Comments on: the year of (boy) changes http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/the-year-of-boy-changes/ Becoming a monster one stepson at a time Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:53:47 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: momochacha88 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/the-year-of-boy-changes/#comment-190 momochacha88 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:17:43 +0000 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-190 My brother (whom I helped raise) definitely went through periods of radical change when we thought he was going crazy (in fact, we sometiems still do--he's 15); but your stepson's behavior sounds worrisome. Perhaps just to be safe it'd be wise to take him to a pediatrician to get checked up, and see what the doc recommends. If anything, it could be a sleeping disorder that's easily treated. But it could also be another physical condition (thyroid maybe?) or depression. Or maybe he's staying up all night without your knowing? Hope you get to the bottom of it! My brother (whom I helped raise) definitely went through periods of radical change when we thought he was going crazy (in fact, we sometiems still do–he’s 15); but your stepson’s behavior sounds worrisome. Perhaps just to be safe it’d be wise to take him to a pediatrician to get checked up, and see what the doc recommends. If anything, it could be a sleeping disorder that’s easily treated. But it could also be another physical condition (thyroid maybe?) or depression.

Or maybe he’s staying up all night without your knowing?

Hope you get to the bottom of it!

]]> By: A New Beginning http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/the-year-of-boy-changes/#comment-164 A New Beginning Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:15:50 +0000 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-164 Oh I forgot this part... When your brain grows you require more sleep on average to allow the body to work while you are resting. Oh I forgot this part…

When your brain grows you require more sleep on average to allow the body to work while you are resting.

]]> By: A New Beginning http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/the-year-of-boy-changes/#comment-163 A New Beginning Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:14:56 +0000 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-163 I know that teenagers are supposed to be tired a lot due to the second wave of brain growth. (Your brain grows during certain stages unti lyou are about 24.) Maybe his is starting early? I know that teenagers are supposed to be tired a lot due to the second wave of brain growth. (Your brain grows during certain stages unti lyou are about 24.) Maybe his is starting early?

]]> By: retta519 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/the-year-of-boy-changes/#comment-162 retta519 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:40:59 +0000 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-162 I wouldn't be concerned about the little guy pulling on his boy parts (heck...they still do it when they're big boys!)...what frightened me while reading your post, was the fact that he hesitated several seconds after acknowledging your request to go wash his hands for dinner, and couldn't remember what you had said. Was he concentrating on something else at the time? Playing a video game...watching a favorite cartoon? For a little kid to come back to the table with dirty hands after asking them to wash them isn't unusual either...but the fact that your little guy couldn't remember you asking him twenty minutes earlier, even though he had asked you at the time what you had said, and you repeated it. Again, when you originally asked him to wash his hands...did he have anything else on his mind? Was he looking at you when you asked? His sleeping habits may or may not be a sign of some sort of depression...teenagers sleep until 1 in the afternoon if they're up half the night....I suppose a 7 year old could too...but he falls asleep in the car when you pick him up...hmmm...does he play hard? Might he be exhausted from being physically active? You say his frustration is immediate with a comment from either you or your husband. This may not be unusual either...his hormones could be the reason...but I think if it were my son, I'd ask a professional for their opinion. You say your husband isn't comfortable bringing him to a therapist...but how about making an appointment with the pediatrician? You could approach your husband based on the fact that if there is a problem with your son's behavior, as a parent, you are obligated to address it....whether it is a medical problem, or an emotional one. If the little guy needs help sorting out everything that's going on in his life...he should be afforded it. Good luck. I wouldn’t be concerned about the little guy pulling on his boy parts (heck…they still do it when they’re big boys!)…what frightened me while reading your post, was the fact that he hesitated several seconds after acknowledging your request to go wash his hands for dinner, and couldn’t remember what you had said. Was he concentrating on something else at the time? Playing a video game…watching a favorite cartoon? For a little kid to come back to the table with dirty hands after asking them to wash them isn’t unusual either…but the fact that your little guy couldn’t remember you asking him twenty minutes earlier, even though he had asked you at the time what you had said, and you repeated it. Again, when you originally asked him to wash his hands…did he have anything else on his mind? Was he looking at you when you asked?

His sleeping habits may or may not be a sign of some sort of depression…teenagers sleep until 1 in the afternoon if they’re up half the night….I suppose a 7 year old could too…but he falls asleep in the car when you pick him up…hmmm…does he play hard? Might he be exhausted from being physically active?

