What is your 14 year old son like?

[Anonymous]

My mother is concerned that my son isn’t normal. I have no concerns however. I think she just doesn’t remember what my brother was like as a teenager. My DS is in 9th grade and does one after school activity that he enjoys. He is in a few honors classes so lots of homework which he pretty much does without too much reminding, etc. He spends most of his time in his room doing homework, texting friends and watching You Tube videos and playing video games. He has friends but doesn’t do a lot with them outside of school (an occasional movie, etc). He is grumpy at times and moody. He occasionally will talk to me mostly in the car. He eats and sleeps a lot. My mom was here this weekend and was shocked that he seemed so “antisocial.” She said it isn’t normal to spend so much time in his room and not want to hang out and talk. He is exactly how I remember my brother being. So what is your son like at this age? He is definitely more moody when his ADHD meds wear off around dinner time but there isn’t much I can do about that. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Sounds normal to me.

[Anonymous]

Yep, if I didn't force my DS to get off the computer, he'd spend all day on it. He does like socializing with friends, though, but his circle of friends is quite small.

[Anonymous]

My son is 14 and is an extreme extrovert. At home he is great. Even a delight most but not all of the time. This weekend around family for Thanksgiving, he was moody and sullen and withdrawn. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

100% normal. Your mom has selective memory!

[Anonymous]

Mine is similar to yours except he needs more reminders about homework. Normal normal normal.

[Anonymous]

Sounds very typical to me!

[Anonymous]

100% normal. Your mom doesn’t understand that kids don’t “hang out” like they used to. They socialize on the computer or Xbox. My oldest is 30. Youngest is 18. I’ve watched this evolve over the years. Kids don’t have to leave their rooms to socialize anymore.

[Anonymous]

Your 14 yr old is just like my 14 yr old.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone. He seems pretty normal to me especially after talking to other moms of his friends. We all joke about how monosyllabic they are and only seem really lively when food and video games are involved. I wish he could still do his sport but he had to quit two years ago. The practices were after school and by the time he got home, his meds had worn off which made 90 minutes of homework turn into 3 hours of homework. School is more important now.

[Anonymous]

My 14 year-old son is

Sweet: hugs me goodnight on his way to bed each night, even if I’m already asleep
Maddening: wears air pods constantly and has to be told most things three times before he does them
Self-sufficient: makes his own eggs for breakfast and does his own laundry
Rude: says snarky things to me that are sometimes hurtful and hard to let go
Puts school first: deals with school all on his own and takes responsibility for grades, the good and the bad
Digital addict: constantly on his phone, listening to music or playing Fortnite with friends (and yes, this is how they socialize now)
Social: hangs with the family at mealtimes and tells good stories about his day

I could go on...basically, all 14 year-olds have some good traits and some bad, just like all people. They are developing human beings and well on their way to who they’re going to be. Your mom may not understand how times have changed.

[Anonymous]

My 14-year old is very social.

He has his best friend over or he goes there a few times per week. He also will meet kids from school at the HS field to play sports during weekend day. He just had dinner at a different friends house last night. The boys (about 5 that are very close) will sometimes have sleepovers when they all have a day off from sports.

He plays a competitive sport that has 3 practices per week and at least one game on weekends.

He walks the dog, plays sports out back with his 11-year old brother. He mows lawns (4 customers).

He has all As, reads. He likes to draw. We limit electronics - but will play Xbox some.

Both my boys prefer to be with friends any chance they get.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my 14 year old son op. He’s moody too. The grumpiness is almost too much at times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your 14 yr old is just like my 14 yr old.

Mine as well. He just turned 15 and I’m assuming this phase lasts awhile.

[Anonymous]

I had to think on this to remember if I had posted it a couple of days ago. My same aged DS is exactly the same (as is my mother with her comments!).