(Yet another) Question about boy’s puberty

[Anonymous]

These replies are so eye opening!

It’s crazy how so many girls nowadays are finishing puberty at or around the same age the boys are just *starting* puberty! I guess that’s really for the best, though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This post is so timely. My 14 year old son had his physical yesterday. He is 5’2 and weighs 88 pounds. Doctor said he doesn’t show many signs of puberty and referred him to an endocrinologist for possibly giving him testosterone shots to jump start growth. Anyone ever done this? Also said he could start growing any day and nothing to worry about yet.

Definitely visit the endocrinologist. We were also referred to one for my son by our pediatrician, and it was very reassuring. The dr. will start with a physical exam, take medical history, your family's history, will probably order hand and wrist x-rays, and go from there. The likelihood of needing to jump start with testosterone is small. Fortunately we didn't have to do it, but I read a lot on it and was personally prepared to go that route if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always find these threads so interesting - how do you all know when your DS had pubic hair? That is not something that has ever come up in my house. I just fed him and made sure he slept as needed and got exercise and that he would grow as much as he needed to when he needed to. I know he had a spurt that caused him to grow fast enough that he developed stretch marks on his back, but I couldn't tell you inches at ages or anything like that. At 15.5 I think he's done with most or all of his growing. I guess I'll find out when he's 18.

I know because when DS asked me when he was going to start puberty, I said here are the signs of it (x, y, and x) and he said he had some (which included public hair). There was no inspection if that’s what you’re wondering.

My son would not volunteer that information, but I have noticed that the texture of his leg and arm hair has changed to become more coarse and ... well ... hairier. I would assume it's all part of the same growing hair milestone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 16yo ds is 5' 6" and done growing and I assure you he is doing great too.

Thank you for saying this. We're a tall-ish family so maybe it's easy for us to say, but the emphasis on height is exhausting. When I go to the gym, I assure you that no amount of my height makes me more attractive than some of the far shorter kings wandering around there.

If you're worried about a shorter kid being unable to play certain sports, just pick a different activity - there are plenty out there.

It is easy for you to say. All the short men are doing great and also it's an advantage, particularly for a man, to be taller. A documented advantage. So people think about these things. If it's exhausting don't open the thread.

[Anonymous]

Well this was an education! My DS will be 12 in a matter of days and has very few if any signs of puberty except I thought the fact he's my height now and when he wakes up in the morning I can see he's taller meant that he's having a puberty growth spurt.

Now I'm learning there is more to come!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 16yo ds is 5' 6" and done growing and I assure you he is doing great too.

Thank you for saying this. We're a tall-ish family so maybe it's easy for us to say, but the emphasis on height is exhausting. When I go to the gym, I assure you that no amount of my height makes me more attractive than some of the far shorter kings wandering around there.

If you're worried about a shorter kid being unable to play certain sports, just pick a different activity - there are plenty out there.

It is easy for you to say. All the short men are doing great and also it's an advantage, particularly for a man, to be taller. A documented advantage. So people think about these things. If it's exhausting don't open the thread.

Good call. As the parent of a young boy, I should avoid threads with titles like " (Yet another) Question about boy’s puberty " that sound relevant to my interests on the off chance that they're feeding into a superficial societal preference that hasn't been rational for centuries, if ever.

If it makes you feel better, being tall isn't always a positive. Sitting in the 99/100% for height, from preschool through high school I was always assumed to be a few years older than I was. Which meant that, during my formative years, I enjoyed far less latitude for childish behavior than my peers. I have countless stories of me being branded as the aggressor in a physical playground situation simply because I was the bigger participant. Extrapolate that to nearly every kind of interaction with adults - even though I was the youngest kid in my grade. And I see the same thing happen with my son who is 5'3" at 9yo. Is that worth the minimal extra lifetime earnings or the extra 0.00001% I can be a CEO? I don't think so, but it was my fate and I'm fine with it. Just as I hope your child is fine with theirs as long as they don't pick up on your perception of them as somehow less than others.

But please. Continue gnashing your teeth about how average and short men are doomed to a substandard life despite all evidence to the contrary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well this was an education! My DS will be 12 in a matter of days and has very few if any signs of puberty except I thought the fact he's my height now and when he wakes up in the morning I can see he's taller meant that he's having a puberty growth spurt.

