Why Are Teenage Boys So Mean to Their Moms?

Asserting Independence

• If your son seems occasionally distant and uncommunicative, don't take it personally. Pickhardt says it's normal for a teenage son to create social distance from his mother. His tendency to have less contact and communication shows he's becoming more independent. He might want to spend more time in male company -- with his male friends and his father. Recognizing this pattern of healthy development allows you to respect your son on his journey to manhood. Take your son's need for autonomy as a sign of maturity. If his distance seems excessive, lasting more than a week, talk to him and ensure he's not experiencing a more serious problem. Open communication allays your fears while reminding your son of your ongoing support.

Defying Authority

• When your son defies your authority and rebels against your rules, he is challenging you in an attempt to gain power. While it's natural for mature, older kids to gain some authority in their families, a disrespectful battle for power should be met with consequences such as loss of privileges, according to an article on the website Empowering Parents. Otherwise, your son might see your acquiescing to his will as a tacit approval of allowing him to set the rules in the future.

Hormonal Changes

• Physical changes are taking place in your son's body and he can become uncooperative over minor issues such as what you packed in his school lunch. His friends become more important than you as he is exposed to all manners of peer pressure. You can ensure your son can cope better with peer pressure and relationships if you maintain open communication and allow him to talk about his feelings on his own terms and at times when he feels ready. Doing so, helps him maintain a healthy foundation for a mother-son relationship that withstands the occasional male mood swing.

Need For Physical Activity

• Boys have higher levels of testosterone than girls, and your son's natural need to release physical energy allows him to channel frustrations into sports activities instead of conflict. According to a recent Washington state Department of Social and Health Services survey, boys are more likely than girls to engage in vigorous physical activity. Encouraging your son's biological need to expend physical energy through team or individual sports decreases his tendency to back-talk or disrespect you.