Talk to me about teenage boys!

[Iceache]

Mine is 12 and he has had some sort of lobotomy since starting high school; he talks endlessly about gaming and is just so daft that I’m finding him pretty irritating. He has definitely become markedly sillier in the last few months. Please tell me this is normal and just a phase!! His 9 year old brother is currently more sensible; I left him holding my hot coffee whilst I went to the bathroom today as I trust him more than his older brother!

What I’m finding the hardest is managing my DH - he thinks they are awful and that nobody else’s teenagers are like this.

To be fair they both go to school every day, have friends, do sport. They just don’t want to hang out with us. I said it will pass but he’s taking it very badly.

Mine doesn’t yet ignore us, but he is very embarrassed to be seen in public with us. He said it’s because it’s embarrassing if your mates are out by themselves and you’re with your mum, so I get that. Teenagers are so self-absorbed aren’t they. It’s the lack of focus I find frustrating. He’ll leave a trail of destruction in his wake, no matter how many times I remind him (and he will pick up after himself; he just needs reminding x100 every time which is exhausting), and he is utterly incapable of eating with his mouth closed. We’re coming on 7 years of being reminded many times each meal and no closer to achieving good table manners…

He is however happy to go to school, has good friends and largely completes his homework without being reminded. He plays a lot of sport and so far has pretty good hygiene. Small wins I guess 🤣