ok at what age did your kid's "surly teen" stuff start?

[nostatic]

My 11 year old and I had some words yesterday before Open House at school. I had asked him to get off the monkey bars so the younger kids could use them, he obliged, but then got back up. I asked him again and he blew me off. Well, it went from there.

At one point he said he was, "standing up for himself." I asked, "standing against what?"

And of course at one point I got pissed and trotted out the "who pays for food and rent..." line. That one really doesn't work so well. Felt good at the moment though. Eventually we both calmed down and I was able to get some reasonable comments out of him about being hammered at school, etc.

Seems a bit early for the hormones but my take is that kids seem to be maturing younger these days.

[legion]

I think kids at that age feel pressure to act older from their peers.

Unfortunately acting older means being like an irresponsible drugged-up celebutant.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by legion

irresponsible drugged-up celebutant.

I aspire to that

[K. Roman]

Your kid was "hammered" at school?

Does that still mean drunk?

[nostatic]

no no no....getting hammered by the teachers. He can be...umm...a bit of a handful. They (his teachers and the principal) all love him to death but they also can be pretty strict at times.

[Don Plumley]

You've yet to see surly teenage behavior. That's just talking back.

Wait until you get the mute, rolling eyes, curling lip, look of "you are the stupidest human" expression - and remember exactly how you felt when you thought that way of your parents.

YMMV

[Don Plumley]

You've yet to see surly teenage behavior. That's just talking back.

Wait until you get the mute, rolling eyes, curling lip, look of "you are the stupidest human" expression - and remember exactly how you felt when you thought that way of your parents.

YMMV

[Dueller]

I guess I'm blessed...my step-teens are pretty respectful. Yeah, you get the occasional eye-roll which I call BS on. I credit their attitude to their Mom. She treats them with respect and will not tolerate anything less from them. At the first inkling they are getting surly, one eyebrow raises accompanied by "Excuse me?" in an inimitable tone. Amazingly, in the 5 years I've been with them (beginning at age 12(twins) & 13 1/2 (stepson)), I've never heard a voice raised in anger between any of them. The may argue but it is always in a controlled and respectful manner.

[scottmandue]

My niece started getting a 'tude' around twelve... fortunately at fifteen she seems to have gotten over it... good for me because she is my favorite relative.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

The stress in middle school these days must be staggering.

The stress of having to deal with all that preparation for the standardized tests, the stress of having to come up with the money to pay back the dealer for the stash you bought on an advance last week and then toked up under the bleachers with your friends, the stress of knowing "she might be pregnant", the stress of knowing that the other kid's clip holds 17 rounds and yours only holds 15. . .

I wonder how they manage these days.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

You've yet to see surly teenage behavior. That's just talking back.

Wait until you get the mute, rolling eyes, curling lip, look of "you are the stupidest human" expression - and remember exactly how you felt when you thought that way of your parents.

YMMV

I've gotten bits of that, although Calvin is an expert in the blank stare...without blinking.

Makes me want to channel my dad - "I'll smack that look right off your face."

Kids truly are your parent's revenge.

[911Rob]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. If he's your kid, knowing your involvement and based on previous posts I've read about him; he's gonna be OK. Just love him and cherish your moments; they grow up way too fast!

God made that kid in your image for your happiness! Enjoy!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

The stress in middle school these days must be staggering.

I wonder how they manage these days.

Let us not forget the stress of having the latest version of ipod, cell phone, gameboy, etc.

I wish I was kidding...

Originally Posted by legion

Unfortunately acting older means being like an irresponsible drugged-up celebutant.

I was never able to work out the celebutant thing.

[David]

We're lucky to have a well behaved 13yo son, but some of his friends are a handfull. We told our son he could bring a friend skiing with us over Christmas. It was a short list of who we'd let him invite, but I was still very grateful when our first choice was able to go .

I'm just waiting for the first, "I caught my son smoking pot" thread

[nostatic]

or, "I caught my son smoking my pot" thread

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by nostatic

or, "I caught my son smoking my pot" thread

Or in your case you caught him smoking YOUR pot

[David]

Originally Posted by nostatic

or, "I caught my son smoking my pot" thread

I figured ya'll got what I meant

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I've gotten bits of that, although Calvin is an expert in the blank stare...without blinking.

Makes me want to channel my dad - "I'll smack that look right off your face."

Kids truly are your parent's revenge.

Calvin? You named him Calvin? I sure hope he does not have a stuffed Tiger cause you if he does you are toast.

[KevinP73]

My youngest was visiting one summer when she was about 13. She was pulling one of those "play mom against dad" 'tudes so I told her if mom was so much better than dad maybe she's be happier with mom. To which she replied in the affirmative. I told her no problemo you've got round trip airfare, just scurry on home. She packed her bags and announced she was ready to leave, I said fine , see ya. and went back to what I was doing. She repeated herself.......to which I informed her I was under no obligation to take her to the airport and she would have to walk if she really wanted to go. She pouted in her room for a couple hours before deciding she was hungry and would rather negotiate with dad then play games with him.

[beasty]

im turning 20 in a week and i remember when i was about 13 me and the pops got into a slightly heated arguement where i told him to f#$k off. well, wasnt such a good thing to do. my sister on the other hand, started at the age of friggin 10, attitude like no other. just let your kid know whos boss, trust me some harsh words and a sore ego was enough for me to learn my lesson.