Now I'm learning there is more to come!

You didn’t know this already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 16yo ds is 5' 6" and done growing and I assure you he is doing great too.

Thank you for saying this. We're a tall-ish family so maybe it's easy for us to say, but the emphasis on height is exhausting. When I go to the gym, I assure you that no amount of my height makes me more attractive than some of the far shorter kings wandering around there.

If you're worried about a shorter kid being unable to play certain sports, just pick a different activity - there are plenty out there.

It is easy for you to say. All the short men are doing great and also it's an advantage, particularly for a man, to be taller. A documented advantage. So people think about these things. If it's exhausting don't open the thread.

Good call. As the parent of a young boy, I should avoid threads with titles like " (Yet another) Question about boy’s puberty " that sound relevant to my interests on the off chance that they're feeding into a superficial societal preference that hasn't been rational for centuries, if ever.

If it makes you feel better, being tall isn't always a positive. Sitting in the 99/100% for height, from preschool through high school I was always assumed to be a few years older than I was. Which meant that, during my formative years, I enjoyed far less latitude for childish behavior than my peers. I have countless stories of me being branded as the aggressor in a physical playground situation simply because I was the bigger participant. Extrapolate that to nearly every kind of interaction with adults - even though I was the youngest kid in my grade. And I see the same thing happen with my son who is 5'3" at 9yo. Is that worth the minimal extra lifetime earnings or the extra 0.00001% I can be a CEO? I don't think so, but it was my fate and I'm fine with it. Just as I hope your child is fine with theirs as long as they don't pick up on your perception of them as somehow less than others.

But please. Continue gnashing your teeth about how average and short men are doomed to a substandard life despite all evidence to the contrary.

Wow. I have a tall son. Always tallest in his grade. Off the chart the day he was born and never once on it. My tall son seems to have made it out just fine. He was never once branded the aggressor. Never an issue for him and he's now an older teen. He's a gentle type and never got himself in those situations. Might be you and your DNA as being genuine, you are sounding irrationally angry and slightly hysterical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 16yo ds is 5' 6" and done growing and I assure you he is doing great too.

Thank you for saying this. We're a tall-ish family so maybe it's easy for us to say, but the emphasis on height is exhausting. When I go to the gym, I assure you that no amount of my height makes me more attractive than some of the far shorter kings wandering around there.

If you're worried about a shorter kid being unable to play certain sports, just pick a different activity - there are plenty out there.

It is easy for you to say. All the short men are doing great and also it's an advantage, particularly for a man, to be taller. A documented advantage. So people think about these things. If it's exhausting don't open the thread.

Good call. As the parent of a young boy, I should avoid threads with titles like " (Yet another) Question about boy’s puberty " that sound relevant to my interests on the off chance that they're feeding into a superficial societal preference that hasn't been rational for centuries, if ever.

If it makes you feel better, being tall isn't always a positive. Sitting in the 99/100% for height, from preschool through high school I was always assumed to be a few years older than I was. Which meant that, during my formative years, I enjoyed far less latitude for childish behavior than my peers. I have countless stories of me being branded as the aggressor in a physical playground situation simply because I was the bigger participant. Extrapolate that to nearly every kind of interaction with adults - even though I was the youngest kid in my grade. And I see the same thing happen with my son who is 5'3" at 9yo. Is that worth the minimal extra lifetime earnings or the extra 0.00001% I can be a CEO? I don't think so, but it was my fate and I'm fine with it. Just as I hope your child is fine with theirs as long as they don't pick up on your perception of them as somehow less than others.

But please. Continue gnashing your teeth about how average and short men are doomed to a substandard life despite all evidence to the contrary.

Wow. I have a tall son. Always tallest in his grade. Off the chart the day he was born and never once on it. My tall son seems to have made it out just fine. He was never once branded the aggressor. Never an issue for him and he's now an older teen. He's a gentle type and never got himself in those situations. Might be you and your DNA as being genuine, you are sounding irrationally angry and slightly hysterical.

Or maybe I have more direct experience or simply different experience.

Point being, being tall isn't some golden ticket to a perfect life like people seem to think. And it's generally out of your control anyhow, so if you're intent on providing your child with the best life possible, why not focus on what you can actually influence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 16yo ds is 5' 6" and done growing and I assure you he is doing great too.

