madameblogalot

I often hear people say they feel as if they are living in a zoo. Lately, I feel as if I am living in a wolf pack. Only having one son and no brothers, I am very limited in my experiences with adolescent boys. But I have been noticing the “competition” between my son and his dad frequently. These testosterone laden battles really are hard for me to swallow at times, but I have decided they are a part of growing up for guys and it’s probably a healthy thing to learn.

One recent morning’s example came about as my son was getting ready to drive himself to school for the first time. My husband wanted to make sure the youngster knew where/how to apply his parking permit, how to work the windshield wipers and defroster and all the little last minute details he felt he had forgotten to impart. Of course, this only served to frustrated my son and he “stiffened his back” a bit at the information, saying that he knew how to do all of it. Then, when I had to say “be careful” he let his resentment show even more. What was a bittersweet milestone, one that I felt should be celebrated, turned into a morning of frustration and Alpha-male scuffling.

These type skirmishes seem to be happening so often lately that I told my husband that morning that I feel like I am living in a wolf pack, watching the younger one coming up and trying to fight for dominance. Then the older one having to swipe back to “put him in his place.” He agreed that this was a good analogy and descriptive of what is going on these days. Perhaps all families with teen boys are going through these type of daily clashes. I hope I am not the only who feels like she is living in a wolf pack with the younger one chomping at the bits, sure he is ready to be the next Alpha Male.