EASTER holidays making mornings a distant memory for your torpid teenager? Try these ways of raising them from their pit:
Embarrass them
Teenagers can’t hear a word you say but can sense you answering the door in Crocs to their mate from 3.4 miles away. Even unconscious, so go crazy. Start doing all the stuff they found hilarious when they were five: silly voices, funny faces, songs about Billy the Funtime Frog. They’ll be out of bed suffering an all-body vertical cringe in seconds.
Film them
Go in close for footage of their sweaty morning face pressed up against their beloved childhood teddy bear which can be uploaded to TikTok. An adolescent’s psychological state is notoriously delicate, but what’s the threat of a little online humiliation between family members who are about to be late for brunch?
Lie to them
You’ve taught them the importance of honesty so it’s past time to show you were lying. Eject them from bed before sundown by claiming the hottest YouTuber, or Twitch streamer or whatever bullshit, is in the kitchen naked. Their rampant hormones should get them moving before their head butts in and starts asking questions.
Get in with them
Words from parents are as ineffective against teenagers as acne medication. You need to act. Can’t physically lift the massive bastard? Simply slip into the bed alongside them and watch them leap out quicker than a cat from a garden pond. Or flinging a younger sibling under the covers is a great way of sidestepping blame/injury yourself.
Don’t f**king bother
Do you really need to face seeing your teenager awake today? Are you short of withering looks, disparaging remarks, volatile mood swings and requests for money? Let them rot. It’s nature’s way of making up for all those sleepless nights when they were babies. Put off dealing with them until mid-afternoon and eat all their Easter eggs.
