My son was 11 in July. He has been a teenager since the age of 10!

He sort of started reaching puberty aged 6 with BO and a few blackheads. Now his face is fast becoming a great place to play dot to dot. He has to wash his hair every morning otherwise the chip pan gets jealous! He is getting hairy in the men's region too!

As for his attitude? It basically stinks! He knows absolutely everything and I know nothing. His slouches and grunts at me and gives me looks that could kill! He wanted his ear pierced recently and I let him even though I think it looks common. He now wants his eyebrow pierced but I have obviously said no to that one!

Having said all the negatives, I will say some positives too. He sometimes reverts back to being my "little boy" who loves cuddling up to me on the sofa for a back tickle. He is scared of spiders and the dark! Basically, he still needs me even though he would rather die than admit that! He still cries when he is hurt.

I feel very sorry for him at times - he is a confused little boy in a growing man's body. His hormones and emotions are all over the place. He feels out of place "playing" but is not really old enough to do teenage things.

Maybe, though, he is simply getting this hormonal bit over early so when he is older he will be absolutely perfect like his mum!!