http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095 You know how much kids change from day to day. One day your little toddler will want to do everything himself (or herself, I have a son… so forgive me if I say he here). Or want to play “alone” rather than with you?   Well, I’m learning that with a teen it is that feeling times a million. I seriously never know who I will wake up to each and every morning. The son who adores me, gives me hugs and kisses, wants to snuggle and watch I Love Lucy? The kid who has a million friends and a million things to do? The kid who thinks life is so hard and tragic and just wants to lurk in his dark room with a sweater on? The kid who won’t want to help with anything and will complain about everything, or the one who will be so helpful without a word that you’ll spend all day singing his praises? It is a serious toss up.   Ever since breaking up with his latest girlfriend, my son has been great! Sweet, kind, helpful, affectionate, thoughtful. It’s like he only has a set amount of these qualities and if he’s dating someone, then they get them. If he’s free, then they come my way.   In a way, it makes life interesting and also makes me appreciate the “good son” more than I would if I had him every day (sad, but true). Is it this way with teenage girls as well? You know how much kids change from day to day. One day your little toddler will want to do everything himself (or herself, I have a son… so forgive me if I say he here). Or want to play “alone” rather than with you?   Well, I’m learning that with a teen it is that feeling times a million. I seriously never know who I will wake up to each and every morning. The son who adores me, gives me hugs and kisses, wants to snuggle and watch I Love Lucy? The kid who has a million friends and a million things to do? The kid who thinks life is so hard and tragic and just wants to lurk in his dark room with a sweater on? The kid who won’t want to help with anything and will complain about everything, or the one who will be so helpful without a word that you’ll spend all day singing his praises? It is a serious toss up.   Ever since breaking up with his latest girlfriend, my son has been great! Sweet, kind, helpful, affectionate, thoughtful. It’s like he only has a set amount of these qualities and if he’s dating someone, then they get them. If he’s free, then they come my way.   In a way, it makes life interesting and also makes me appreciate the “good son” more than I would if I had him every day (sad, but true). Is it this way with teenage girls as well? en-us I have this flip-flop behavior to be true of both teenage boys and girls in my classroom. And I'm surprised that this is happening so early for you and your son. When I taught 8th grade, what you described was totally true of the girls, but not so much the boys. This year teaching my 10th graders, my boys were totally unpredictable: one day so cool and fun, next day throwing their backpack and yelling "F U b-word!" It took me totally by surprise and it was rather upsetting. Girls have mood swings, but they are typically more obvious about it; they come storming in and it's like "Uh-oh." Boys are land mines. While I don't have a teenager yet, I can sympathize with you. My only suggestion is that you enjoy the good days and power through the bad. I have found that the same strategies I use with my toddler work wonders with my teenagers: I don't react to bad behavior, I make sure the environment is safe when they throw a tantrum, and I reward good behavior. Good luck! http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81130 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81130 I have this flip-flop behavior to be true of both teenage boys and girls in my classroom. And I'm surprised that this is happening so early for you and your son. When I taught 8th grade, what you described was totally true of the girls, but not so much the boys. This year teaching my 10th graders, my boys were totally unpredictable: one day so cool and fun, next day throwing their backpack and yelling "F U b-word!" It took me totally by surprise and it was rather upsetting. Girls have mood swings, but they are typically more obvious about it; they come storming in and it's like "Uh-oh." Boys are land mines. While I don't have a teenager yet, I can sympathize with you. My only suggestion is that you enjoy the good days and power through the bad. I have found that the same strategies I use with my toddler work wonders with my teenagers: I don't react to bad behavior, I make sure the environment is safe when they throw a tantrum, and I reward good behavior. Good luck! Thanks for the advice! Very sage words indeed. That's pretty much how I've been dealing with it and it seems to work ok so far. It's a work-in-progress (like all parenting). My son has always been early for things (hormonally speaking). Maybe that means by 10th grade he'll be through the other side? (Hope... hope) http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81132 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81132 Thanks for the advice! Very sage words indeed. That's pretty much how I've been dealing with it and it seems to work ok so far. It's a work-in-progress (like all parenting). My son has always been early for things (hormonally speaking). Maybe that means by 10th grade he'll be through the other side? (Hope... hope) Do you ever read the comic Zits about life with a teenage boy? I read it and laugh then pray my son doesn't turn out that way. Your son is adorable BTW. Way cool hair. My 8 year old son would be extremely envious. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81145 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81145 Do you ever read the comic Zits about life with a teenage boy? I read it and laugh then pray my son doesn't turn out that way. Your son is adorable BTW. Way cool hair. My 8 year old son would be extremely envious. I do read Zits. Sometimes I crack up and shove the paper over to my son because it's sooo much like him! That's on a bad day. You're sweet! Thanks for the compliment. I cut his hair, so I take it as high praise. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81153 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81153 I do read Zits. Sometimes I crack up and shove the paper over to my son because it's sooo much like him! That's on a bad day. You're sweet! Thanks for the compliment. I cut his hair, so I take it as high praise. that makes me think of the move 50 first dates!  where she woke up everyday not knowing about the day before!  you should give him a "re-cap" every morning like: i am mom.  i love you.  i buy you things and feed you.  be nice to me. this is dad.  he makes the money that i use to feed you.  be nice to him this is your bed.  when you get out of it in the morning you straighten the sheets and covers. etc. etc. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81166 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81166 that makes me think of the move 50 first dates!  where she woke up everyday not knowing about the day before!  you should give him a "re-cap" every morning like: i am mom.  i love you.  i buy you things and feed you.  be nice to me. this is dad.  he makes the money that i use to feed you.  be nice to him this is your bed.  when you get out of it in the morning you straighten the sheets and covers. etc. etc. That's spooky! I love that movie and oddly enough, today learned that the walrus at Marine World was the same one in that movie. Oooooo, spooky! We're on the same wave length today. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81192 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9095/#c_81192 That's spooky! I love that movie and oddly enough, today learned that the walrus at Marine World was the same one in that movie. Oooooo, spooky! We're on the same wave length today.