My teens are driving me nuts!

Thanks cazarnez, and welcome to D360. This is a great place full of caring and helpful people.

That's great, I find that it is important that you have good communication
with them and you know who their friends are. All the best to you
Just stay positive and try to see the bright side of it all, sometimes that's all
we need..just that chance for a fresh start, take care and keep smiling!!!!

Thanks 2much,
You and I think alike. Thats pretty much how it goes around here too. I don't mind the kids at all. I wish I had a basement. Here they still have to come in for the snacks and the restroom so they wake me. I'm a light sleeper and this is a very small place. I wonder if its just living in CA, but kids here have ridiculous curfews. My daughter gets to go out to parties w/older brother.(not to happy about that)  and she has expressed  it many times. I'm grateful that my kids don't cause me too much grief. I'll just buy ear muffs. lol

Angie...I did pretty much the same thing.  I had an "office" in the basement that I never used, and gave it to the kids to turn into a rec room.  They love it.  It's all decorated with their stuff, and their video games are down there, and their friends all come over an any hour, just walk in the house like it was their own, and hang out there.  It's been this way for about three years.  I love having them all where I know they're safe and happy.  I keep them supplied with pizza rolls.  Sometimes friends sleep over, and sometimes not.  It's just like having three more kids.

My 19 year old hasn't had a curfew since he graduated from high school, but if he's out late I insist that he call and let us know where he is and when he'll be home.  (Cell phones are wonderful.)  He's pretty reasonable, and is always in before midnight (usually with the gang), but rarely goes to bed before 2am.  The 17 year old is another story.  He wants the same consideration, but he's still in high school, and under my control.  During the school year his curfew is 11pm, which he challenges daily.  (I tell him that if he doesn't want me to be pissed off at him, all he has to do is be in bed by eleven.  He doesn't listen.)  During school breaks, I push him to bed by midnight, usually by going myself.  But if the gang is here and he doesn't have to get up in the morning, I'll leave him with them.  He enjoys the occasional freedom, it lets him know that I trust him to be responsible, and he rises to meet the challenge.  It's all in knowing how to handle his personality.  (Now if I could only get them to do their share of the chores.)

So just teach them to respect your need for peace, and help them to understand.  I find with most older teens that the more you treat them like adults, the more they will try to act like adults.  The important thing is to keep communicating with them so that they come to you for help with good judgment.

Just bumping this up, need some input=)

Your right and Thats why I allow them all to hang out here. I know where they are and with who. My kids are good kids, good students and have jobs. They just forget I'm not on vacation.
What is a good curfew during the summer and for a 19 year old? My 19 year old son I have to be careful with. He's smart and know its hard out there. He's not in any hurry to move anywhere but how do you handle them with out driving them away. This is my challenge.

At least you know where your kids are and who they are hanging with. set some ground rules no music after a certian time. set some boundries. they will respect you for it .