZY running around looking at restaurant menu after restaurant menu, trying to find a place this kid would eat at.
He claims he wants to travel, and even says he wants a career in the State Department. But unless he widens his food options to include more than just American fast food establishments, I told him I'd advise against it.
When I told him what I ate in China, Vietnam and Cambodia, I though he'd get the dry heaves.
Seems like you had the world of patience. I might have been tempted to let him miss a few meals, then he would be more than happy to wolf down anything put before him... 
He did realise he was leaving the shores of the states far far behind before leaving, right?
In fact, I took this same young cousin with me to Italy a couple of years ago, and she has the most developed palate I've ever seen on a child. She was willing to try anything as long as it came recommended. I remember she tried so many different cheeses, her dairy intolerance, which we thought was long gone, began to show itself a little. Nothing serious thankfully. And she ordered things like deep fried calamari off the menu with no prompting at all. She was in food heaven. She was particularly in love with Italian salami. I don't eat pork myself, but it looked like she was eating nectar from the gods from where I was sitting.
Of course, she was not a teenager then, so having her along was the simplest and most enjoyable thing. She's twice as big now. And weirdly enough, her food groups seem to limit themselves to donuts and custard, if left to her own devices.
He did realise he was leaving the shores of the states far far behind before leaving, right?
In fact, I took this same young cousin with me to Italy a couple of years ago, and she has the most developed palate I've ever seen on a child. She was willing to try anything as long as it came recommended. I remember she tried so many different cheeses, her dairy intolerance, which we thought was long gone, began to show itself a little.
Nothing serious thankfully. And she ordered things like deep fried calamari off the menu with no prompting at all. She was in food heaven. She was particularly in love with Italian salami. I don't eat pork myself, but it looked like she was eating nectar from the gods from where I was sitting.Of course, she was not a teenager then, so having her along was the simplest and most enjoyable thing. She's twice as big now. And weirdly enough, her food groups seem to limit themselves to donuts and custard, if left to her own devices.
Oh man. I couldn't put up with that for long!
I've always been fine with people having dislikes - if there's an alternative to seafood I'll most often choose that - but people who don't like anything and who haven't even tried... Grr!
You have lots more patience than me.
I have three younger siblings, so most definetly yes. Oldest little sis has finally grown up somewhat at the age of 23, but I don't need her in the house anymore. Youngest little sis is 14 and just got her first period so mom and dad are having a ball with her at the moment.
Bro is 16 and he shares the apartment with me. Most of the time he's very mature for his age, but I just wish he would of his own accord do the dishes and vacuum once in a while. And of course he doesn't eat just anything. If it where up to him he'd only live on bloody meat and chocolate. And the sleeping times can be...intresting. Sometimes I ask him when I get when got up and he says "Up? I never lay down."
Bro is 16 and he shares the apartment with me. Most of the time he's very mature for his age, but I just wish he would of his own accord do the dishes and vacuum once in a while. And of course he doesn't eat just anything. If it where up to him he'd only live on bloody meat and chocolate. And the sleeping times can be...intresting. Sometimes I ask him when I get when got up and he says "Up? I never lay down."
Yeah. That never goes away.
At least I'm still able to remain skinny like a teenager as well.
That does go away the closer you get to your thirties, or at least it becomes harder to eat without consequences.
Well, I know. Metabolism slows down and everything. But I also workout like a fiend, so I don't see that being a problem.
I raised three of them.
My kids were teens from 1997-2007.
It was a hectic time, but they grew into it and I got used to it. It wasn't near as bad as I thought, until they went away that first year and returned home for the first time. Two of the three came back with 'tude and I had to bust them back down to non-arrogant again.
It's much CLEANER around here since they grew up and quieter too.
My kids were teens from 1997-2007.
It was a hectic time, but they grew into it and I got used to it. It wasn't near as bad as I thought, until they went away that first year and returned home for the first time. Two of the three came back with 'tude and I had to bust them back down to non-arrogant again.
It's much CLEANER around here since they grew up and quieter too.
