That's hard isn't it. They are all at an age when they are beginning to think they know everything and nothing you could
tell them would be worth paying attention to. Every mother goes through that stage. Then in a few years they will have grown to a point where they realize that a parent is only trying to be helpful.
For the moment, and probably for the next ten years, you just have to grin and bear it. Show them by your own example how to live decently. Try to keep them clean and fed with the right kind of food; this too can be done by example.
Be the kind of person you hope they will be when they are adults and that's about all you can do. Punishing children never works anyway, so give up on that idea. Keep telling them what you think they need to know and don't worry about seeming to repeat yourself over and over again. They will remember what you say and the moment they have matured enough to act on your advice, they will do so.
Patience is your best friend just now. And if you could find some other parents of young teenagers to talk with, that would help. Not that you would necessarily take their advice, or give them advice either, but just to share experiences and have a few laughs about the ups and downs of this stage of life.
It's hard to do alone, I'm sure, but it's just as hard to do for a couple as it is for a single parent. You might sit down with the four of them once in a while and tell them how you're trying real hard to give them a good home and to prepare them for their own adulthood. If they know how hard it is for you, they might be more cooperative.
But don't go on thinking they don't take you seriously - they really do, but just don't know how to show it. And your
situation is not unique. Every parent at your stage has the same problems.
Good luck with them all.
GG
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