Eight Year Old Attitude

“He’s so sassy!” That’s exactly what my Portuguese grandmother would have said about my eight year old son if she were alive today. Holy cow! He can be so disrespectful. It’s almost as if he’s resorted to his “toddler ways,” if you know what I mean. Only now his tantrums are manifested in back talk, stomping up the stairs, slamming his door, and screaming “I hate you!”

If he acts this way now what can we expect when he’s a teenager? Is it just my son or are all eight year olds this temperamental? Interestingly, the movie Sleepless in Seattle (one of my favorites) touches on this very subject.

There’s a scene where Sam (played by Tom Hanks) and Jonah (Sam’s son) are dropping off Victoria (the woman Sam is dating) at the airport. After Jonah is rude to Victoria, Sam says, “He’s eight.” Then Victoria says, “He’s good at it.” Sam goes on to explain, “I read an article about this. All children are hideous at the age of eight. It’s quite normal.”

Maybe there’s hope for my son yet. There’s always his ninth birthday, right? Seriously though, he has the potential to be sweet. I’ve seen it! He can be loving and caring to his parents and little brothers (as long as everything is going his way). If he’s crossed, however, look out! I suppose the best approach is to continue being consistent with our discipline, and to make sure that he knows that certain behaviors are totally unacceptable. At times I jokingly call upon one of Kramer’s favorite mantras from an episode of Seinfeld… “Serenity now. Serenity now.” I just hope I don’t explode before that ninth candle is on his cake!!!