craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by craftymom101 on Apr 22, 2019 4:01:15 GMT
My son turned 13 last month. During the past year he has grown close to 7 inches, his voice dropped, his feet grew four and a half shoe sizes, and he's put on 30 pounds. Puberty definitely hit hard!
He is that age when he thinks personal hygiene is optional. Clearly, it's not! I do a lot of monitoring, helping chose the right skin care products, reminding to shower and put on deodorant, etc.
Tonight, I helped him take care of a zit on his nose (ewwwww!), plucked his unibrow, monitored a new skin care routine, and trimmed his fingernails. Of course he can do all of those things on his own, but he doesn't complain about the help and I think that he likes having some one on one time with me.
I had no idea the amount of work having a teenage boy would be! I truly love this age and he is a really good kid (for the most part), but he is exhausting! I told him that tomorrow I'm taking care of his toenail claws and he laughed and rolled his eyes. Boys!
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 22, 2019 4:06:57 GMT
I've never done that for either of my boys except to tell them they smell and go take a shower.
I do think spending time together is too
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Deleted
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Apr 27, 2024 0:19:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2019 4:08:47 GMT
Yikes! 13 was about the age when my DS began pulling away from me and keeping his changing body to himself. I didn't have to remind him to bathe, but I did have to remind him and help him keep his room clean! Good luck!
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,608
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Post by craftymom101 on Apr 22, 2019 4:09:57 GMT
I've never done that for either of my boys except to tell them they smell and go take a shower. I do think spending time together is too I didn't expect to be helping him like this, either! He is taller than me (and I'm 5'7") and definitely sounds older than 13, since his voice dropped. My mom wasn't great about showing me proper hygiene routines when I was a teenager and I don't want him to be in the dark. I feel like I'm guiding him towards adulthood smelling and looking his best! |
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,663
Location: Ohio
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Post by StephDRebel on Apr 22, 2019 4:16:46 GMT
I thought I was an overachiever when one of them yelled "dont forget to wash your testes" when their brothers were told to take a shower.
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,608
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Post by craftymom101 on Apr 22, 2019 4:18:47 GMT
I thought I was an overachiever when one of them yelled "dont forget to wash your testes" when their brothers were told to take a shower. That is hysterical! |
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oaksong
Drama Llama
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Location: LA Suburbia
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Jun 27, 2014 6:24:29 GMT
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Post by oaksong on Apr 22, 2019 4:47:32 GMT
I admire your courage! Good for you, for taking on the challenge. I’m sure it means a lot to him, and it’s nice he’s letting you pamper him, for now anyway.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Apr 22, 2019 5:24:43 GMT
I feel so inadequate 😂🤣😇 he really did turn out just fine!!!
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Post by malibou on Apr 22, 2019 5:31:59 GMT
I'm still doing a lot of this kind of stuff and my ds is 18.
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Post by AussieMeg on Apr 22, 2019 7:24:21 GMT
If I had a dollar for every time I've asked 14yo DS why he didn't wash his hair when he had a shower and he answers "Because you didn't tell me to." 🙄
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Post by phoenixcov on Apr 22, 2019 9:22:35 GMT
My DS was a premmie and had really bad Eczema from 6 weeks old. He grew up needing help with skin care and to this day loves to be pampered occasionally. Don`t we all?
Enjoy your extra time together, I did.
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Post by Bridget in MD on Apr 22, 2019 11:16:23 GMT
my son bites his nails terribly, so I've been trying to catch him after he showers so I can trim his cuticles and put on clear nail polish (to help deter biting). He doesn't seem to mind either. showering (bathing when they were babies) was always part of our bedtime routine, so sometimes he fusses (because he doesn't want to stop what he's doing to go do it) and hes supposed to use a special acne creme and gel on his face that he's not been great about doing... i feel like i am constantly reminding him about that, but overall, i'm trying to help him to feel (and smell) like his best self! mine is 13 too, will be 14 in Aug!
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Apr 22, 2019 11:27:53 GMT
I’ve gotten my boys hair products and I bought my oldest some skincare products when he had acne. I explained how to use them but don’t oversee anything other than that. My 13 year old spends more time in the bathroom than I do.  . Oldest (16) is more of a minimalist but his hygiene is fine. My 10 year old needs to be told to take a shower but does it on his own. Sometimes he will ask questions about products. Sometimes he cuts his own nails, sometimes I do. The 7 year old refuses to take a shower so he still takes baths and I help wash his hair. |
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Deleted
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Apr 27, 2024 0:19:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2019 12:55:27 GMT
Man I am glad my 13 yr old ds loves baths! He has ASD and SPD so they are sensory heaven to him lol Dh still does have to help him wash as his motor skills aren't super great but he is leaning.
