A mother writes about her (suddenly too tall) eight-year-old son and how he is eating her out of house and home.
My son is eight going on sixteen.
Little-kid games no longer interest him: he'd much rather spend his time at the television set or on the computer or would rather hang out with kids who are older than ten.
Only eight years old, but already his head reaches my chin. He is going to be tall like his daddy...and just about as big. He is husky in build, and he eats like a horse. I am always having to go to the grocery store to keep up with his burgeoning appetite.
My son no longer listens to country music: instead of the soft, sweet traditional country strains of Loretta Lynn, he has discovered rap music. The nastier the lyrics, the more bizarre the rappers look, the better he likes it, much to his daddy's and my chagrin.
He is getting a mouth on him. Every little thing we tell him, he thinks he has to analyze what we say to him; he has given to a bad habit of backtalking. We can't hardly get a word in edgewise because he has to share his opinion. Whether right or wrong, it's what HE says that's important, not what WE say. It's starting to drive us both crazy!
Our boy no longer wears little boy clothes: the baggier or the more "grown up" clothes appear, the more he wants them. Now his thing is those overpriced tennis shoes that the pro athletes wear. Those things are way out of our price range: a good pair of name brand athletic shoes like the pro athletes wear is clearly over 200 dollars a pop; we can't afford those! No matter how hard we try to tell him we can't afford the shoes, he'll still bug us for them until we're both ready to scream!
When he goes to school, we try to make sure he looks decent, but when he comes home it's like another child has taken our son's place: this child is clearly a candidate for the Ragamuffin Hall of Fame. He looks like he belongs on the streets or in an orphanage! It's embarrassing!
I don't know what happened to the sweet little boy Trevor used to be: this boy is clearly not our son. It's like another person has overtaken his young body and taken him hostage. It's scary!!
Our son is often tagged for being older, and his "friends," the teenagers, are starting to hang around our house, asking if Trevor can join in their games. (I always tell them no; I know what kind of mischief they are up to! I don't trust most teenagers; teenagers are always getting into trouble somehow!)
I wish I could keep Trevor as he used to be: he was an adorable child with bright flame-red hair, huge blue-grey eyes, and a smile that could light up the world. He had a sweet easygoing personality; he loved doing things like going to the zoo or amusement park with us, going to church every Sunday, and playing b-ball with his buddies; now he sits at home, parked on the couch, playing on his video game console or watching MTV on television,, chatting with friends on the Internet, a big scowl on his young face. He has his rap junk going full tilt, and it's a wonder the neighbors don't call the police because of the noise filtering through the neighborhood.
I am getting more concerned about him as the days go by, and I wouldn't be surprised if one day a policeman shows up at the door, asking us to turn the music down as we are disturbing the peace.
All the more reason for me to worry about my once-sweet little Trevor who has morphed into a teenager--at the ripe age of eight years!
Children have a way of wanting to mimick others, (monkey see monkey do) but remember the parent is still in control, especially at the awkward age of ten, not really a little boy, but not a teen either...at this age they are entering what I call preteens, boy these can be rough! With both of my children I allowed them to make a few subtle changes in their music choices and television viewing. They often got upset with me when I didn't let them go to the full extreme of the newest fads in clothing...I wan't a fuddy duddy who didn't allow them any fun, I just kept a tighter rein on them than many I viewed for fear that they would get out of control, and when this happens a parent's nightmare begins. Now both of my children are married and have families of their own, both were typical teens who had an occasional attitude, both stayed out past their time to be home on an occasion or two, both kept secrets, both graduated high school, both are parents, both are working adults with their own homes and wonderful spouses, both have thanked their mom and dad for being strict, but not too strict after seeing many of their friends suffering from drug addiction, alcoholism, jail, prison, and after visiting them for one final time in the funeral homes! I for one say to parents across this nation, pray hard, pray much, remember you are in control until you let go! Great write my friend, one that sparks a bit of passion within me after seeing so many children through the years who mistreat their parents, abuse respect and privaliges and then turn out to regret their actions or six feet under! Enjoyed!
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
Reviewed by LadyJtalks LadyJzTalkZone
5/5/2007
Better coral that Eight year old before he gets any older. Story or not I'd hate to think that mothers aren't able to control their eight year old. Lady J
I can sure identify with this. Our ten year old granson who lives with us, is going through the same thing.. Wish it was the good ole days when kids could be kids!....M
Karen
This scares me my nephew is six, and I fear this may happen to him! I surely hope not, already my sweet little Mikey is getting a mouth, but I hope it never gets this far
God Bless
Michelle~
you have to be strong Karen
Smack them in the mouth whenever a four letter word escapes his lips, wash his mouth with soap, disregard all this modren crap about "TIME OUT", or you got five more minutes, he does wrong, abuse is not needed.
when they do wrong, Take away privileges, his Tv, CD player, Computer, IPod, his stupid looking clothing which they think makes them Kool, make them do their home work, don't allow them to play outdoors, show them whose the "BOSS" you the mother he's the kid, Thats the way I was raised and I raised my two sons and one daughter, and thats the way they are rasing their own kids, my 8 grand kids have respect for their elders, and are constantly in the honor rolls in the school, there is no one else to blame. Whose The BOSS?
My porayers are with you Karen
Peace & Love
William
Eight years old, and already surly. Kids are growing up waaaay too fast: I know, I know, all kids are rebellious. But isn't eight a little young for teenaged angst? Maybe it is the music; mabye it is the internet; maybe it is his friends: in any event, the parents need to continue to reach out to him with arms opened wide, yet monitor his activities....now look what you made me do, start giving parental advice! LOL Well done. Look forward to reading more about Trevor and his growing up too soon into young manhood.
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