Has anyone noticed really positive (and unexpected) changes in their Y7 children? My Y7 son is good at school and sporty but has seemed fairly average to date in emotional intelligence. I was expecting him to get gobby, big-headed and argumentative at home once he'd started secondary school (an impression picked up from MN threads), but he seems to have had a massive step change in his social awareness, awareness of others' emotions and his willingness to communicate about his own feelings, instead. He's being quite charming, rather more grown up and mature in his discussions with adult friends and family, really being a delight to be around (most of the time). He's helping out more at home, unprompted. I'm really enjoying this stage and the changes in him, but it really wasn't what I was expecting!
Is this a common experience? Are tween boys unfairly maligned?