15 year-old know it all son

You sound like this is your area of expertise. Are you experienced in the mindset of adolescents? Ha ha - I may need you on speed dial to help with mine 😉

15yr old boys are just know it all pains. I speak from experience of having 22 of them in a workshop today at school. Its a joyless time. Sometimes you have to let them just get on with it but sometimes you need to step in. I would.let him do what he wants for his first round of yr10 mocks, let him do badly then step in with its my way to support you now to pass. They are still kids but think they are adults.

Ds was like this in yr10. He also had a slightly unpleasant air of superiority acid him. But I got it- he was lower end of the scale in popularity and cool, so took refuge in being cleverer than everyone else.
Except, he really wasn't.
All his 'I'm fines' came to a head during mocks. He was humbled.

Equally, any attempts to try and outwit us would be met with robust debate. Or:"mate, come back when you've done x, then tell me I'm wrong. "
Or:"show me your evidence."

He's much better now.

What's his dad like with him?
You can be the most supportive encouraging mum, but it won't help if his dad isn’t doing it as well.

It's unlikely DS really does think he knows it all. He might think he's supposed to, though. Is his dad academically successful, clever, good job?
A lot of boys seem to worry about meeting their father's expectations and about doing as well as/better than them.

My In Laws paid my Husband a cash reward for his GCSEs and A-Levels as an incentive. and needless to say it absolutely worked!

We do the same with our children and it totally works - we put in place individual results payments with bonuses for achievements across multiple subjects.

In total there is a £1000 reward available if all results are in the highest grade. It’s always been very motivating!

Isn’t this normal teenage behaviour? Thinking they know it all while knowing very little?
I don’t see what harm failing his mocks will do so thing maybe your DHs right.

I have a 14 year old know-it-all son too. It is annoying. Honestly there is nothing you can to make it stop, aside from ride it out. I still tell him what I think, and I tell him off when he's mocking or rude, but ultimately, he's just like I was at that age - couldn't tell me nothin'. I was a brat and a half.

😂

How did he respond?

100% agree with this his comment. The OP could have been writing about my DS when he was 15 - it was maddening. He's now nearly 18, and life is humbling him by itself, we don't need to play any part in it. The cockiness was self protective behaviours, and through endless communication and giving him clear boundaries we now have a kid who is smart, opinionated, occasionally cocky but mainly really fun to have around and I'm sure an interesting character to those who give him the time and space he deserves. Some people wont like it, other people will. It's just one of those traits of character.

Ask chatgpt about the 15 year old developmental 'know it all' phase and why they can't take advice. It's an interesting answer (sorry too long to copy).

Being rude and unpleasant to family members is unacceptable, whether coming from a girl or boy. If ds starts doing it when he gets to the same age, he will be asked to be ‘friendlier’ too.

My DS was similar, but not quite so bad, at that age. It's a very difficult time with a combination of adult feelings/hormones competing with juvenile feelings etc. So a bit of 'taking a deep breath' is needed.

The best time to talk to my DS was when there was just two of us in the car and I was driving, we had our best conversations on those journeys which were long enough to talk.

I said to him "yes you're clever, you're intelligent and you're doing well, without really having to try" but those who are less clever but are trying hard are learning how to study and at some point, they will overtake you because they have developed those additional skills. Imagine how well you could do if you also push yourself."

Then leave it, let the words settle and he'll ruminate on them. He'll do his own thing, in his own way. Reassure him that you'll be there to support him and try to spend time just you and your DP together, sounds like you need some 'you' time aswell.

I mean to be fair he sounds like a typical teenager. The all like to think they know it all at that age. Does he get consequences for actually back chatting because to be honest I wouldn't be putting up with him telling his dad he's "talking bollocks" without actually telling him about himself. It's one thing thinking he knows it all but it's a whole other story him thinking he can be a cocky rude little shit just because he may think he's more intelligent than his parents. Whilst he may be smart it doesn't excuse his rudeness to his parents. My son is almost 16 and he's a smart kid but he knows he should still speak to me respectfully even if I'm not as knowledgeable as he is

My dad taught me that quote

It's a phase, just a particularly annoying one. I'd try to approach with tolerance and some mild piss taking.

The 19th century writer Mark Twain said:
When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."

It will pass!

No worries.

I made the original comment because I’ve always thought astrology is a load of bollocks. That’s because I’m a Scorpio and we’re analytical and scientific evidence-based.

Honestly you come off pretty aggressive in this thread and your son is telling you the same thing. Maybe you should listen.

Tell him he's welcome to state his point of view as long as he can back it up with evidence, then he would have to study and might even find out he's not always right, Also good practice for essays in later studies.

Three boys here. They're really not designed to study ten subjects I decided. They shine more at A level when they choose something they are really interested in.

As a girl who was a swot my DH explained that was normal.

Have a friend's son that was like this- his mocks knocked the stuffing out of him, and made hiim study

First off, all teenagers at 15 know everything, no matter the subject, it’s pretty common to be informed of your lack of knowledge by a 15 year old. The other problem is the other 15 year olds that are not your kids, also know everything, so the problem is magnified and cannot be argued against.

The issue is trying to get a 15 year old to do homework, you have more chance of experiencing the second coming!.
There’s only two things that get homework done by a 15 year old, bribery or blackmail or a bit of both!.
As their parent, you have to figure out what’s gonna work and what won’t.
Mine (twins) were open to a bit of both, bringing out baby photos worked a treat and a new Xbox game had the desired effect.
As for being outright rude or bad mouthing anyone, that resulted in a punishment.
They may be 15, but they are still, your kids and must accept your rules.
Mock exams are a wake up call for many, especially if compared to their brainiest friend.
But, we also have to remember that they may not be academically inclined, but will find their way in other aspects of life.