My last two posts were mostly about SD14 being rude and just a mopey, bitchy teenager for the most part.

Her teen angst, to put it nicely, has morphed into pure shit attitude. But, I have stepped back and not confronted her over it, and now SO is all over her. Finally, yes.

A couple days ago I got home from work, went into the house and was getting ready to wash one of the dogs, he had rolled in mud during the rain. I had purposely put the gate up to keep them out of the LR while at work, but low and behold it had been taken down by, you guessed it, SD14, before she left for school that AM. So there was mud in the LR. I go into the garage to get some raggy towels to dry the dog, and the side door to the garage is wide open, and the house door to the garage is ajar, So I close and lock both. I go to SD's room to ask her WTH is going on, and she isn't home. So FF to after I get the dog cleaned up. I come out of our bedroom and I see SD is home now.
So I asked her, did you take the dog gate down?
her - yes
me - why? I had it up to keep the dogs out of the rest of the house.
her - oh.
me - again, why??
her - I thought dad put it up so they wouldn't wake me up this morning.
me - do we ever put it up for that reason, so the dogs don't wake you?
her - no.
me - Well there is mud in the LR, all over the floors in the house, and who knows where else I haven't checked yet. Get a rag and clean it up, please. And in the future, DO NOT move the gate unless you ask one of us first.
her - mumbles something.

I didn't say another word to her. I then texted SO and told him everything. He then called me on his way home and we discussed it. He asked if I said anything to her, I told him I did. He said, well then she knows and wont do it again. And as much as I wanted to go off on her, I kept my mouth shut. When he got home, he asked her the same and then told her DO NOT touch the gate. If it's up, leave it where it is. Next time not only will you have to wipe up the mud, you will have to mop the entire house and clean the carpets.

So my tactic of letting him handle it worked well.

Then yesterday. I texted SD14 (and included SO, so there is no way she can ignore me and it's guaranteed to be brought in) to tell her to bring in my package that was delivered.
I get no response. 1.5 hours later, I texted again and said "a response that you got this and brought it in would be appreciated.)
Still nothing. SO then texts her and asks if she got the text. (IMO he's giving her an out here, and I told him as much). An hour goes by and she finally answered, "I got it". Then, "I was doing homework". I laughed my ass off at that. :O Yeah right, she has her phone glued to her hand at all times.
Then she asks, "which one". SO says, "about getting the package and mail". Her last response was "yes."
Nowhere did she answer me, did she confirm that she got the box and mail, nothing. GRRRR.

Needless to say I was getting pissed and ready to let her have it. BUT, I didn't say a word. I didn't say anything further to SO, and when I got home I didn't say a word to SD. But, then it happened - I could hear SD in her room talking on her phone, SO had called her on his way home and he let her have it. I could hear him ripping her a new one, she would try to make an excuse and he'd stop her, Over and over. Her attitude even with him was really crappy, and he called her on that too. She got in trouble for something else also, but I couldn't hear what it was. No matter, as long as he is dealing with her and her teen BS, I'm good with it.

And she apologized for not answering my request with at least an "ok", and for the dog gate fiasco. I know it's only because he made her do it, but I'll take it at this point. She's 14, her attitude and mopiness are what she is right now. SO handles things differently than I do, esp with raising kids, but as long as he is handling it and not looking the other way, I feel a ton of relief.

Until next time