Is There a "Stage" at the Age of 9? - New Berlin,WI

Hi K., I have a 12 and 9 year lod that are the same way. Granted mine are girls, but it sounds very familiar. They do not want to brush teeth, shower, comb hair, ect. And I always ask why they didn't do this or that and I get, "Because i wasn't told to!!!" I am hoping this ends sooner than later. My 12 year old use to be one of the most responsible 9-10 year olds and just over a summer she did a complete 360. Hopefully this helps a little. Good luck. My grandmother told me that I just need to have patience for the next few years.

Look up "Parenting the Nine Year Old" or "Nine Year Old Change" on Google.

This is definitely a transitional time. There are some very useful articles on this - Rahima Baldwin Dancy's article sounds just like you describe.

Good Luck!

It may just be a phase. My son is 9 years old and visits my ex every other weekend. He sometimes forgets stuff between the two houses and school. She has to remember he is just a kid! And if he has two families to deal with and school like my son then he is bound to forget things. He has a buisier then normal life. Most of us don't live in more then one house at one time. I know I would forget all kinds of important stuff if I did. Just keep trying to remind him. Boys that age are way to distracted by life to remember things even as easy as brushing their teeth sometimes. Then you throw stepfamilies into the mix and I am suprised my son can remember anything! LOL

Hi K.,

I'm a mother of Four with the oldest being 14 and the youngest being 9, and yes it is a stage. I have to remind my 9 to 12 yr olds everyday to do everything. I even have to give instructions in detail in oder for everything to get done correctly. Yes they eventually grow out of it, but you feel like you are going to go nuts trying to get there.