14 is so funny

[SagMom]

I really get a kick out of ds these days. He's only an inch shorter than I am...we shop in the men's department for his clothes/shoes...his voice has deepened...he's sometimes moody, and I often wonder how my "baby" got to this point so quickly.

So, yesterday he was helping me in the yard, using the electric tools, taking a pick-ax to a stump I need removed, etc. ("Manly" work :LOL ) And the next thing I know, he's swinging on the swings with the 5 yr old. It was just so cute.

The other day, he was babysitting for me, and that night he sat on the sofa with his head on my shoulder.

Of course, sometimes it's difficult to know, moment to moment, if my mature teen is present or my young teen is present, because the switch back and forth comes with no notice, but overall, I'm just in awe of the whole process.

(tell me your teens do this dance too?)

[Joyce in the mts.]

he sat on the sofa with his head on my shoulder.

OH my...I remember those days with my younger son. He was very loving and demonstrative for a long, long time. Many times we would sit together on the couch when he was young teen, and he'd lay his head on my shoulder. Very very sweet.

He also enjoyed holding his baby cousin...I have pictures where he is totally into her, playing and talking with her when she was tiny. He'll be a good dad one day.

He will be 20 next month.

I don't get a head laid on my shoulder anymore, but that's ok...I have it in my memories. Thanks for reminding me of those sweet sweet days.

Enjoy 14...the years fly by faster and faster.
Joyce in the mts.

[Colorful~Mama]

Yes - its an in between age. My daughter is turning 16 this year and still has those moments. She's been taller then me for well over a year now (not too hard considering i'm only 5' lol). But last night we went shopping and bought matching sun hats and were giggling and doing the 'women shopping thing' and when we got home she went in her room, closed the door , cranked her music and got on the phone. and then a bit later she came out and sat on the couch next to me and started braiding my hair. She comes and goes in "i'm an adult woman" and "i'm just your little girl". The funniest was when she tried to sit on my lap at dinner tho. The 4 year old sister thought that was hysterical

[UnschoolnMa]

Yep, we are there as well My Ds is to be 14 this summer and what a neat time it is. Sometimes such a man, and sometimes snuggled up with me on the sofa even though he is at least 3 inches taller than me now lol.

Like your Ds my son helps out in the yard with the weed whacker, and mowing etc. Then he can be just silly as can be with his younger siblings. He debates with me alot. Not in an arguing sense just to be arguing, but a real thoughtful discussion of issues that he thinks about... and it leaves me blown away like "Wow, when did he grow up so much?" I also hear things from him that I know he got from me, and it reminds me so much how we rub off on our kids. Teens are so cool.

[Mylie]

I am glad to see this...

My teen just turned 15 in November and does this also...I was wondering why in one second he would be as mature as a young man and the next swinging on the swings with his younger cousins or playing with them...He is an only child and has ADHD so sometimes I loose what is normal teen and inmaturity issues...So thanks for posting this...Mine is right up there with your guys.... :LOL

[Red]

My 14yodd (twins) and 17yo dd are always back and forth.

This year the 14yo's were in a club that was taking a kayaking trip, for three days. The kids would be with other kids and one leader over 25, in small groups, but the groups were going to be teen-led. I had said they could go, whenI thought it was going to be with a teacher in the group, staying together, one night. THings mushroomed and I was really uncomfortable with the whole trip for safety reasons.


Then they both backed out! I never had to deal with the situation at all. And I remembered in HS, going to my mtoher and asking her if I could do something, and her saying NO, and me getting really, really mad. Then I remember going to my room and feeling sooooo relieved I couldn't go!

Hang on cause those babies are gone for good in a few more years!

[SagMom]

I'm glad to see so many responses. My neighbor seems to think that ds is just immature and, while I wasn't worried about him, it's nice to hear others' stories. I think it's a sweet time and I"m glad to hear that it'll go on for a few more years. I don't remember that part of my teen life--I believed I was grown at about 10, lol and son't remember looking back.

thanks for sharing your stories.

[nomadmom]

Originally Posted by UnschoolnMa

Teens are so cool.

Yes, they are, and it's nice to have a place to come to where other adults can appreciate that. My ds will be 14 later this year. This time last year he was just a bit shorter than me (I'm 5'2"), but now he's 3 inches taller and people often mistake him for dh on the phone. We're moving in a couple weeks (just a little move this time!), and as I was packing up ds's things it struck me that there wasn't much to pack because he doesn't have toys any more. Well, there are a couple things he's kept for sentimental reasons -- it's funny to see the teddy bear he slept w/ for so many years lying next to the cell phone and pile of rock cd's!

[UnschoolnMa]

Originally Posted by nomadmom

as I was packing up ds's things it struck me that there wasn't much to pack because he doesn't have toys any more. Well, there are a couple things he's kept for sentimental reasons -- it's funny to see the teddy bear he slept w/ for so many years lying next to the cell phone and pile of rock cd's!

This happened to us too! We packed and he just doesn't have tons of "toys" these days. He has "things" or "stuff" instead. He has 3 stuffed animals that he's had for a long time (one was in the NICU with him when he was born, so he really keeps tabs on that one), but other than that he has swords, a pellet gun, PS2 and games, CDs, and a new rocket we want to try when it dries out a bit.

[UnschoolnMa]

Originally Posted by Joan

I don't remember that part of my teen life--I believed I was grown at about 10, lol and son't remember looking back.

Same here, and that's part of the reason it's been such an great, interesting thing to be the mom of a teen and soon to be teen. Like you I though I was a grown up at 12 at least lol, and then had Ds by 15 so my teens were a little interupted. What's interesting to me is that they have more knowledge than I did then...they are wiser is maybe the term I am looking for... but they are also just kids. It's a neat balance I wish I'd had.

[HappyTimeKids]

YES!! My son (13) went camping this past weekend Friday night to Sunday morning - off he went with his HUGE backpack and gear! He went with his Boy Scout troop and the boys range in age up to 18!! He definitely got a work out and was excited about the rifle range, etc. Came home all rosy and dirty! When he got home, he showered and ate I called him to sit with me on the couch and he definitely snuggled. I found him later watching the Spongebob movie with my 9 year old - all cozy under a blankie!! Very cute

[doctorjen]

My ds will be 17 in August. At 14, he was a lot like the OP's ds. One minute very mature, and the next, just my little boy. One minute, traveling out of country with his youth group on a service trip, and the next not able to pick out his own outfit for school without me. At 16, he's still very good-natured and loving, not afraid to tell me he loves me, right in front of his friends, even. He is very affectionate with his baby sister, too, and I also feel he'll be a good dad someday. This fall, he loved wearing her in a sling at his cross country meets - and she loves him to death. While his sweet nature hasn't really changed, those moments of boyishnesss are getting farther and fewer between. Most of the time now, he is this mature person who I can't believe was sitting on my lap just a little bit ago. He and I had a shopping day together a few weeks ago, and he drove, carried my bags, opened doors for us, chased dd while I tried things on, and generally was as much fun as any of my adult friends to be around. Of course, we had to rock out to his music in the car, though! So hard to believe that my little boy is so grown up - sometimes I just stare at him and think "How did you get here?"