What to Expect When Your Son Is Hitting Puberty:

Puberty. A word every mom dreads to hear or think about. Before we know it, our children are coming to the age where puberty starts. There are so many questions going through every parent’s mind at this stage, including what will school tell my child about puberty, how do I talk about it, and what exactly might happen? Below are the answers to some commonly asked questions during puberty.

Everyone Develops at Their Own Speed

All boys will start puberty at a different age, but it is normally between 9 and 14 years old. This doesn’t mean they will not start earlier or later. If your son hasn’t started puberty by the age of 15, he may need extra testosterone as he may not be producing enough. Livelongstayyoung.com has plenty of information about testosterone gel and what it does.

There Are a Lot of Physical Changes

Puberty effects a boy both physically and mentally. There are many physical changes that occur during the pubescent period, not all at any given time, and some may take longer than others. One of the most well-known signs of puberty is a boy’s voice getting deeper. Others include an increase in sweat (time to talk about deodorant), pimples, muscle growth and growing, (this includes the testicles and penis).

Wet Dreams

This is one of the most common problems parents and children get worried or embarrassed about. It is completely normal and your son should know this as soon as possible. This can be more embarrassing if your son doesn’t know it might happen or that it is normal, as he may wake up thinking he’s the only one this has ever happened to. This can also be a good time to talk about the fact a girl may wake up with blood on the bed, therefore, he knows changes happen to girls when they are growing up and boys need to know about periods too!

Emotional Swings

Girls have a bad reputation for getting mood swings during puberty due to their hormones fluctuating, but boys can have these too. One moment he could be happy, the next he could be kicking off over nothing. This is just as frustrating and confusing for him as it is for you as a parent, therefore, try and be patient and understanding, after all, we’ve all been there! If he knows his boundaries and knows it is never ok to be physically or verbally abusive to someone, he is entitled to a few moody spells. You know your son and you will be able to tell when he is acting up or if his hormones are partly to blame.

Remember, there is no right and wrong in how you handle puberty. Talk to your son, you know him better than anyone and you know exactly how to approach him in a way that works for you both. This may be more of a father-son talk if your son feels more comfortable, but this doesn’t mean moms can’t talk about puberty too!