Is 8 a challenging age for boys?

[TooTicky]

Please say yes! Please also say that by 8.5 they revert to civilised humans...

My dh has two sons from his previous marriage, and he told me ages ago that they turned into little horrors at eight. He said they become cheeky, aggressive, and totally uncute.

They will revert to civilized humans again, (honestly), but the little boy days are over, I guess

How soon? Please tell!

Well, erm, it's not going to imminent ...

Poor you. He's giving you a tough time, I take it?

or even imminent !!!

Yes.

He's rude, aggressive, unhelpful, quick to flare up, winds up/hits dd1 and ds2 for fun, and has twice stormed off in a temper when we were out.

When he is nice, he is delightful. Especially with dd2.

Oh.

The precursor to adolescence. There's probably a few hormones kicking in.

It's probably good to remind yourself that the sweet little boy you raised from a babe-in-arms is still in there, and will re-emerge in early adulthood as a paragon of saintliness.

DH tells me that the way to handle it is not to let up on the discipline, but naturally to give plenty of love and encouragement on their good days. It must have been tough for him: it was quite a while ago now, but he still quakes at the memory

He's told me all of this in advance because he already knows that my gorgeous 2yo is going to turn into a git in a few years time!

Oh tooticky.
Could've written yr post
I want my lovely sweet DS1 back! He is 8 and over the last 6mo or so has taken to being aggressive, backchatty, shouting in my face and refusign to co-operate etc.

He is the lovelist soppiest boy really but I feel these are attitudes he has picked up from the other kids at school (he moved from safe infants to scary juniors last sept.

I worry now that he's a bad influence on the other 2, which I never thought he would be.

So sympathy and support but no great ideas.

What? You mean this goes on for YEARS? Please, no! Early adulthood?

I wish I knew how to tap into the nice part of him when he is being a screaming fireball. I'm sure he spent a good 2 hours of this morning shouting.

Well, if this helps, DH's youngest son was ten when I first met him ... and he was for the most part, delightful.

Yes, a little bit cheeky on occasion, a little bit back-chatty, but on the whole, a lovely, lovely lad.

I struggle to believe that he was an eight-year-old nightmare, at which point DH shakes his head wisely and pours me another wine ..

Ah. So there may be a pre-adolescent respite?

my nine year old didn't do this at all. i still get hugs and kisses and flying leap cuddles...

maybe he's a late developer.

I'm here with you, mine who is 8yrs 10 mths is exactly as you have been describing. As a teenager I remember not liking 8/9 year olds and now I know why.

Mine is 10...i think he is a late developer. He was most horrible at about 5-6....easier since. However i have seen small changes behaviourwise (not for the better) over the last 6 months... so i think we may be on a downward curve

My DS is nearly 8 and we are going through a very funny time with him.

He has changed from a loving caring child, into what feels like a moody teenager.

He is usually such a pleasure, but recently he has started to answer back, he's sulky, and is never wrong and its never his fault.

I've made sure over the summer holidays we've had quality time together but then he will flare up again.

On saturday he woke up around 7, this is usual, my DH asked him if he was ok and would he mind being quiet because DD who is 2 was still sleeping. DS was fine with this and went and played in his bedroom. When I got up I went in to see him and discovered he had done a wee all over his bedroom floor.

At first I thought had he done it in his sleep? Was it an accident, but he told us that he knew what he was doing and had done it not long after my husband had checked on him. This is just not like him. I've been racking my brains to try and work out why he would do it?

DS1 is 18, and I can't remember him being particularly bad at that age, or if he was then I probably put it down to moving house and ex walking out on us.

I am now quaking at these descriptions as DS2 is 8 in september

My DS will be 8 next month, and he is testing me more than ever just lately.

my ds1 is coming up 8 and just as you describe at times.
still fleeting glimpses of the lovely sweet affectionate little boy, but more and more becoming an sulky early teen
scarey isn't it how they change.
I think lots of influence from school and peer groups having to appear to be "big" not soppy!!! I want him back

Oh, so that's what's happened to ds
Still a lovely boy, but lots of backchat
Me: Ds, PLEASE pick your Nintendo off the floor
Ds: What-ever (goes off to torment dd by saying her drawings all look like potatoes)
Me: Why are you being so mean to poor dd?
Ds: You all hate me

?

mine has also suddenly become really really loud.... like his voice has suddenly developed.

Mine can shout for extended periods of time.