Benefits of having teen boys

[MrBirling]

Does anyone else love having teenage sons. I am lucky enough to have two and they're so bloody useful. In the garden I put them to work lifting heavy stuff. We collected a car load of soil the other day and it took so little time to fill up the bags. Pop into b&q and all the heavy stuff gets loaded up. Last year we dismantled a shed which DH and I would never have managed alone.

Anyone else find them useful to have around despite the cost of food and the nagging to get homework done.

Ha - yep to be fair getting called bro or bruh are par for the course in our house!

I am so jealous. Mine won't let me. But he's good for reaching the pasta on the top shelf, and no one can make me laugh like him. He's also a cuddle monster.

They're bloody great.

Love this!!

Mine are 13 and 19 and are both brilliant, 19 year old is home from uni and has been doing heavy garden work for us and his grandparents. They're both chill, fun, kind and an absolute pleasure to be with.

I get so vexed at the teenage lad hate.

(DD is also completely wonderful but in a different way, she brings the drama!)

Hear, hear! My DS15 is funny, helpful, moderately compliant after some grumbling, exceedingly aware of being respectful to people (esp women) and generally no bother whatsoever. He has nice friends, likes going to the gym and cycling about our area, is well versed on politics and current affairs, can think critically and sometimes frames an argument well! He loves his grandmas and grandad and actively spends time with them on his own. He does have rather a lot of detentions for silly behaviour still but his teachers all like him and want him to take their subjects for a level as I imagine he is fun to teach. He’s just come out which at an all boys’ school in a conservative (small c) place takes a certain strength of character. I’m immensely proud of him.

I love this thread. I have 2, they are kind and funny and adore each other (at least I think they do as they are wrapped in a headlock most of the time! 😂)
As someone above said they have their stroppy, lazy moments but a metaphorical kick up the bum usually does the trick. This is hugely outing but my youngest went to speak to one of teachers before taking a gcse option to discuss consent because he was worried about touching a girl if she wasn't comfy with it and neither of them knew what an incel was when we watched adolescence. They get a bad press but I know some great boys.

The adoration! And their witty humour. They’re awesome. 🙌

I’ve been pretty lucky with mine. I dreaded my eldest becoming a teen, but he turned out to be the loveliest lad. He’s helpful around the house (loves DIY!), helps with his younger brother and is just nice to have around

DS2 is 16 and thoughtful, he’s not so useful - as in he couldn’t put together a flat pack to save his life 😂- but he’s an absolute sweetheart none the less!

Love this thread
So much man hatred on mumsnet so all this positivity is making me feel happy
I have 3 DS, only one still a teen

I absolutely love being with them, having a house full of their mates and their giant shoes

Funny, straightforward, loving, kind, helpful, decent young men

Could not be prouder of them

Two sons both lovely and very protective of me. I lease out my youngest to neighbours and others who don't have a capable strong lad to do odd jobs. Not for money obviously. To be community spirited. He doesn't mind.💙

Almost every Dad I know prefers daughter to sons, and vice versa, mums seems to have a special bond with their sons that they never have with their daughters!

It must be the mystery thing if you ask me, women never truly know men and sons have a COMPLETE different attitude to Mums compared to Dads.

I have 4 of them and I adore them !! They are just hilarious . But so sweet too . Miss them so much when they are not around .

Lovely 😊

Me too! Mine are still relatively young but it makes me feel excited about the potentially wonderful years ahead of us. I’ll have to remember that the next time I’m sobbing over the baby and toddler videos 😭

I’ve got 3 boys and they’re genuinely lovely, I w not spending my time with them. They are helpful, my eldest never minds helping me move things. They are really loving. It’s wonderful ❤️

Yes they come in very handy for doing all the manual stuff I’d half arse if I had to do them.

I love this thread. DS is 9 so I have it all to come!

I have a cracking 18 year old. 6.3' and all the benefits that come with that. I call him and say "come and be tall for me" and he will appear to do all the 'high up' things :)

He gives hugs and actually ASKS for them
DH and DD have no attention span, so me and DS binge box sets together - especially anything with Pedro Pascal/Zombies or Crime family storylines
He makes me tea and marmite on toast that appears next to my desk when I am WFH
He asks me how I am and listens to my answers
He reads my mood and is the most emotionally intelligent and empathetic person in the household
He cries at anything that is mean to animals
He loves football and gaming and his mates, but is respectful to girls and women
He is the best brother to his high-drama sister. She says that only he can make her feel calm and they are best mates

It's easy - in the current climate - to forget how amazing young men can be. It's a hard time to be a young man, and they deserve to be told that they are wonderful and worthy. Raise them right and they will shine.

I currently have a house full of them as DS18 and DS16 both have friends here after a meal out. They are all fabulous …many slightly drunk, a bit loud, but ultra chatty and awesome.

Benefits of teenage sons.... The laughing, the hugs, the late night chats, the composting obsessions, the tech wizardry

Great thread @MrBirling and a good one to look at when the MN men hate is peaking

Best bear hugs, great at lifting things, funny and great to talk to. Love them both.

Mine are 13 and 11. In addition to all the lifting and carrying, we currently have a water cut and DH is out. So they took it in turns pouring the water containers over the sink so i could wash up after dinner.

I get tonnes of hugs and loads of lovely compliments about my food and any new clothes (particularly from DS2 - he has a real eye for colour).

I have 2 adults sons who were great through teen years. Now I have 2 foster sons of 18 and 16. Both love their sport and I love driving them to football and cricket matches. I take a picnic and do the scoring for the cricket. I take a hot flask of coffee for the football but I wouldn't miss their games for anything. They are good teens, work hard at school, complimentary of my cooking and offer to help me do things like unload and put away the shopping. They help DH in the garden too. The eldest will be off to Uni in September and I'm going to miss him so much. He's never given me any trouble and I've loved being his foster Mum. I'm glad I've got the 2 sporty boys. I think girls can be a bit harder.

Mine is only 3 and already helps me so much with jobs, I hope this lasts!! 😄

Isn’t it just?
I have 3 adult sons - all like their lovely Dad.
This thread is just lovely and warms your heart.