Thank you for saying this. We're a tall-ish family so maybe it's easy for us to say, but the emphasis on height is exhausting. When I go to the gym, I assure you that no amount of my height makes me more attractive than some of the far shorter kings wandering around there.

If you're worried about a shorter kid being unable to play certain sports, just pick a different activity - there are plenty out there.

It is easy for you to say. All the short men are doing great and also it's an advantage, particularly for a man, to be taller. A documented advantage. So people think about these things. If it's exhausting don't open the thread.

Good call. As the parent of a young boy, I should avoid threads with titles like " (Yet another) Question about boy’s puberty " that sound relevant to my interests on the off chance that they're feeding into a superficial societal preference that hasn't been rational for centuries, if ever.

If it makes you feel better, being tall isn't always a positive. Sitting in the 99/100% for height, from preschool through high school I was always assumed to be a few years older than I was. Which meant that, during my formative years, I enjoyed far less latitude for childish behavior than my peers. I have countless stories of me being branded as the aggressor in a physical playground situation simply because I was the bigger participant. Extrapolate that to nearly every kind of interaction with adults - even though I was the youngest kid in my grade. And I see the same thing happen with my son who is 5'3" at 9yo. Is that worth the minimal extra lifetime earnings or the extra 0.00001% I can be a CEO? I don't think so, but it was my fate and I'm fine with it. Just as I hope your child is fine with theirs as long as they don't pick up on your perception of them as somehow less than others.

But please. Continue gnashing your teeth about how average and short men are doomed to a substandard life despite all evidence to the contrary.

Wow. I have a tall son. Always tallest in his grade. Off the chart the day he was born and never once on it. My tall son seems to have made it out just fine. He was never once branded the aggressor. Never an issue for him and he's now an older teen. He's a gentle type and never got himself in those situations. Might be you and your DNA as being genuine, you are sounding irrationally angry and slightly hysterical.

Or maybe I have more direct experience or simply different experience.

Point being, being tall isn't some golden ticket to a perfect life like people seem to think. And it's generally out of your control anyhow, so if you're intent on providing your child with the best life possible, why not focus on what you can actually influence?

Sounds like the short guys aren’t was chill with it as they’d like us to believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 16yo ds is 5' 6" and done growing and I assure you he is doing great too.

Thank you for saying this. We're a tall-ish family so maybe it's easy for us to say, but the emphasis on height is exhausting. When I go to the gym, I assure you that no amount of my height makes me more attractive than some of the far shorter kings wandering around there.

If you're worried about a shorter kid being unable to play certain sports, just pick a different activity - there are plenty out there.

It is easy for you to say. All the short men are doing great and also it's an advantage, particularly for a man, to be taller. A documented advantage. So people think about these things. If it's exhausting don't open the thread.

Good call. As the parent of a young boy, I should avoid threads with titles like " (Yet another) Question about boy’s puberty " that sound relevant to my interests on the off chance that they're feeding into a superficial societal preference that hasn't been rational for centuries, if ever.

If it makes you feel better, being tall isn't always a positive. Sitting in the 99/100% for height, from preschool through high school I was always assumed to be a few years older than I was. Which meant that, during my formative years, I enjoyed far less latitude for childish behavior than my peers. I have countless stories of me being branded as the aggressor in a physical playground situation simply because I was the bigger participant. Extrapolate that to nearly every kind of interaction with adults - even though I was the youngest kid in my grade. And I see the same thing happen with my son who is 5'3" at 9yo. Is that worth the minimal extra lifetime earnings or the extra 0.00001% I can be a CEO? I don't think so, but it was my fate and I'm fine with it. Just as I hope your child is fine with theirs as long as they don't pick up on your perception of them as somehow less than others.

But please. Continue gnashing your teeth about how average and short men are doomed to a substandard life despite all evidence to the contrary.

Wow. I have a tall son. Always tallest in his grade. Off the chart the day he was born and never once on it. My tall son seems to have made it out just fine. He was never once branded the aggressor. Never an issue for him and he's now an older teen. He's a gentle type and never got himself in those situations. Might be you and your DNA as being genuine, you are sounding irrationally angry and slightly hysterical.

