Ds 14 came home with bruises

[Grotbag81]

Ds has just come down from a shower with significant dark bruising down both arms. When I first asked I'd only seen finger mark bruising on his lower arm him he said it was from football at school, then I saw the other arm which was the more bruised.

After some discussion he said his friend and him were wrestling & punching each other. When I said that's more than a bit of play fighting, he said they've done it a few times.

I've taken pics but unsure what to do next as D's is insisting it's his friend. This has happened at school.

I've said he can chat to me anytime and said we'll talk again tomorrow. It's more in the way of school & possibly a toxic friendship situation.

Well- don't boys wrestle and punch each other?

Have you asked if they were angry when it was happening?

Boys do this a lot. It's normal.

I work with young people. The boys routinely wrestle and punch each other. Whilst laughing. Sit on each others heads, throw things at each other etc

just want to add its not always a boy thing.
i was a major tomboy as a teenager, i m 41 now and still dont do "girl" things and being 6ft by 11(not exaggerating ) i was a good wrestler and a good prop in rugby

i was the only girl(and the leader)of a group of 6 boys

Thank u so much.

That is what my lad has said, they were wrestling and punching each other over the last few days in a playful way and he didn't make any effort to hide it. He's an only child and I was raised with a sister. So maybe not used to lads.

I think I need to remember he's 14 and not 4. He does happily chat with me. So I'll let it be thanks again.

Have you reason to not believe this? My son is 15 and often has bruises on his upper arms where him and his silly friends punch each other as they walk home from school

,TAKESNOSHITSHIRLEY

I was quite the tomboy myself and enjoyed the rough and tumble, I think I was totally overthinking it.

It's how they learn boundaries and how much is too much. It's an important part of growing. Yes some girls do it too..but it tends to usually be a boy thing.

DashhboardConfessionals

No, nothing to suggest otherwise. I think I need to get over myself which I have. I think I was just shocked initially lol.

I'm off to bed thanks again for all the replies 💐

Does he bruise easily? If he was just wrestling around and play fighting, I wouldnt necessarily expect bruises. If he is sure it was just gentle stuff, maybe float him past your GP as bruising easily can be a sign of some health conditions. If it was hard punches, chat to him about cooling it off a bit and maybe he and his friend can be signed up for boxing classes and channel their urges for punching in a productive way

are you thinking leukemia or some strange sex acts?
honestly ask him if he's just goofing about tell him to take it easy.
otherwise take him to the dr.'s.

A few years ago I noticed my youngest son (13/14 at the time) had a number of bruises on his arms. He said this was from a punching game at school. No suggestion he was being bullied but they were dark bruises and I did not think this was OK. I emailed his form teacher to make him aware and it was addressed with the whole class in relation to what was and wasn't appropriate play.