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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Genuinely kind, friendly and polite teen boys

159 replies

ComeAlongPeggy · 11/04/2024 17:36

Aibu to ask people who have older teens who are kind, friendly and polite - why do you think your sons are this way?

I have pre-teens. Feeling a bit wobbly about the hormone changes I’m seeing already.

I could answer my own question with obvious answers (stable family life etc) but I’m curious to know if there are any obvious things I can do/not do now that might work?

Not a journalist. Just a curious mother of boys.

Oh, and I have friends with older teens but generally when I ask why X is so lovely they say “he always has been”. The one with slightly less polite children, I haven’t asked 🤣

Thank you all. Really hoping for some inspiring stories and words of wisdom.

OP posts:
Chickenrunning · 11/04/2024 18:09

My teen can be a horror at home (moody, grumpy, angry, trying to tell me what to do etc). However he never swears, and everyone else tells me how lovely he is, so I must be doing something right. He also regularly tells me he loves me unprompted!

He is lucky to have a stable home, good relationships with all grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. He plays a lot of team sports. We try to channel his boundless energy into being useful. He (mostly) gets on with his siblings Grin.

His room is a tip but he will bring the bins in when asked, cook for himself and others, and does his homework without needing to be reminded.

He isn’t perfect, and we don’t have many ‘rules’ but whenever he oversteps we remind him, get an apology, and move on.

gizmo · 11/04/2024 18:10

OP, are your pre-teens generally kind, nice to be with? Honestly if they are I don't think you need to fret too much.

I now have DS1 (22) and DS2 (17) under my roof and although they're hugely different personalities they're both helpful, kind and patient kids who pull their weight, help with their younger sibs and treat other people decently. When they were younger they were the same, sometimes they struggled with priorities or a bit of self control but all they needed was someone to hold up a mirror on how their behaviour affected others.

We kept some firm boundaries around behaviour and help in the home from when they were little, but I agree with the poster that you need to combine that with respect for them. Discuss, respect their choices, share time for conversation, be interested in what they want.

Pancakee · 11/04/2024 18:10

I credit my old cat for helping raise my boys!

Radicat · 11/04/2024 18:11

I’ve got two lovely teens. Although one is actually 20 now. DS2 fits the mould of always being lovely (apart from as a toddler), but DS1 whilst a lovely toddler, had a patch of being an arsehole as a teenager at home. Been he has always been the kind of kid you could take anywhere- will make polite, interested conversation with other people’s grandparents etc.

To be honest, from their earliest days I got compliments on their manners, and told they were a delight etc after play dates. It was me on my own with them for a long while, but O was always firm and simultaneously silly. I listened to them, and spent literally hours and hours talking things through with DS1 when he was in his shitty teenage phase. Like others, we’ve always been a family who eats together, and I’ve always tried to make my home welcoming for their friends too. They still enjoy spending time with us (DH now too), and love a family holiday.

I know quite a few other teens who are lovely young men - all have engaged, thoughtful parents, but vary quite a lot in terms of how strict etc. I can’t actually think of any teens we know who aren’t?!

Eastie77Returns · 11/04/2024 18:12

I think polite, well behaved boys are the norm rather than the exception? It’s just on MN where there seems to be quite a bit of negativity about teenagers in general and boys in particular. I’ve seen threads about teen boys taking drugs, verbally abusing their parents, refusing to go to school and disrespecting everyone. I do not know any boys who behave this way (and I know quite a few as many of my friends had kids when they were in their 20s and now have teenaged boys).

Youdontknowmedoyou · 11/04/2024 18:12

Mine. Seventeen. Home educated and not a bad bone in him. Kind, respectful but no doormat.

AnSionnachGlic · 11/04/2024 18:13

I have 2 ds twins just turned 17yrs. Friends/ teachers say that they are great lads and seem to be happy, polite and lots of friends. We've always had steady guidelines in house which theve generally stuck to, like chores, curtailment on screentime and phones, bedtime, and homework. We have 2 older girls and when they are home, our boys love to sit and have long chats together. As they are older now, they have some more freedom, but we still expect them to be polite, truthful and respectful of us and others.

theresnolimits · 11/04/2024 18:14

Mmm, there are lots of great parents doing everything right, who don’t get these lovely lads as teenagers. I wish good parenting was the silver bullet, but I have to say I think genetics/personality play a massive part.

