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Original poster

Teenage boys are great

191 replies

CrocsNotDocs · 26/12/2024 04:58

They just are. They are like enormous Labrador puppies with gangly uncoordinated bodies and huge feet.

I love watching my son and his mates interact. They have this innate sense of fairness and decency and half the time they are little boys and the other half, something caught between boys and men. If you can surreptitiously listen to them, they will be big noting, exaggerating and bullshitting about all the great dangerous and fantastic things they will be doing until one of them looks at his enormous feet and reminds the others that they will have to ask their mum before partaking in whatever grand endeavour they have planned . Silence will follow in deference to the higher authority.

They smell and are kind and can lift incredibly heavy things. Their jokes are stupid and glorious and they laugh so loud. I love how their shoulders broaden overnight and they get hairy and awkward. I love how they are terrified of girls and then suddenly they aren’t.

They get a bad rap but the ones I know are just fab.

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 26/12/2024 10:14

wingsandstrings · 26/12/2024 09:43

My DS age 17 is my pride and joy. He is kind, hilarious, and idealistic. He eats the hugest amount (he plays elite sport so needs a lot of calories) and isn't great at sitting still, so yes, very Labrador. My fear is the message that he and other teenage boys get is that they are a problem, a danger, something bad in the world to be managed. I feel like schools often perpetuate this, from the time of primary where teachers and girls talk about 'the naughty boys' (to mean the vast majority of boys, as they tend to be a bit louder and move more than girls) in a way they'd never talk about 'the naughty girls'. In secondary my son had a perfect behaviour record and was described to me by his form tutor as 'the gold standard in respectful behaviour'; he also had very decent grades and an interest in the arts. But he was never chosen for the extra investment academically or in the arts given to others as I think he was just seen as 'a sporty boy' and so there were assumptions about his abilities and interests. He exceeded all his predicted grades at GCSE without the substantial extra support given to chosen girls and non-laddy boys. It was also interesting to observe what the school clamped down on and what they let slide - a momentary scrap between two boys over football at lunch would be a serious issue even though the boys were back to being friends within minutes, but terrible bullying of a girl by other girls (the popular, 'nice' girls) that resulted in the girl trying to take her own life to my knowledge resulted in absolutely nothing. Essentially throughout primary and secondary school there were just a lot of messages to boys who appeared particularly stereotypically 'male' that they were an issue, just by their very nature. I'm a huge feminist, I want to tackle the entrenched misogyny and violence against women . . . but I don't think that making young men feel bad about themselves is the answer.

Amen to this this.

Absolutely agree 100%.

Especially your last line. I'm also a feminist but have been saying for a number of years I don't recognise this new strain of feminism that's about ripping men down rather than raising woman up for equality.

Hisnutsroastingonanopenfire · 26/12/2024 10:14

I think boys in general get a bad rap. It's clear from a young age just how lovely they are, gentlemanly behaviou,r is almost innate in the vast majority and it's lovely to see.

PositivityVibes · 26/12/2024 10:14

Love this thread Grin

My DS's are 18 and 20, drive me bloody nuts but I totally love them to pieces.

They've also listened to my 'rules' as I've heard them with friends repeating them:

  1. Don't be a dick
  2. On a night out, come home with whoever you went out with i.e stick together!
Bluevelvetsofa · 26/12/2024 10:13

I’ve got a teenage grandson. He’s very tall and very sporty and best of all, he is happy to chat away to his nan. We tease him about his girlfriends and he blushes. I love to spend time in his company and think I’m very lucky.

Joelle84 · 26/12/2024 10:11

My son is ND and all this mates are ND too. They are a great bunch of lads. Really talkative and easy going. Its taken a while to get them to be comfortable with me but yeah, goofy kids really at 16

notacooldad · 26/12/2024 10:10

I have two sons.
The teenage years were the best and easiest. Of course we had ups and downs but we had that at every stage and still do.
However it was mostly fun.

Boysboysboy · 26/12/2024 10:10

This is such a heartwarming thread!

I’m a long way off having teen boys - eldest is 3, followed by a girl, and I suspect the one due in a few months is a boy.

I can’t wait to see them all grow and hope they turn out as lovely as yours all are! ❤️

Harrumphhhh · 26/12/2024 10:09

What a gorgeous thread. I’m sat here smiling, while thinking about my two (usually) lovely teen DSes. This is today’s text exchange with one of them. The other is still fast asleep.

Teenage boys are great
BugsyMaroon · 26/12/2024 10:09

Mine are 14 and 12 and they are so much fun. And their friends are fun also. Just really lovely kids. DS1 has autism and learning issues and tourettes and his best friend who is neuro typical protects him and looks after him. In Year 9 a new boy started bullying him for a bit and the other boys (and teachers) told him to pull his head in. A couple of months later DS said this boy came to him privately and apologised for how he had behaved and said he hoped they could be friends. And they are now. They sit next to each other in maths and geography and hang out at lunchtime.

