My teenage son’s behaviour makes my home such a horrible place to be

DEAR DEIDRE: I LOVE my teenage son but sometimes I wish he wasn’t around.

His terrible behaviour makes my home such a horrible place to be. It’s having a negative effect on the whole family.

I’m his 45-year-old mum. My son turns 15 in a few weeks.

He wants to have a party but I don’t feel he deserves one.

As a young boy, he was loveable and sweet. But since he became a teenager, it’s as if he’s had a personality change.

He swears and is disrespectful. He won’t do what I ask and answers back.

If I ask him if he’s OK, he just mutters something unintelligible under his breath and storms off.

I can’t get through to him. Even his younger brother and sister are tired of his foul moods.

He’s the source of all the conflict and stress in our home.

But I also feel as though I am losing him and it’s so sad. What can I do?

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DEIDRE SAYS: You are not alone. Teenagers have got a knack of pushing our buttons.

You don’t mention your son’s dad. If he isn’t around, this may be affecting him more than you realise.

Pick a moment when he is calm and ask him how you can make his life better.

Tell him you want to be there for him. But you can’t help if he continues treating you so badly.

My pack Troubled Teenagers explains more.

Charity familylives.org.uk (0808 800 2222) will understand how to help.