You say his frustration is immediate with a comment from either you or your husband. This may not be unusual either…his hormones could be the reason…but I think if it were my son, I’d ask a professional for their opinion. You say your husband isn’t comfortable bringing him to a therapist…but how about making an appointment with the pediatrician?

You could approach your husband based on the fact that if there is a problem with your son’s behavior, as a parent, you are obligated to address it….whether it is a medical problem, or an emotional one. If the little guy needs help sorting out everything that’s going on in his life…he should be afforded it. Good luck.

]]> By: Heidi http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/the-year-of-boy-changes/#comment-161 Heidi Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:17:01 +0000 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-161 Depression, maybe a little. He is definitely been going through stuff with all the issues. Good question. We have talked about bringing him in to the same therapist we saw individually and together, but my husband is uncomfortable with that. Depression, maybe a little. He is definitely been going through stuff with all the issues. Good question. We have talked about bringing him in to the same therapist we saw individually and together, but my husband is uncomfortable with that.

]]> By: Heidi http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/the-year-of-boy-changes/#comment-160 Heidi Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:15:33 +0000 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-160 We limited the number of baths for the same reason around the same age, but he still begs to take a bath. He plays in the shower now too. With and without toys. But for the last couple of years he would touch himself occasionally, like he just realized it was there. Then just about a year ago he started standing on the sink in the bathroom and looking at himself, this ended when he fell once. Now I swear his hand is just constantly down there investigating. And for me (conservative woman) I want to shield my eyes or look away. It is SO hard to hold a conversation with him. But I am trying not to let him see my discomfort. I have to remember that normal people (ie: not me) are not uncomfortable with the body - naked or clothed. lol We limited the number of baths for the same reason around the same age, but he still begs to take a bath. He plays in the shower now too. With and without toys. But for the last couple of years he would touch himself occasionally, like he just realized it was there. Then just about a year ago he started standing on the sink in the bathroom and looking at himself, this ended when he fell once. Now I swear his hand is just constantly down there investigating. And for me (conservative woman) I want to shield my eyes or look away. It is SO hard to hold a conversation with him. But I am trying not to let him see my discomfort. I have to remember that normal people (ie: not me) are not uncomfortable with the body – naked or clothed. lol

]]> By: D http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/the-year-of-boy-changes/#comment-159 D Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:21:23 +0000 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-159 Any chance he's suffering some form of depression? Any chance he’s suffering some form of depression?

]]> By: A New Beginning http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/the-year-of-boy-changes/#comment-158 A New Beginning Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:42:00 +0000 http://stepmomster.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-158 Oh DEAR!!! Monkey will be seven in May. Monkey has been absently pulling at his man parts when he's naked (changing clothes, baths, etc) for a year or two. But now Monkey has begun to take showers about three weeks ago (At my insistance, he's too old for us to be bathing him. He can do it himself.) We have a clear inner shower curtain and we "supervise" him. He does this monkey like dance (yes I call him that for a reason) and then 'flips' his man parts with his hands and sings "shake your privates, yeah, yeah, shake your privates, yeah, yeah" as he continues to dance. He did learn that his dancing cannot include moving his feet the first time he showered. He slipped and I caught him through the shower curtain. Now he justs bends and bounces at the knees. I can't help but laugh because it's so funny! But it eggs him on... Is what you are going through what I have to be prepared for?? ;-) I hope this fizzles out soon. For your sake and mine! Oh DEAR!!! Monkey will be seven in May.

Monkey has been absently pulling at his man parts when he’s naked (changing clothes, baths, etc) for a year or two.

But now Monkey has begun to take showers about three weeks ago (At my insistance, he’s too old for us to be bathing him. He can do it himself.) We have a clear inner shower curtain and we “supervise” him. He does this monkey like dance (yes I call him that for a reason) and then ‘flips’ his man parts with his hands and sings “shake your privates, yeah, yeah, shake your privates, yeah, yeah” as he continues to dance. He did learn that his dancing cannot include moving his feet the first time he showered. He slipped and I caught him through the shower curtain. Now he justs bends and bounces at the knees. I can’t help but laugh because it’s so funny! But it eggs him on…

Is what you are going through what I have to be prepared for??
;-)
I hope this fizzles out soon. For your sake and mine!

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