[mom2teenageson]

Hi all

I just joined because a couple of days ago I ran into an issue with my teenage son who is 13. I am overwhelmed and I am a little speechless and I don't know what to do. I am a single mom and raising a boy was hard enough but now my son is hitting puberty and I am seem now to be the worry mom.

I did post this in the preteen and teen board but it didn't look like it has a lot of activity.

When I was doing his laundry, I found a stain on his bedsheets. I know boys when going through puberty have wet dreams but I also know about masturbation. I can't believe my own son is growing up and it's a horrible feeling to know he may be masturbating.


I am lost for words and I don't know what to do. Looking for help.

[Mod-Lady Valkyrie]

Hello and welcome.

I'm not sure that we have any moms to teens/preteens here - this is a general chit-chat board really, and we're pretty quiet too over the holidays. You may find that teens/preteens picks up in the new year when the kids are all back at school. You could also post on the Children's Health board.

As my son is only 5 it's very difficult for me to advise you. However masturbating is a natural thing and if he's hitting puberty, it's unsurprising that he might be experimenting. It's also possible that he's not masturbating, but having wet dreams, which just can't be helped. If you're not comfortable with masturbation for religious reasons or something like that, the religion boards may be a place to talk about your worries.

It's a tricky one because your son may well be embarrassed too, and having you approach him outright or say you've noticed something on his sheets could potentially be hard for him to deal with. Is his dad around, or a man in your life, or a grandad/uncle or older brother, who could have "the talk" with him, just casually mentioning that they're initiating it because of his age rather than that anything has been noticed? He might find it easier to talk man to man, and they could raise things like erections, masturbation and wet dreams so that he understands it's perfectly normal. I'd say that would be the best way to help your son.

[mommy2Breana+Brandon]

Welcome to the board.

I have no advice sorry. My son is only 2 and I dread those days.

[vanessasg]

you should be worried my younger brother started puberty at 10 and masturbated all the time. we found stains everywhere in his room. turns out later he got one of his classmates pregnant in only 7th grade. luckily it was a miscarriage but our mother is very dreading i can only imagine.

[FreeBaby]

Originally Posted by vanessasg

you should be worried my younger brother started puberty at 10 and masturbated all the time. we found stains everywhere in his room. turns out later he got one of his classmates pregnant in only 7th grade. luckily it was a miscarriage but our mother is very dreading i can only imagine.

I hung my head and shook it thinking about the nerves of steel your poor mother must have by now

[Banned-dana67]

It's all part of growing up and you may want to have "the talk" with him.

[Anne Rose]

"The Talk" must definitely be done. I know it is hard, but it needs to be done. If you feel too uncomfortable to talk to him, ask him who he would like to talk to. It is perfectly natural and there is no need to "worry". Just be aware and make sure you have "that talk" sooner rather than later. And you can have "the talk" more than once