When the killing of 5'11" 17 yr old Trayvon Martin happened at the hands of 5'7" George Zimmerman, I was super scared for my then 16yr. old 5'11" son thinking that no one would see him as a kid/teen but a "grown man" based purely on his height.

I've had my share of moments when I've had to tell people "he's only 15" or "yes, he's tall but he's only 16".

I have a late bloomer son as well and I can tell people engage with him differently, he's still "cute", "sweet", "adorable" etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 16yo ds is 5' 6" and done growing and I assure you he is doing great too.

Thank you for saying this. We're a tall-ish family so maybe it's easy for us to say, but the emphasis on height is exhausting. When I go to the gym, I assure you that no amount of my height makes me more attractive than some of the far shorter kings wandering around there.

If you're worried about a shorter kid being unable to play certain sports, just pick a different activity - there are plenty out there.

It is easy for you to say. All the short men are doing great and also it's an advantage, particularly for a man, to be taller. A documented advantage. So people think about these things. If it's exhausting don't open the thread.

Good call. As the parent of a young boy, I should avoid threads with titles like " (Yet another) Question about boy’s puberty " that sound relevant to my interests on the off chance that they're feeding into a superficial societal preference that hasn't been rational for centuries, if ever.

If it makes you feel better, being tall isn't always a positive. Sitting in the 99/100% for height, from preschool through high school I was always assumed to be a few years older than I was. Which meant that, during my formative years, I enjoyed far less latitude for childish behavior than my peers. I have countless stories of me being branded as the aggressor in a physical playground situation simply because I was the bigger participant. Extrapolate that to nearly every kind of interaction with adults - even though I was the youngest kid in my grade. And I see the same thing happen with my son who is 5'3" at 9yo. Is that worth the minimal extra lifetime earnings or the extra 0.00001% I can be a CEO? I don't think so, but it was my fate and I'm fine with it. Just as I hope your child is fine with theirs as long as they don't pick up on your perception of them as somehow less than others.

But please. Continue gnashing your teeth about how average and short men are doomed to a substandard life despite all evidence to the contrary.

Wow. I have a tall son. Always tallest in his grade. Off the chart the day he was born and never once on it. My tall son seems to have made it out just fine. He was never once branded the aggressor. Never an issue for him and he's now an older teen. He's a gentle type and never got himself in those situations. Might be you and your DNA as being genuine, you are sounding irrationally angry and slightly hysterical.

When the killing of 5'11" 17 yr old Trayvon Martin happened at the hands of 5'7" George Zimmerman, I was super scared for my then 16yr. old 5'11" son thinking that no one would see him as a kid/teen but a "grown man" based purely on his height.

I've had my share of moments when I've had to tell people "he's only 15" or "yes, he's tall but he's only 16".

I have a late bloomer son as well and I can tell people engage with him differently, he's still "cute", "sweet", "adorable" etc.

Mom of tall son again. Mine is 6-5. His whole life people thought he was older. I suppose anything in life can have a negative or an angle to worry about. The way I've always looked at it, 9 times out of 10 he's going to be left alone because of his height and not a target. No he's not treated like he's cute or sweet or adorable. Oh well. I hear what you are saying that people think they are older. I always told him in a mixed kid age setting, kids will assume he is older and he should state his age and if there is an ongonig issue, leave. At mixed age sports camps, I would tell him to clearly tell an adult his age and say he wanted to be on his correct age team or group. And if that was a problem let me know and I would step in. Was never a problem after he said something. Yes, he had to advocate for himself at times. Life skills.

But it is what it is. I just would never spin it in my brain as a bad thing for him.

I can't believe this thread has turned into boo hoo for tall guys. Didn't see that coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 16yo ds is 5' 6" and done growing and I assure you he is doing great too.

Thank you for saying this. We're a tall-ish family so maybe it's easy for us to say, but the emphasis on height is exhausting. When I go to the gym, I assure you that no amount of my height makes me more attractive than some of the far shorter kings wandering around there.

If you're worried about a shorter kid being unable to play certain sports, just pick a different activity - there are plenty out there.

It is easy for you to say. All the short men are doing great and also it's an advantage, particularly for a man, to be taller. A documented advantage. So people think about these things. If it's exhausting don't open the thread.

