[...]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[...]…

Not only do I dislike the implied sexism of this comment, but I also disagree that parents should not be punishing to remind their children they are dominant. Parents should be punishing their children for merely disrespecting them as human beings–the parents–not reminding them they hold the authority.

however, i get a since that she is someone flippant about the whole affair. like “all’s well that ends well!” and i worry that this would send a terrible message to other readers.

ultimately i think this story is about horribly bad parenting decisions compounded by an unfortunate collection of horrible therapists, but all this being mitigated by dumb luck (or divine intervention).

Alex and his family were lucky that all his homeless “girlfriend” gave him was lice.

i would also like to point out that there no excuse nor justification for allowing a child (of any age) total unfettered access to the internet. that is no different than dropping your kid off in Las Vegas with an AMEX card and saying “enjoy!”. actually it is worse. the internet concentrates all that is beautiful and deprave into a backlit rectangle just inches from your child’s face. even the wisdom and maturity that comes with being an adult doesn’t prepare one to handle all the extremes that a web browser can offer up. but to a child who already has enough troubles to deal with!?!

i worry that other parents reading this story who also feel like their child is more computer savvy than they are will also feel powerless, and thus be just as negligent thru inaction. but it must be made clear that parents have options! options that have no fulcrum upon computer savviness!

even if your child’s calling in life is to be a computer professional or even computer genius, internet access in his/her bedroom is not required! not even required in the home really, computer classes at a school could suffice. also never let your child have internet access in a private bedroom! just having the computer in a “public” part of the house will help keep things in check. and should something less than wholesome come up on the screen. the parent can immediately discuss with the child why such things are there, why such things are bad, how to understand what they just saw… yadda yadda. and lastly, don’t be lazy! educate yourself!! plenty of resources available to parents to help them keep their children safe online.

This must have also been uncomfortable reading for tabula rasists. Reading about the effects and behaviours caused, by the powerful biological impulses of early puberty in a 9yr boy

I think we, as a society, did a lot to harm teenagers in their formative years by putting such an onus on height. It either screws up our confidence, or gives an unmerited ego boost to those who did nothing to gain it. Instead of focusing on how tall kids are as they grow up, they should just be taught that height is a wide spectrum and that, at least for the male sex, it doesn’t matter of you’re 6’5″ or 5’6.” Either one of those numbers is completely normal.

What's it like for children who enter puberty at 9 years old?…

The first few years of early puberty are extremely difficult, and it is the reason that I clicked this article. However, the rest of the article was not needed, especially as it got increasingly hysterical as the situations got increasingly normal(?).

This is hardly an ordeal one has to “survive through”. Emotional scars are the scars from a ruined home life, from children who grow up without parents, or children who lose parents or friends. They are not the result of awkward situations that are caused by being more physically mature than your peers.

I do not have the knowledge to approve or disapprove of your parenting skills. In my opinion, you did fine, but I obviously don’t have the credentials to give a qualified opinion. These are merely my observations as a young male, who was recently gone through high school.

Also, @Jose, the only time my dad ever raised his voice or laid a hand on me is the only time that I ever made my mother cry. He was not abusive, he did not beat me, it was the only time he ever did it, but he made his authority absolutely clear. I know that violence is absolutely frowned upon in today’s society, but I think that at times the father has to show that he is the head of the household.

I would like like to thank you particularly for (what I assume to be) your purpose of writing this. To bring awareness of the condition. It is unfortunate that so many comments come from those that seem to think that you were looking for parenting advice or kudos (and are more than willing to give it to you).

Best of luck to you and Alex!