Two sons who couldn’t be more different here ~ parented consistently in the same way. One was/is a natural conformist and the other a natural rebel. Breezed through from day one with one son; the other turned my hair grey. Even as a baby he was so different.

They were both loving and have turned into wonderful men ~ but still as different as night and day shown through their career choices and their choices of wives.

I always think as a parent you can only work with the material you’re given.

arethereanyleftatall · 11/04/2024 18:17

Please could the mums of nice 15 year old boys send them my dds way? She, and all her friends, are finding boys of this age complete horrors. All seem to consider the girls are objects, presumably due ti the easy access of porn, and all spend 100% of their energy trying ti get the girls to send them naked photos. I am having a really hard time at the moment trying to convince her that some males are nice and it's just a stage.

MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira · 11/04/2024 18:18

I don't have a teen boy yet, but I do have a husband who works in youth MH and criminal justice and have done my own stint in similar roles. Yes stability and learned behaviours are so very important, but I also thinks it starts young. I get lots of compliments about DS' manners but it's unthinkable to me that he wouldn't say please and thank you, listen to others etc and those are the kids of times and expectations at have about respectful behaviour, being polite etc

UndertheCedartree · 11/04/2024 18:18

Lots of people told me things get bad in teen years but they come out the other side by 17.

My DS is almost 17 and not had the 'bad bit yet'. We rarely have a disagreement, he is never rude to me or anything. People say they'll say they hate you.

If it's something I've done, I've just always modelled being kind, polite and friendly. Always been respectful to my DC. Never punished them or been controlling. That's it, really.

mybestchildismycat · 11/04/2024 18:19

My eldest DS has turned into an exceedingly confident and well mannered young man. I think there is a lot of luck in terms of baseline temprement, but some of the things we did that have perhaps contributed are...

Respectful parenting where we said yes to as much as possible from toddlerhood upwards, with no arbitrary rules for the sake of it, but with absolutely cast iron boundaries in a few areas, particularly around being considerate of other people. It's a trivial example, but I'd happily push him endlessly on a swing, but as soon as other people where queuing then I'd switch to strict turntaking - and explain why.

Consistently modelling really respectful behaviour when out and about, especially in shops, cafes etc. Little things like picking crap up off the floor in a restaurant, and again explaining why - because it is really disrespectful to expect waiting staff to clear up after you. Even a really little act like taking a cup back up the counter when you leave and saying thank you rather than leaving it to be cleared. Anything that shows you are aware of the people around you.

DramaLlamaBangBang · 11/04/2024 18:22

Dargawn · 11/04/2024 17:46

My soon to be 16 year old. Kind, gentle, sensitive. But a bit dreamy too. He’s not had any reason to develop sharp edges. Home life is always quiet, he has space, no dramas, routine. Never got shouted at as never parented that way. Ppl say he’s ‘sweet’. He’s a bit like his dad who is mild mannered and I think it’s a family trait from paternal side. We always eat a meal together with no tv or anything. That is critical I think. Being raised knowing you will spend 45 mins a day with you family where you look them in the eye is powerful. I dint know if there is any correlation but I see a pattern. The worst most cheeky kids are the ones without dinner time. It was the same for my DD who is 19 and just an amazing human.

Edited

I have exactly the same 16 year old it seems! Both my boys have been no problem as teens. TBH I prefer it to the crying/ colicky/non sleeping babyhood. We have dinner together every night too. No screens, no TV whike eating. We talk about different things- what they did at school, discussions onI'm not sure what else I did tbh. He has always been a bit quiet, considerate of others, etc. I suppose another thing with have is a big extended family, so he regularly stays with grandparents/ great aunts/ uncles etc. We regularly have to drop them off to my elderly aunt's because no-one else will sit with her and play cards with her and talk to her for so long. ( including her many grandchildren) They can chat to people of different ages, they are interested in lots of things- science, history etc, but neither of them are particularly into football, but DS1's friends are into football, and they are just as lovely. He's not perfect, and he's not particularly academic-he is revising for hours a day for his GCSES but I doubt he'll get a 9 in anything. It'll be a huge achievement for him to get 6s but overall I'm lucky both my boys are healthy, polite and nice kids.