Lovelycupofcoffee · 26/12/2024 10:09

What a lovely post . My son is 21 next month and I’m so proud of him . It’s been a tough road at times as a single mum but he is such a lovely lad .

DominoRules · 26/12/2024 10:08

Mine are hilarious, huge, loving, messy and just the best company! 16 and nearly 15 and I think this is my favourite stage so far

orangewasp · 26/12/2024 10:07

So nice to have a positive thread about boys. This link should be dropped in to all the gender disappointment threads 💙

CatherinedeBourgh · 26/12/2024 10:07

I agree! Mine are 18 and nearly 15 and life has never been so much fun.

They are kind, clumsy, messy, voracious, loving, huge bundles of overgrown puppy.

Fourmagpies · 26/12/2024 10:06

I love this and agree. I have two. They have been through more than any kids should due to their dad, but they've dealt with it all with a maturity beyond their years, particularly the youngest. They've got good kind souls and I'm so proud of them.

namechangedforthisquestion1 · 26/12/2024 10:05

I love this and agree 100%! I love taxiing DS and his friends as they forget I'm in the car and chatter away as if it's just them, creases me the things they come out with!

Barbie222 · 26/12/2024 10:05

This is a fabulous thread. My sons are 17 and 15 and I think the world of them.

Iceache · 26/12/2024 10:03

The fabulous head teacher of my son’s high school finished his Christmas newsletter by sharing a conversation he had with one of the teenage boys there and my husband and I laughed out loud. It sums them up perfectly:

Him: “Sir, listen, I know I’m on your list.”
Me: “What list?”
Him: “The list. For getting kicked out.” (to be 100% clear, I have no such list)
Me: “Ah, the list!” (there really is no list)
Him (holding his hand out to shake mine): “I’m telling you sir, I’m gonna sort it. You’ll see. I’m
gonna smash it next term.”
Me: “Brilliant. How?”
Him: “Not sure yet sir, but you’ll see.” Skips off into the distance spraying himself with after-shave.

Sleepysleepycoffeecoffee · 26/12/2024 10:01

I never imagined myself having boys but now I have two (2nd arrived yesterday!) and I can’t wait to see all the fun we’ll have. It’s been great having 1 and everyone I know with more than one boy says what a joy it is.

crazyday24 · 26/12/2024 10:00

I agree! Mine are 18 and 16 and just the best ever. I woke up to some lovely presents and cards yesterday, fully co-ordinated by DS 16 as DS 18 has ALN and needs a bit of help, with some beautiful messages in cards. Lots of hugs and time spent together. They are the best!

Iwishiwasagiraffe · 26/12/2024 09:58

This is a lovely thread. My DS is almost 13 and has grown extremely tall and hairy seemingly overnight. He has giant feet and is super skinny. He and his friends are a lovely bunch. Your description of them talking all the talk and then saying they need to ask their mums is spot on!

On Christmas Eve, I met my friend at an inflatable park with our kids. I watched my DS repeatedly help a little toddler who couldn’t get up the first step. It was lovely to see - I think teen boys really can get a bad rap when actually so many of them are kind and thoughtful

DS is funny, kind, good at science, maths and football. He is very particular about his fringe, he sprays lynx liberally, he loves his x box and he is just brilliant. I’m looking forward to his teenage years although dreading the going out and drinking!

W0tnow · 26/12/2024 09:55

I absolutely ADORE my boy.

DetestTheClockChange · 26/12/2024 09:52

I have two wonderful, wonderful teen DDs...but this thread is making me envious (in a heart warming, not bitter way!!). I'd love a teen DS too.

Clearinguptheclutter · 26/12/2024 09:52

Love this

i don’t have teenage boys just yet but my two aren’t far off

Bbq1 · 26/12/2024 09:51

My 19 is wonderful and always has been. He's very kind, thoughtful, polite, respectful and very loving. He's an incredible person. He, adores his Nan. Ww are really close (me dh abd ds) and I get hugged multiple times daily and a kiss/hug at night.

Oppenjam · 26/12/2024 09:47

I was walking back from the park the other day with youngest dd in her push chair, down a quiet side road. A group of teen boys approaching my side of the pavement. Without hesitating they all moved into the road (v quiet no cars around) so we could get by, one even smiled and nodded at me. People do that all the time but I thought it was sweet a group of lads engrossed in conversation did. They were also chatting about ideas for Christmas presents which I thought was sweet.

I have two ds’ who are young primary age they’re very cute now I hope that continues!