I’m interested in knowing what you all think is the average allowance amount for a 14yo that does not do chores? (We don’t require them to. If they want to they get paid more.) he’s been getting $5 a week for the past few years and that has been fine but he’s getting older and I’m not sure if I should be giving him more or not. (His dad is not involved. It’s just me, my parents, him & his older sister.) submitted by /u/lilmisse85 [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

My 16 yr old is finishing their junior year in high school. They are involved in a certain performing art that is very niche and specific and it’s become their whole focus. For our purposes here, let’s say it’s puppeteering (it’s not, but it’s equally obscure with no place in modern culture). Their particular public school randomly has an exceptional puppeering troup, nationally recognized and my child jumped in freshman year. My child is one of the best puppeteers on the troup and will likely make captain for senior year - their teenage dream. Our problem is they loaf their way through class ..read more

My daughter is bright, hard working, accomplished and fully dedicated to being “not like other girls”. She’s pansexual, not an issue in our house, but I think some of her attitude comes from this identity. She struggles to keep friends, though she makes them easily. She’s not mean, rather, often she can be rather needy, or so outwardly worshipful of friends, they are exhausted by her. She was just complaining that she doesn’t believe she will make friends in college because high school has had its ups and downs. Golly I feel awful writing this, because she is so awesome, and I know if she had ..read more

My son graduates in two weeks and I still haven’t got his gift. I want to do something creative and memorable but I am so NOT creative and I’m running out of time. Please help? His college major is music education and he’s a percussionist. submitted by /u/Sweetcherrie99 [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

I’m a 46 year old mom to a 16 year old daughter. She is a great kid, with excellent grades and no behavior issues at school or home. She goes to a large pubic high school, and many of her friends have much more unstable home lives than she does. I’m happy that we can offer them a bit of love and stability when they are with us. My issue is that her friends, including her boyfriend, are never allowed to do normal teenaged things. They aren’t allowed to hang out at the mall, go out to eat, go to the local arcade, etc. My daughter tries to arrange activities but no one can ever go. I even offer ..read more

We are having some some pretty major issues with our 13yo with disrespect, disobedience, problems at school, etc. However, we are also struggling with how to discipline this behavior because 1)nothing seems to phase him and/or it only makes him angrier and 2)he has struggled with depression for the last three years that has now become suicidal ideations. Yes we have been and are getting him help, and no the mental health struggles are not attention seeking. We are at a loss and feel completely helpless all the way around trying to parent him....any advice would be well appreciated! submitted ..read more

My son, (13), has been going back and forth between his dad and I since he was 1. We share 50/50 custody. Dad and I hardly ever see eye to eye on anything when it comes to raising him. I have always been the “disciplinary parent”. (Although my family says I’m still too lenient with him). And his father has always been the fun parent. Over the past 2 years or so, I’ve felt like my son is slipping through my fingers. He’s drawn to the street life. Loves wearing big clothes, backwards hats, gangster music, is drawn to those types of kids, etc. I moved him out of the school/ area he was in, and m ..read more

I (48f) have a 14f child who is dating a boy that I’m noticing a lot of red flags that are indicative of emotional abuse. I’m a survivor so I’m pretty hyper aware. His latest stunts have included telling her that he doesn’t want to come to our house after I instituted a rule that for every time she goes to his house, he has to come to ours. She told him this rule and now all of the sudden we make him uncomfortable. Mind you, yesterday he was begging to come over and we said no because she’s sick and we don’t share the plague. I had a conversation with her best friend’s mom today because her h ..read more

Came home to find my 12 y/o telling me she was hit by an apple on the school bus. Her older brother (15 y/o) saw that it was a group of kids a few years younger than him and told the group to cut it out. They sprayed him with axe body spray after he turned back around and he wasn't able to determine which one did it. Of course, the bus driver was busy watching the road. Both of them were sprayed again when they got off the bus. Obviously, I can't tell him to start throwing punches. Telling the teacher doesn't do anything if he can't identify which kid it was, and it didn't happen on school pr ..read more

Daughter is 15 and all her friends parents allow their boyfriends to come to their houses for sleepovers in the same room/ bed. I checked with other mum friends outside this particular group - also allow boyfriends to sleepover. Am I old fashioned or what - 15 seems a bit young to me to be having your boyfriend staying over? My daughter has been going out with her boyfriend for 6 months, she’s 16 in July, I get on very well with my daughter and I get on well too with her boyfriend who is lovely. Daughter is already on contraceptives due to heavy periods. Advice needed! submitted by /u/Flat-P ..read more