NBR: Teenage boys

vanverth

As some of you know, DH's 17-year-old nephew stays with us to go to high school.  DH has been at 4-H camp for the past 5 days and I think that I am going to kill the boy.  He is always right.  His sister asked me to help her look for a car.  She does not want her parents to know because they will buy her a $1000 POS that she will feel obligated to take.  She just got her first job out of college and wants at car made in the last 6 years.  Her brother and I were talking about kinds of cars that are very reliable and I brought up one make that is very reliable.  Well, he could not imagine that that kind of car was as good at the POS Hyundia that he drives and proceeded to argue with me about it. 

What I want to know is that when do teenagers realize that they don't know everything and perhaps, just perhaps, I know a few things outside of my area of work expertise (that he will argue with me about as well) just because I have been on this planet for nearly 42 years and have learned a few things>?

Additional information him is that his mother is a cardiac intensive care nurse with 30+ years experience and his father treats her like she is a total moron (and she lets him) and I am not going to let him treat me like his family does his mother.

BrideBuddies

Sounds like the apple falls pretty close the tree then.  Lovely.  Good luck finding a girlfriend who will take you seriously, pal.  (Oh wait.. sadly there will probably be a line of girls wanting to date this gem.. no self esteem types.)

Don't let yourself get sucked into "debates" with him.   And don't involve him with the car shopping or discussions, either.   When he tries to get you riled up, walk away and ignore him.   I suspect he does it just to get a rise outta you and you're feeding the beast.

 

 

MyPunkinPie

Be up front with him and tell him he doesn't have to agree with you but in your house you expect him to respect you AND your opinions. Your house, your rules. Given his age and family dynamics it doesn't sound like it's going to stop any time soon. Edited for iPhone fart

momagain2009

What I want to know is that when do teenagers realize that they don't know everything and perhaps, just perhaps, I know a few things outside of my area of work expertise (that he will argue with me about as well) just because I have been on this planet for nearly 42 years and have learned a few things>?

 

In answer to your question, never.  A teenager knows everything.  My daughter is 15 and the only way to get her to change her point and agree with me is by tricking her into thinking I agree with her! 

 

Peppernut

The tragedy of Male Answer Syndrome.  When will the heartbreak end!

vanverth

I have to add that he is good to follow the rules and is respectful to me.  I put the smack down on his older sister when she was 14 and was talking to me like she talked to her mother.  That has stopped the rest of them from doing it.

He just has this, I know everything attitiude.  He is working for DH's BFF and he even says that if he would work as hard as he thinks and talks about working there would be no stopping him.

stever

I agree with not getting sucked in. Part of it is that he's a teenager but it sounds like it's also a matter of the sexist example set for him. Know-it-alls in general are pretty annoying, but teenage know-it-alls are a special kind obnoxious.

Strunella

Isn't that the point of being a teenager?  Knowing everything in a world of stupid adults?   I can't even imagine being a parent to one of those creatures one day!

SugarChick10

Strunella:

Isn't that the point of being a teenager?  Knowing everything in a world of stupid adults?   I can't even imagine being a parent to one of those creatures one day!

Right?!? Just the other day I said to Baby SugarChick "I can't wait until you can talk back to me...I mean answer me! I can't wait until you can answer me! I definitely don't want you talking back to me." The day the back talk begins can take its sweet time getting here.

ateytelb

To answer your question, my oldest one is 21 and maybe just starting to realize some of those things.

gimmietimmies

momagain2009:

What I want to know is that when do teenagers realize that they don't know everything and perhaps, just perhaps, I know a few things outside of my area of work expertise (that he will argue with me about as well) just because I have been on this planet for nearly 42 years and have learned a few things>?

 

In answer to your question, never.  A teenager knows everything.  My daughter is 15 and the only way to get her to change her point and agree with me is by tricking her into thinking I agree with her! 

 

I totally agree. I also like making them think something was their idea. Heck, I do that to DH all the time. As to if they grow out of it, um, some never do, and the ones that do usually have it happen when they really have to find stuff out for themselves in the outside world.  Like paying bills and having a boss to answer to, and having the emotional capability to actually listen to what others are saying and take it on board.