Normal 8 year old boy behaviour?

[Missmarmalade]

My 8 year old son has been really difficult to handle recently and I'm just not sure what is 'normal' behaviour for this age. I am really struggling to get him to school on time (or to after school clubs) - he gets distracted easily and forgets to brush his teeth, do his hair etc....I have become so frustrated, have tried to encourage him to be more responsible (I get his clothes ready, hand them to him and 30 mins later they are still sitting there)....he used to enjoy reading at school but now seems totally disinterested, forgets to hand in his homework on the right day, forgets to get a new book to read...it all sounds really trivial but I am at a loss as to how to handle him. We end up arguing every day, sometimes I try speaking to him when we are fresh and in a good mood and it seems like he understands and will co operate...then it just ends up in the same old argument every morning. He is answering back rudely when I ask him to do things and really don't ask very much of him. Would be grateful for any advice.

I'm not sure what normal behaviour is, but until my daughter started secondary school, I was putting all her clothes out in the morning and we had to allow 90 minutes for her to get ready for school. This changed the day she moved school, she wanted to get her own clothes ready, didn't want to miss out on walking with other girls, so had to make sure she was ready.

It maybe he's forgetting to do things as they're not important to him. My daughter still hasn't handed in an absence note for nine days ago.

Do you know any other Mums with similar aged boys to discuss their experiences, although, they could all well be different. It might be worth having a chat with his teacher, just explain you are concerned about certain things and see if they've noticed anything in school. They'll probably tell you he's a typical boy and they see it all the time, but as they spend a lot of time with him and other similar aged boys as well they will have a feel. If the school notice he hasn't handed in homework, perhaps they could start asking him for it.

It can be hard not to get frustrated. Sometimes in the past I've told myself to take a step back and calm down, but this is easier said than done. Hope thing sort themselves out soon.

I'd also suggest talking to the teacher. Is he bored at school or perhaps having friendship troubles or something?
Ds1 is also 8 and I have to say he's getting so bored with reading as the books are far too easy for him.

What's he doing if he's not getting dressed?
Mine gets his clothes after breakfast himself. If they are dressed, they get to watch TV. Could something like this motivate him?

If my ds doesn't do his homework he is not allowed on Minecraft. Bribery again I'm afraid. But it means that he does it as soon as he can.

I was telling a male friend that it is like talking to a brick wall sometimes when he's absorbed in drawing or whatever. He told me hormones can go crazy at this age. I don't know about it, but maybe it's that?