Good call. As the parent of a young boy, I should avoid threads with titles like " (Yet another) Question about boy’s puberty " that sound relevant to my interests on the off chance that they're feeding into a superficial societal preference that hasn't been rational for centuries, if ever.

If it makes you feel better, being tall isn't always a positive. Sitting in the 99/100% for height, from preschool through high school I was always assumed to be a few years older than I was. Which meant that, during my formative years, I enjoyed far less latitude for childish behavior than my peers. I have countless stories of me being branded as the aggressor in a physical playground situation simply because I was the bigger participant. Extrapolate that to nearly every kind of interaction with adults - even though I was the youngest kid in my grade. And I see the same thing happen with my son who is 5'3" at 9yo. Is that worth the minimal extra lifetime earnings or the extra 0.00001% I can be a CEO? I don't think so, but it was my fate and I'm fine with it. Just as I hope your child is fine with theirs as long as they don't pick up on your perception of them as somehow less than others.

But please. Continue gnashing your teeth about how average and short men are doomed to a substandard life despite all evidence to the contrary.

Wow. I have a tall son. Always tallest in his grade. Off the chart the day he was born and never once on it. My tall son seems to have made it out just fine. He was never once branded the aggressor. Never an issue for him and he's now an older teen. He's a gentle type and never got himself in those situations. Might be you and your DNA as being genuine, you are sounding irrationally angry and slightly hysterical.

When the killing of 5'11" 17 yr old Trayvon Martin happened at the hands of 5'7" George Zimmerman, I was super scared for my then 16yr. old 5'11" son thinking that no one would see him as a kid/teen but a "grown man" based purely on his height.

I've had my share of moments when I've had to tell people "he's only 15" or "yes, he's tall but he's only 16".

I have a late bloomer son as well and I can tell people engage with him differently, he's still "cute", "sweet", "adorable" etc.

Mom of tall son again. Mine is 6-5. His whole life people thought he was older. I suppose anything in life can have a negative or an angle to worry about. The way I've always looked at it, 9 times out of 10 he's going to be left alone because of his height and not a target. No he's not treated like he's cute or sweet or adorable. Oh well. I hear what you are saying that people think they are older. I always told him in a mixed kid age setting, kids will assume he is older and he should state his age and if there is an ongonig issue, leave. At mixed age sports camps, I would tell him to clearly tell an adult his age and say he wanted to be on his correct age team or group. And if that was a problem let me know and I would step in. Was never a problem after he said something. Yes, he had to advocate for himself at times. Life skills.

But it is what it is. I just would never spin it in my brain as a bad thing for him.

I can't believe this thread has turned into boo hoo for tall guys. Didn't see that coming.

You're the only one perceiving it as such. We're simply providing a balanced perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Still reading your replies- thank you!

For those who had kids who shot up in a matter of months, were there any signs that explosive growth was about to happen? Did your kids get growing pains or stretch marks?

My husband is 6’1” but said he doesn’t remember going through any major growth spurts- more slow and steady. I assume DS will also be slow and steady.

My engineer DH loved to track our kids' growth, so I have his chart and for my DS, his growth was:

13 years: 4'11"
13.5 years: 5' 1"
14 years: 5'3"
14.5 years: 5'5"
15 years: 5'6"
15.5 years: 5'8"
16 years: 5'9"
16.5 years: 5'10"
18 years: 5'10 1/2"
19 years: 5'11"

He didn't start his growth spurt until 13 and then when he did, it was 4" in a year. He didn't seem to have growing pains and no stretch marks, he just ate like a horse.

Then for two years after that it was 3" a year. And then over the span of 3 years he grew an additional 2" and he seems to be done now at 19. So his growing was about 6 years in total and a foot gained in height. I believe 11"-12" is the average for puberty growth in boys.

My mom still has the pencil-marked growth chart for my brother and me in her house. Last time I was visiting, we had fun comparing the kids' heights to where we were as kids. My son is tracking almost exactly where I was. We all laughed when we discovered my SIL's adult height is what my brother was at age 12. I love growth data!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this was an education! My DS will be 12 in a matter of days and has very few if any signs of puberty except I thought the fact he's my height now and when he wakes up in the morning I can see he's taller meant that he's having a puberty growth spurt.

Now I'm learning there is more to come!

You didn’t know this already?

No, I did not know that of the puberty changes the growth spurt was last to occur.
Sorry!