So let?™s talk testosterone!

At the age of four a boys testosterone levels gets a sudden surge. No one really knows why. But after this boys would become more vigorous and adventurous in their play. Perhaps picking up action figures and playing rough and tumble more with dad or friends. At five this level drops by half. Then somewhere between 11 and 13 it rises again - a rise that can be as high as 800 percent higher than that as a toddler. This extra testosterone causes, as you might imagine, a bit of a problem!

When this rise in hormones happens to a boy they go through a growth spurt and their whole nervous system gets a rewire. This rapid growth causes them to be dopey and disorganised for months on end and it means you have to become their brain for a while. At 14 the testosterone peaks: pubic hair, acne, sexual feelings and restlessness begin to drive your boy - and you - a little round the bend.

And the bad news is: he'll be in his twenties before it all settles down! And while we can't stop this process, we can do something to reduce our frustration during the process.

We could choose to do what our parent's did, ask us questions like 'are you stupid? or suggest there might be cotton wool between their ears. But in all honesty that approach isn't doing anyone any favours. The truth is if we shout to them, 'Are you deaf?' the right answer would be, 'Yes, actually I am at the moment. Didn't you know my brain is going through the rewire of teenage and the tubes to my ears are currently narrower than normal?'