I've got a 21-year-old boy as well, and although teenage boys are very different to teenage girls I did have some idea of what to expect. I don't think parenthood gets any easier as you get older. When they have screaming toddlers, people always think that you're better off with a teenager, but that's just not true at all.
Issy is quite like I was at her age, but she's more dramatic and stubborn. The drama manifests in stress from schoolwork and creates enormous explosions. I think she feels overwhelmed by her GCSE year. She tends to panic and feels trapped in a jungle of work she can't get out of. It causes eruptions of sobbing and shouting. There are lots of tears and stamping around and of her giving us the impression that a lot of it is our fault, when of course it isn't. But I suppose she can't shout at the teachers. I shouted at my own mum about different things, but we didn't have such a close relationship and I didn't feel I could let off as much steam with her as my children do with me. I don't think that's a bad thing. I felt I had to sort teenage issues out on my own, whereas my children can talk to me. Situations generally work themselves out. Rows never lead to any irreparable cracks.
We enjoy doing girly things together: shopping and spa weekends. We loved watching Jane Eyre on television together. And although I hate crap TV, Issy has drawn me into this show called America's Next Top Model. But we do spend most of the programme pulling the girls apart.
Issy gives me very good relationship advice. She tells me when me and my partner have to sort out problems. She's quite the little Margery Proops.
Тasks on Teens: Bridging the gap:
I. Read the title of the article and think what it is like for teens and their folks to survive under one roof. What seems to be harder: living with stroppy teenagers or putting up with tyrannical parents?
II. Match the word-descriptions given below with the essential vocabulary bits from the text of the newspaper story:
1. to love the same things that afford particular pleasure or enjoyment
2. being provided with money as a motive or motives
3. reddish blonde
4.the circular horizontal platform that rotates a record while it is being played
5.to make a solemn promise
6. to cause one's mind to collapse into a state of malfunction
7. unjustly cruel, despotic
8. remain overnight, sleep over
9. to flourish, develop
10. while on the contrary, but on the other hand (conjunction)
11. to undertake a careless or hurried search for something
12. to be keen on something
13. to analyze critically to point out errors
14. bad-tempered or hostile, quick to take offence
15. to annoy by persistent faultfinding, complaints, or demands.
III. Decide if the following statements are correct, defend your stand:
1. Louis has a nasty sense of fun.
2. Holly is always nagging because she’s trying to drive her son down the twist.
3. Both Holly and Louis are cleanliness maniacs.
4. Chris’s dad Paul doesn’t share his son’s enthusiasms in music.
5. Paul listens to music all night long.
6. Every time Chris gets grouchy, his dad tries to cheer him up.
7. Paul wants Chris to follow in his footsteps in terms of manual labour.
8. Paul hates Chris touching his records as he is slightly disorganized.
9. Rowan has not got over her sibling rivalry yet.
10. Rowan feels strongly about her parents excessive smoking.
11. Ruth’s daughter is really into reading just like her mum.
12. Josh and Rowan seem to be getting on well.
13. It’s agonising for Ruth to watch her daughter riding.
14. Maths is Rowan’s thing.
15.It’s Liane’s firm conviction that parenthood gets easier as kids get older.
IV. Answer the following questions on the story:
1. What makes Holly think that her son Louis has a sweet sense of humour?
2. Is it true to say that Holly infrequently gets resentful of Louis for not being quite frank with her?
3. What seems to be Holly’s underlying reason for letting her son’s girls stay over now and then?
4. What downside in Holly’s attitude does Louis find the most annoying?
5. What does Chris feel about having to take an environmental assessment course?
6. Is Chris’s dad involved in manual or mental work? Defend your stand.
7. Characterise Paul and Chris in terms of their passion for order.
8. What makes Rowan think that she isn’t fairly treated by her mum?
9. Which nasty habit of her both parents Rowan can’t put up with?
10. Is it true to say that Joshua and Rowan have got over their sibling rivalry by now, according to their mum?
11. What does Issy normally do if she doesn’t know what to wear, regardless of Liane’s grouchiness?
12. Would you agree that Issy takes after nobody in the family?
13. Liane is a great fan of TV shows like America's Next Top Model, isn’t she?
14.Who do you think Margery Proops may be? Why does Issy remind her mum of Margery Proops?
V. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate function word(s) where necessary and compare the results with the original:
1. He gives me good advice... clothes.
2. But... half-term he's off doing his own thing and just eats crap.
3. We have the same taste... a lot of things.
4. When I was younger and she'd drag me... the shops.
5. Next year I'm taking a course... certifying if houses are environmentally friendly, for mortgage applications.
6. Like today he hit me... the face... a shoe.
7. Rowan's very different... her older brother
8. I know that she doesn't take pleasure... books the way I do.
9. But I am very proud... her skill and her dedication... it.
10.I shouted... my own mum... different things, but we didn't have such a close relationship and I didn't feel I could let... as much steam... her as my children do with me.
11. The drama manifests... stress... schoolwork and creates enormous explosions.
12. Although we do both like going...... sushi, and end... chatting loads... his friends, his life.
VI. Translate artistically the suggested paragraph from the article:
Issy is quite like I was at her age, but she's more dramatic and stubborn. The drama manifests in stress from schoolwork and creates enormous explosions. I think she feels overwhelmed by her GCSE year. She tends to panic and feels trapped in a jungle of work she can't get out of. It causes eruptions of sobbing and shouting. There are lots of tears and stamping around and of her giving us the impression that a lot of it is our fault, when of course it isn't. But I suppose she can't shout at the teachers. I shouted at my own mum about different things, but we didn't have such a close relationship and I didn't feel I could let off as much steam with her as my children do with me. I don't think that's a bad thing. I felt I had to sort teenage issues out on my own, whereas my children can talk to me. Situations generally work themselves out. Rows never lead to any irreparable cracks.
VII. Choose one of the problems below and speculate about it recalling your own experience:
1.Сan you rely on your mum and dad in the same way as your best friend?
2.Liane Brazier claims that her rows with Issy never lead to any irreparable cracks. What does it take you to make the first move to end the quarrel, particularly if it isn’t your fault?
3.What ways do you know of trying to become friendly again after an argument?
4. Is there any difference between the way men and women handle parent-child controversial issues or challenging behaviours such as temper tantrums, defiance, out-of-control, stubbornness?
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