A ladyfriend I had at work used to come in visibily furious about her two sons as they passed through their teen years. She threatened those two boys with everything up to and including death. They laughed. they listened to Mom but it was a game to get her ready to blow her top like Mt St Helens. We just let her rant and rave and blow off steam. It's that age and all that testosterone that does it and unless you've been through the bad stuff it causes, you ain't got a clue.

On of my Technicians called in sick one day. his football player kid broke one of his ribs with an elbow. It seems Dad like to tease and punch the kid. The night before, the kid finally threw an elbow into him. That ended that game.

I once chased down my nephew who ran from me and tried to get out of my reach. Now you can do that because I use a wheelchair. HOWEVER, I bounced onto the bed he got on and shook him by the jersey and threatened his life. He didn't think I could move that fast or bounce that far and when I did, he never smart-assed like that to uncle ever again.

At some point, you must establish your authority over a boy going through puberty. If you don't they walk all over you. It's all about aggression wtih boys. They follow the biggest and strongest.

And as for teasing, they like the attention if it isn't overdone.

Now Girls, don't ask my advice about girls. I've never figured them out and never will.

Good post, Dave.

I know the feeling.