He grew 2 inches (.5 in a week! 😱) but no shoe size change and no deep voice.
But...dude has a stash. We ask if he wants to keep it or shave it. He said keep. So my 13 yr old snuggle bug has a stash lol
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scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Apr 22, 2019 13:34:32 GMT
I have 2 sons with autism and do have to help with some thing. For some reason, cutting nails is a challenge for both of them. I've tried different clippers to see if that helps them, but I haven't found the right one. So I still cut their nails and they are 19 and 16. They both shave on their own, are great about personal hygiene. They brush and floss, put on deodorant, take showers and wash their hair without me prompting them. We did have a mishap with my 16 year old last month. Normally dh trims his eyebrows when he cuts our 16 year old's hair. Well he must have forgot to do it because ds tried to do that himself while shaving. He ended up shaving part of his eyebrows off. He was so proud of himself for being independent. I spent the next few months penciling in his eyebrows. I just told him that even I have someone do my eyebrows.
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Post by 950nancy on Apr 22, 2019 13:40:18 GMT
I remember those years as the Axe Body Spray years. Yuck. I have two boys two years apart. Between themselves and my husband throwing in a comment now and then, I didn't have to do too much with hygiene. When their toenails turned into talons, I'd mention it and it seemed to fix itself over the next few days. They also became much more interested in the opposite sex in jr. high. That helped. They also played sports 6/7 days a week and showers just happened after practice or game.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,440
Location: So Cal
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Post by caangel on Apr 22, 2019 13:53:10 GMT
Thanks for the warning! 😁
My ds turns 12 this summer, I'm scared of the teen yrs. His sister is only 2 yrs behind him and has been full of sass since she was 2!
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Deleted
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Apr 27, 2024 0:19:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2019 14:31:32 GMT
I have 2 sons with autism and do have to help with some thing. For some reason, cutting nails is a challenge for both of them. I've tried different clippers to see if that helps them, but I haven't found the right one. So I still cut their nails and they are 19 and 16. They both shave on their own, are great about personal hygiene. They brush and floss, put on deodorant, take showers and wash their hair without me prompting them. We did have a mishap with my 16 year old last month. Normally dh trims his eyebrows when he cuts our 16 year old's hair. Well he must have forgot to do it because ds tried to do that himself while shaving. He ended up shaving part of his eyebrows off. He was so proud of himself for being independent. I spent the next few months penciling in his eyebrows. I just told him that even I have someone do my eyebrows. Have you tried doing it after they shower? I can only do ds' after his bath as they are soft. He also likes to do it sitting down with his feet on his yoga ball while he has a blanket on his lap and his fidget (water bottle cap) in his hand. Oh and tv on. |
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scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,856
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Apr 22, 2019 15:01:24 GMT
I have 2 sons with autism and do have to help with some thing. For some reason, cutting nails is a challenge for both of them. I've tried different clippers to see if that helps them, but I haven't found the right one. So I still cut their nails and they are 19 and 16. They both shave on their own, are great about personal hygiene. They brush and floss, put on deodorant, take showers and wash their hair without me prompting them. We did have a mishap with my 16 year old last month. Normally dh trims his eyebrows when he cuts our 16 year old's hair. Well he must have forgot to do it because ds tried to do that himself while shaving. He ended up shaving part of his eyebrows off. He was so proud of himself for being independent. I spent the next few months penciling in his eyebrows. I just told him that even I have someone do my eyebrows. Have you tried doing it after they shower? I can only do ds' after his bath as they are soft. He also likes to do it sitting down with his feet on his yoga ball while he has a blanket on his lap and his fidget (water bottle cap) in his hand. Oh and tv on. Yes we do cut their nails after they shower. That's a great idea about the yoga ball though! I'll have them give that a try. |
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Post by danalz on Apr 22, 2019 16:06:12 GMT
My DS is 13. He is now 6'3" and wears a size 14 shoe. 🤪🤪🤪. My husband is 6'8" so I figured I was going to have a huge kid.
He's great about taking showers and asked me to get him some men's shower gel and body spray from bath and body works. My only complaint is that he doesn't like to wash his face but we are working on it. I think there may be a girl involved in his willingness to shower.
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Post by cindytred on Apr 22, 2019 19:23:47 GMT
WOW! Growing 7 inches in a year must have hurt.
Cindy
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Post by LisaDV on Apr 22, 2019 23:57:37 GMT
That is so sweet that your son let’s you help. Quality time is good too.
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. Oldest (16) is more of a minimalist but his hygiene is fine. My 10 year old needs to be told to take a shower but does it on his own. Sometimes he will ask questions about products. Sometimes he cuts his own nails, sometimes I do. The 7 year old refuses to take a shower so he still takes baths and I help wash his hair. 
