I will def get that book thanks! Well with my daughter its great most of the time, Its just her grades are slipping and she doesnt seem to care. She has a hard time in math so we try to help her but she has to take good notes, and her bookbag is a MESS. How can you study from those crappy notes?? Then she came home with a 70% on her Science test...she was getting 90-100% so now that class she slipping as well. She is sooooooooo concerned about her hair looking nice and her clothes and isnt too concerned with her grades! The white lies, the attitude when asked to do something...and this is all just starting now, she was not like this:( Thankfully we do talk and she does open up to me (who shes crushing on etc) she was suppose to go to her friends sleepover on Friday and I just told her she cant go, I feel so bad but something has to change! as it stands before this, she was already punished (no computer, no DS, Ipod,) its like what else can I do?

Thanks for putting a smile on my face:) you are so correct!

Thank you all who replied your advice and stories have made me feel alot better:)

ALl of my kids have had chores around the house also.They have all had jobs by the time they were 14 too. summer jobs and weekend or couple nights a week when in school.If they want a cell they pay for it themselves etc.
Teaches them responsability and how to manage money.
I have always been told my kids are the most respectful kids and are the best hard workers.

I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to let all you who responded know that she is doing so much better:D she got her report card back recently and did GREAT, as far as her little mood swings that too has gotten better! Thanks for all the advice :)

I say all the time if I would have known the teen years were going to be this bad I would have rethought having kids!!!! Ever since my son turned 14 I have wished he belonged to someone other than me. @ 16&1/2 I had to send him to live with his dad. He will be 18 in May. I pray everyday things with him will get better. My daughter will be 15 April 22, and I am just now starting to have problems with her. I say all the time ( I love them to death but I cant stand to be in the same room as them) LOL I do hope it all gets better. :) to all the ones that say there kids are great, Do you need a few more for a few years???? :D :D My kids never went through the teroubly 2's or 3's. I think they saved it for the teen years.

Kids kids kids.....Makes my head hurt just saying it
 

I have three boys (8,12,14). All of the kids have basic daily responsibilities...and I keep them very busy.... idle hands, ya know..... The 14 year old cleans the kennel 6 days a week at 6:30 am.... He's paid well, but what we really want him to learn is that those dogs count on him. He is a necessary part of their lives..... The 12 year old does all of the morning and afternoon record keeping, he too is paid, but he loves collecting data so it is great for him.... the 8 year old (baby) is just a ring tail monster..... as I'm sure you can see.....

On a serious note, the teenage years are tough as I am finding out..... I can't imagine if it were girls....I've heard they are a bit harder to deal with.... My oldest knows exactly what buttons to push and he keeps his toes right at that line between "I'm just making her mad and she's going to kill me.... " I'm not sure if there is a perfect way to raise them...However, I did read a great book call "bringing up boys" by Dr. Dobson.... It really enlightened me on some things about boys... BTW, Surely God is going to say "april fools day" when I get to heaven because I am beyond girly and needless to say my boys are down right male....

Jade is 11 turning 12 in August and Amber is 8 turning 9 in May. Some days I want to pull my hair out from the fighting and bitchiness.

Thanks for the update...glad things are improving.