8 year old DS challenging behaviour

[seeyouinanotherlifewhenwearebothcats]

DS 8 is a very bright, loving boy. He does well at school both academically and personally and has been complimented numerous times on his lovely manners which is such a joy to me and DH. But since turning 8 there has been such a shift. I find he isn’t as focused since returning to school. He’s still doing well but he seems so much more easily distracted. Trying to get his reading completed for example is a chore. Then there’s the answering back, challenging everything and going on and on about it. He can be horrible to his sister, just a general poor attitude. Sometimes have a conversation is tough because he goes off on random tangents. I’ve tried to explain to him that conversations involve listening not just waiting for your turn to speak. Maybe this is a skill that takes a while to hone?

Then at other times he seems to regress to being very babyish? Talking in an affected baby voice and being very attached to his soft toys. He gets loads of exercise and does well at sports. It just seems he is quite Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. I’ve read about the surge of hormones at 8 and I suppose what I wanted to ask is have others been through this? Do things settle? Will my easy going, laid back boy return? All advice welcome.

We're struggling with our 8yo too. He has had periods of being a bit tricky but has mellowed a lot. And now the backchat is immense! Also being a bit mean to his sister. No advice but solidarity here! It's interesting to learn about the hormone surge. Will read up on that. Thanks op.

My sons are older now (17 and 20) and, while I don't remember finding 8yo a particularly difficult age, I did find that they change massively over the pre teen / teen years and it's better to accept that and adapt to it than hope for your sweet easy child to return. Nothing you've described sounds particularly unusual or worrying for a young boy.

@Alittlebitofthebauble solidarity! It can be so very wearing!
@NorwegianForest thank you very much for your take on this, it’s great to hear from people who have been through it. I understand what you are saying about adapting and accepting. It’s also very reassuring to hear that it doesn’t sound worrying or out of the ordinary. I suppose it’s just par for the course as they grow up.