Parenting Advice
Hello all,
I am a parent of a 14 year old. I am having some issues that I guess I am looking for advice on. My daughter refuses to do school work and would rather spend time in the house in her room/in our basement. She just changed schools back in the September, but even at her other school, she didn't hang out with friends.
She has access to a cell phone so she can talk to friends but would rather watch tv/read. In the neighborhood we moved into, there are two girls next door that are about her age and there are other girls on the block and she will go out and hang with them, if I kind of push the point. When I ask her about why she doesn't want to hang out with any of her friends, I get the typical (maybe?) teenage answers of I just don't or I don't know.
As far as school work. She just tells me she doesn't feel like doing it. I have pushed on her the importance of doing her school work and have now she has to have a C average in her classes or she isn't allowed to watch TV and it doesn't even phase her. She shows no emotion and doesn't care if she's being "punished"
I've tried to take her to a therapist, but she just sits in the room and won't talk to a therapist. She won't talk to anyone.
I do sign her up for events in our town to do with other teens her age, a couple times a month, but I feel like I'm forcing her to interact with kids her own age and I don't want her to resent other children because of it.
@TwistedProdigy No one on here is able to give advice per se but I wanted to let you know that you don't have to deal with this alone. My kids are like 4 years younger than your daughter do I don't know how it is like to have a teenage.... but I have been a 14 year old girl in the past.
It seems like as a parent you are doing what you think is best for your child and I applaud you for trying. Keep doing the best you can. When I was her age, I was never a people person. I was an introvert (still am) and used to always have my head in a good book. It was just easier that way. Granted, home life was not the best so it was also an escape method of mine. But also, it was just my personality since I wasn't big on people. In stead of trying to suggest she hang out with the neighbor girls, have you tried asking her straight up what she wants? Why? I know you said you had her see a therapist, what did the therapist say was the possible reason behind her actions?
She's 14 so I'm sure she will grow out it this on her own accord in due time. Keep supporting her and loving her best you can and hopefully she will come around. Wishing you the best of luck!
Yes, she’s asked and her favorite answer is I don’t know.