SnakesAndArrows · 11/04/2024 18:22

My DS was generally great. Everyone always commented on how polite and lovely he was. The only trouble he ever got into was when standing up to bullies on behalf of a lad who lived on our estate (DS had taken to escorting him home). At home he could be surly and his bedroom was a pig sty, but he’s grown up and married with a child of his own now and he’s a reformed character in that respect. We have a great relationship.

My DSS (17) is lovely too. Mild mannered, funny, polite and kind. If you’d asked me 6 years ago I’d have said something quite different about him, but he’s basically turned into his dad.

I suppose the key has been treating them well and consistently, and modelling good behaviour. However I think my DS is a better person than I’ll ever be so I don’t think I can take all the credit.

Joyettan · 11/04/2024 18:29

Mine have just turned 21 and 18. I have very rarely shouted and then it was only when there was danger. I grew up in a shouty house and this is not a positive way to communicate so we never did it no matter how exasperated I was.

Firstly, I listened to them, never belittled the things they loved (Pokemon, Minecraft, Fortnite, stupid songs What does the fox say etc) asked questions about it, took an interest in things they were interested in, played Minecraft parody songs in the car. They in turn learn to ask questions about other people and things, talk to Sacha about her dancing, Paul about his running, children or adults.

Family dinner where everyone talks about their day which is funny because I am a sahm but they still listened, learned to ask questions about things, news, things their friends said. Get their view on things, get them to think about things. Listen to Grandparents talking about stuff they might not find interesting because Grandma has watched your dance moves, listened to you read your poem aloud etc.

Absolutely no stomping out of rooms or doors slamming, never happened. Laid out expectations of behaviour from early on, ie you need school shoes, if you co-operate it will be quicker and we get watch <insert tv show> because we will have time. I expect you to be polite to the shop assistant, thank them etc.

That expectation goes to chores with no complaints, help bring in any shopping and unpack it and put away what you can, ask where things go that you don't know so you can learn.

This is gardening/DIY it is hard work, boring and repetitive, clock how long you have been doing it, do you think you want an outdoors job? Manual labour job? Trade job like plumbing etc, talk them through choices we make as adults for the house let them understand how much effort goes into redecoration. We did this for meals too, they set the table but are expected to be in the kitchen, stir that, put plates in the microwave to warm them through, weigh out the pasta. At the end everyone stays in the kitchen until it is all cleared down and clean, children then see how much effort parents put into meal prep every. single. flipping. day.

Family meetings, anyone can call one, you can ask for things, negotiate, complain yes but say what you want, hopefully have a solution to the issue.

And no one disrespects me (or Dh) I have two sons so I knew they would tower over me at early teen stage. Dh backs me, no one speaks to my wife that way. I would say if you were a boyfriend and you spoke to me like that I would show you the door. It hasn't happened very often, mainly Ds1 when he was getting a bit too big for his boots and testing boundaries. He had mates who talked to their parents like shit, ate in their rooms, never talked to their parents. They thought he was weird for watching tv shows with us, talking to us, singing in the kitchen with us, guess the band and song title games, board games etc.

Oh and that I would bury a body for them, walk through fire for them, we draw a line under stupidity and move forward. Along with Dh they are my favourite people.

GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 11/04/2024 18:40

I’m not sure what you class as an older teen. My youngest son is 15, for the most part he is a pretty nice polite lad, he has his moments where he can be stroppy and occasionally a bit shouty but then so do I! He can be quite messy and lazy which drives me up the wall and a little selfish at times (imo) but then I guess thats fairly standard for a teenager, on the whole though he’s certainly not a bad lad. He will often offer me a brew when I get home from work and will occasionally make me breakfast in bed if he’s up before me and I’ve been working long shifts. He was a lovely kind, caring, considerate and polite child and it was frequently commented on by teachers and after-school club staff. His teachers now rarely have anything but nice things to say and he does a bit of volunteering and the old folks at the place he volunteers all love him.

I separated from his Dad before he was born and they don’t have contact, so for the most part its been largely just the two of us (I did date someone for 7 years from him being a baby but we never lived together). We have always done everything together, he even used to come to work with me on Sundays so I guess we’ve always been pretty close in the past (he’s a bit of a recluse that can’t think of anything worse than hanging out with mum these days though! 😢). I always involved him in cooking and baking and household chores.

