How do your teenage grandchildren behave towards you?

When my boys were entering their teenage years a friend who had four adult boys told me that between the ages of thirteen to seventeen they become aliens. You just have to see it through till hormones have settled and they become normal human beings again.
I have two adults sons and four grandsons. All apart from the youngest have gone through the teenage angst years but are so good with me now.

I looked after two of my grandchildren a great deal until Covid separated us. They live nearby but I very rarely see them now, they are too shy to speak to me, much less hug me. They are one boy and one girl.

Yes thank you M0nica, I have just watched it. Thank goodness my grandson is nowhere near as extreme as this!

Thank you all for your replies, it's good to hear other people's experiences.

RosiesMawagain my GS’s are similar ages (17, 16 and nearly 12)

I do not get involved in family disputes one of them is here weekly for a sleepover, the elder two not so much (tied up with school/college stuff). They know I am a soft touch but I do expect good manners.

They have their own lives, as long as they are happy and healthy I am happy.

TG my teenage grandchildren (16, 14, nearly 12) treat me with a lot more respect than they sometimes do their parents!
I’m not the enforcer, the “put your phone away, have you done your homework, the no you are not going out in that “ person so the flashpoints aren’t there.
I zip my mouth when they and their parents are having a moment and while I never, ever question what. M and D say I can occasionally calm things down privately.
Surely you remember the teenage years OP? 😱
As a parent they could be dire, but my three (girls) never took it out on either Granny.

I always get a friendly greeting from my teenage GCs, but they don't hang around to make conversation! Suits me.

My DM came to visit when DS2 was going through the impossible stage, she said "don't you remember your brother?"
She described some his awful behaviour at around 17.
I could hardly imagine my little brother, now a respectable and respected teacher ever being the surly, grunting teenager.
Yours will definitely improve with age
Fancyflowers

Grammaretto
His DM has been complaining about him for a couple of years asking me if his dad was ever as rude. 😕

Ha ha ha ha ha! 🤣

... some just talk and talk at you repeatedly about their currently"niche" interest!
That's the other option.

My currently teenage grandsons will often talk forever about something they think they know about or alternatively they might sometimes say "hello, I'm just doing xyz do you mind if I....?" and of course they are given permission to go off!

This means I get a lovely visit with their mum (and frees me from talking politics/ science/ gaming/ ancient Greece(!) to the boys.)

In my family they don't seem to be grunters - but do have other ways of asserting their teenage boy thing!

All of it is a phase.
Hang in there.

My own 3 boys went through it and my 18yr old DGS is hopefully coming out the other side. He's spending his gap year abroad. His DM has been complaining about him for a couple of years asking me if his dad was ever as rude. 😕

His DSis is almost 16, always polite but I seldom see her apart from her school concert earlier this week.

Have you never seen the comedy sketch 'Kevin becomes a teenager' ? I recommend watching it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLuEY6jN6gY

My 13 year old grandsons are just entering the "grunty" stage. I get a hug and a smile, then they vanish. Their older brother, now 19, went through it and came out the other side, so I'm anticipating much the same with them. 🤞

I have our teen GS’s on WhatsApp, message them a couple of times a week (just short messages) they respond.

Always get big hugs and they are pleased to see me (us)

We had four boys, it’s just a phase

My grandson is nearly 16 and has gone through that awkward phase and come out the other side being mature and communicative. A school trip to South Africa last year, when he had to share rooms with older boys, seemed to be the turning point.

My 18 year old grandson was a bit grumpy and grunty at 16 but last Christmas at the end of the day he said, without any prompting, what a lovely day he had had, “ not about the presents, but being with his family”. That included me, so no complaints there!

Harry Enfield's 'Kevin'. Why speak when a grunt will do?

Yes definitely an age thing. Especially for boys I think

We only have 1 grandson of that age and he is nothing like that. But, the 3 older ones did go through that phase. Those 3 are fabulous now - messaging and coming round of their own volition. So, hang in there.

Can only agree, not unusual at that age. Our 15 year old says hello and then hangs around a bit before disappearing to his room. The older GC are much more sociable

We used to call that age "grunt mode," and yes they do grow out of it, don't take it personally. At least you got a hug!
Just concentrate on seeing and talking to your daughter and the other child/ren for now when you visit.

Give it time mine are all in their twenties now and everyone is a star who seemingly loves their old Nan
I don’t see them all that often as they are spread around the world but five out of seven keep in regular touch for which I m very thankful. (Two born in NZ I don’t know that well so its birthdays and Christmas)
Sixteen year old boys are notoriously dour towards adults he was probably thinking about how quickly he could get out to see the latest girlfriend, or his mates or get on social media or a game Don’t take it seriously he will become human again give it a few more years