Puberty, how can you tell?

[Alikersh]

My Ds is 10 (11 later on this year) and I'm becoming more & more convinced he's starting to go through puberty. He's very highly strung, has mood swings, is growing like a weed and has started to really back chat and argue the toss with me over everything.
The thing is that as far as I can tell he's showing no physycal signs apart from growing quickly. I can't exactly examine him in intimate areas can I?
His dad thinks he's too young and isn't convinced at all - in fact he won't really discuss it.
Can anyone give me some guidance on this please or point me in the direction of a website/book on how to deal with this. We try to answer all of his questions as honestly as possible and he's had 'the talk' at school so he's fully aware of what is going to happen. The main problem I think is that I'm the main child carer in the house and his dad works or is out a lot, and I grew up with a sister and no brothers so am completely out of my depth!
(am having to go sort out a cold filled child, will be back later x)

Forgot to add, his voice hasnt changed but it's always been a deepish voice so that's not much help either x

sounds like year sixitis. Mine is just 11 and going through thesame thing. I think that in the sameway girls start pubert about 2 years before the dreaded period, boys start puberty at 11ish and really hit their stride by 13.

Oh God, so it's likely that it's just going to get worse before it gets better? And by the sound of it, we'll be just getting through ds then dd will start
Wah...

Their memory starts to go top, but only for things you ask them to do... Ds is in year 7 and for the past 12-18 months has been 'forgetting' to tidy room/ bring down dishes/ brush teeth/ change boxers.... Oh well

I also have an 11 year old son in year 6. A friend lent me a great book for children called "Whats happening to me ?" by Usborne books. I found it really interesting and I often find it by my sons bed, so I think he finds it helpful. It covers everything in a child friendly way. My son also has mood swings which have been going on for a couple of years and once said "I just feel really angry" which I think is testosterone kicking in ! He told me that he has grown a few hairs down below and I noticed that when he got out of the bath the other day he has ! He is 5ft 5 in height and think his body is just advancing quickly but it was quite a shock to me ! Hope this helps x

Sounds exactly like my 11 year old.

I'm convinced it is the beginnings of puberty. He has started needing to wear deodorant and told me that he has hairs down below too.
He also won't let me in when he's having a bath anymore, so I presume other things are 'changing'.
But he's my baby boy, my first born and I don't want him to grow up

Im glad you say that, I was alittle worried that 11 was a bit early for a boy to be getting pubic hair !

Ok physical signs that you will be aware of - hair getting greasy, smelling sweaty and needing daily showers / deodorant, blackheads around nose.

DS started to get more hair on his legs - I made an idle comment that it would start growing elsewhere and he confirmed that it was.