Terrible twelve?

[tallulah]

My youngest has suddenly turned into a real pain in the backside. He whines, he drips, he "accidentally" falls over things, & most annoying is he is winding up the older 2 boys no end. He has always been the easiest of my 4 but ATM I don't want to be in the same room as him

Is this a hormonal thing? I don't remember a dodgy phase with the other 2 at this age. He knows just the right buttons to push to end up with DS1 (16.5) and/or DS2 screaming or bickering- it's always him in the middle of it. I could bang their heads together.

Any thoughts or advice?

Hormones, gangly, clumsy, aggravating - yes I can relate to all that. Sometimes he's wonderful, sometimes I wonder how long I can bear it

Thanks for that Copper. I'm getting to the point where I can't stand to be around him. Any suggestions?

I think its a pretty difficult age, I mean for them. (and us obviously). Starting secondary school is a big change, mine has had to get used to a long journey, uniform, homework, etc etc. Mainly he has loved it, but I think there are contradictory feelings of wanting to be grwon up (he has got to know lots of older children where before he really only had friends his own age) but presumably also feeling a bit anxious about the new freedom and responsibility.
His attitude can vary enormously. He still comes in from school and wants to tell us all about what he and friends have got up to, but can be a pain too. He is also growing quite a lot and I suppose there must be hormones kicking in..
He is my eldest so in a different position to yours Tallulah. Does yours feel jealous of his older siblings and what they get to do?