14 going on 15...or 5???

[misty]

I swear Shannon is getting worse at remembering things instead of better as she gets older. Things that I've been telling her for YEARS to do, I still have to nag her about & her excuse is "I forgot". How can she forget something I asked her to do 2 minutes earlier...something I've been telling her for 5 years to do? Every evening I go upstairs & find all the lights on & no one up there. I make her go up & turn them off EVERY day (multiple times) and still the next time she's up there they all get left on again. She'll eat a snack in the living room & just get up afterward & leave her dirty plate, fork, etc, right there. I've caught her opening a snack & just tossing the paper on the floor when the garbage can is right there, 3 feet away! The other night she decided to straighten her hair after I went to bed & she left the straightener on all night. Good thing I get up early....that one could have started a fire!

Its just making me nuts. I have so much to do with Bill & regular upkeep of the house & then I have to chase Shannon around, nagging at her to do her part. I've tried everything, but nothing gets through to her. You'd think that after I interrupted her countless times to stop what shes doing & come back & pick up a plate, a wrapper, turn off a light, whatever, that she'd try harder to remember but no, she just gets mad that I interrupted her & promises she'll do better & then a half hour later she's doing it again. At one time written reminders posted in target areas worked but then they became just part of the background & she stopped even noticing them. I'm out of ideas.

[charliegirl]

I am dealing with the same sort of thing with Jonathan. He seems worse this year than last. I'm eager to hear suggestions also.

I read in a few different places that ADHD in girls actually gets worse when they hit puberty where in boys it often starts to get better. As their hormones level out they often regain more control over their lives. I hope that is the case with Shannon.

[katiekat]

Hmmm...I wish I could help you out with this one but all I can do is commiserate. Sean is the same way and has recently started with a new thing he cant remember to do-flush the toilet. He's never done this before but over the past couple months he NEVER flushes. This was making me sick so I used the magic words "NO SNACK" if I had to see an unflushed toilet. It has helped a lot because snacks are sacred to this kid.

[jj]

The only thing I can suggest are repercussions if she doesn't do what she should. Like KK does.

Shannon is certainly old enough to be pitching in and one of those things can be turning off lights and picking up after herself. Start docking that time away for the things she like to do. (But following through will be hard with all that you have going on.)

Other than that, I have no clue.

[jill]

Nette does that stuff too and is only 8 going on 9. So what you are saying it does not get any better.

[unicorn]

Tiff being 10 and already well into puberty we are dealing with the same thing. I seem to follow her around picking up after her and reminding her of everything, everyday.

I get really tired of if. And we have the smart mouth to go along with all the rest. That is the worst. Punishment only works part of the time. I feel like one of those mothers with an out of control teen that should be on Maury lol...

The only thing that is giving me relief with the mouth lately is that I take away seeing her friends for a day each time she is over the top with the mouth. Like KK, taking away something that really means something makes them see sometimes.

[mellissa]

LOL I am so glad to hear it is not just my son 14 going on 15 here as well. I laugh because I thought I was alone in this boat. MY son at this point could care less what we take and his mouth is not just at home it is at school as well. I only wish I could get in his head. If I could do that I might could understand better where he is coming from but moms and dads have to remember that although it is hard on us put yourself in your child's shoes.Yes they can control some things they say and do but there are also those times that they can't stop that impulse to speak or act Just imagine how sorry they are that we get so hurt and disappointed in the things they say and do. I love my son but cannot imagine having to walk in his shoes. My advice is just to keep venting and try to find just a few minutes a day to at least breath. That is all I can do with mine at this point.