I would’t say I’m overly strict or harsh in my parenting but I wouldn’t say I particularly subscribe to gentle parenting either. I’ve always been pretty strict on basic manners, I do shout (swear like a trooper in-fact yet surprisingly he doesn’t and won’t ever swear in my presence! He pointed out a book he got once had a swear word in it but even when asked what it was refused to say it out loud and had to show it too me!). I would be lying if I said he’d never had a smacked bottom on occassion as a younger child either.

In conclusion I recon its a combination of a having a close relationship, being involved, being given responsibility, feeling listened too (mutual respect), not being a walk over and a bit of luck! Nature vs nurture and all that.

Desecratedcoconut · 11/04/2024 18:48

I do. They're really good kids. People quite often remark on it - but that is partly because the expectation for teen boys is exceptionally low. I haven't done anything interesting or exceptional, or made a big deal of things or have any grand ideas.

They have a calm and stable home with kind and stable parents. I think that's all.

Lentilweaver · 11/04/2024 18:51

My teen boy is a delight. Incredibly clean in his habits!

But it's nothing I have done as my teen DD was a nightmare ( she's ok now). Just a fluke. I did encourage sport though, and it kept him away from gaming and screens. But the rest of it is his own personality.

RebelWithCause · 11/04/2024 18:56

Being openly affectionate, listening to them, respecting their opinions but always having clear boundaries and expectations as far as behaviour is concerned. Treating them as individuals and sentient beings not you-extensions (a mistake often made by Dads; he’s NOT you) Give them space, especially when the testosterone kicks in - there’s no point arguing with someone who knows they’re behaving badly but kicks off anyway. Make your point and walk away instead. After about 15 mins mine would apologise for whatever it was and we’d move on. Be available. Don’t be judgemental for the sake of it ie. just ‘because you’re the adult’ in the room.
Tell them when someone outside the immediate family praises them.
Be the parent you wished yours had been, but from an adult perspective not a teen one.

Marblessolveeverything · 11/04/2024 18:59

Pancakee · 11/04/2024 18:10

I credit my old cat for helping raise my boys!

Me too, she always insisted on manners 🐱.

@ComeAlongPeggy be honest with them, respect them and always listen. Don't say no to requests automatically, risk assess and understand they are better to make small mistakes now rather than big ones later.

Give them privacy respect their choices on appropriate areas of life- hair, clothes etc.

I encouraged my son to bring issues with any decisions made by me, school etc to me if he feels it's wrong. Be prepared to be honest with mistakes made by yourself.

No matter how moody or eye rolling the day is, tell them you love them, you have their back. And that you are fully prepared to do a daily tik tok in his school yard if he brings trouble to my door!

RemarkablyBrightCreature · 11/04/2024 19:04

Mine are 15 & 16. Lovely kids - and everyone says so 😄. They have a bloody fabulous role model in their dad - and their 3 uncles.

We treat them with respect but with firm boundaries and consequences when boundaries are crossed. Not speaking to visitors and friends we encounter out and about has never been an option - basic manners to say hello, enquire after people etc have been drilled into them. And they do it naturally now which means people respond in kind.

And they pull their weight around the house - they have to be reminded but it’s done without sulking or arguing.

Keep your expectations high and NEVER do the boys will be boys thing - good luck 😄

RemarkablyBrightCreature · 11/04/2024 19:05

@Marblessolveeverything 😂😂. I remind my boys that at my age I’ve no fucks left to give and I will visit school in a tutu if required 😂

AppleCrumbleTea · 11/04/2024 19:12

My son has come into his element since we started home education. He’s much happier not having to listen to the horrid dynamics between kids at school.

Fizbosshoes · 11/04/2024 19:19

My 14 year old is quiet kind and polite he's always been much kinder and thinking about others than DD. (He also spends too long on a screen and is lazy about doing chores...to give some balance!!😄)
He's not very streetwise and quite naïve which is sweet that he takes things at face value but also I worry that he could easily be taken advantage of. His friends are very sweet and polite too, none of them, including DS fit into a popular or cool group but don't seem overly fussed about it.

crostini · 11/04/2024 19:23

You wouldn't know though. Sure there are nice teen boys but there are also plenty that are what is being described but are absolute horrors when their parents arnt around, same with girls. But I do see a lot of mums being all starry eyed about their 'good boys', it can certainly be a tad delusional.