Show him this
http://www.thebsquad.com/movies/9%5EPuberty-Pals.swf

Not safe for work

oh wow. i really don't think i could raise a son.
i'd probably get the giggles before i even started the conversation.

Remember, it could always be worse.

A woman I used to work with found out her son was masturbating, because he would put the by-product in Ziploc bags and throw them away. She said it was funny, because it was odd, but she couldn't yell at him for not being tidy.

Instead of talking to your son, you should probably talk to his ma. Explain to her that if he does not masturbate, he will spontaneously combust. And we both know who's cleaning that shit up.

Although the discretion part is probably a good idea, anyway. You know, going out in public and all.

Of course, I can picture him now -- sees a hot girl at a restaurant, "I gotta go do my homework", wanders off to the bathroom...

She should donate them to a sperm bank.

Of course you'd never have to worry about this with a daughter.

Heh heh.

Do young girls actually masturbate?

Geez, your wife sounds like she might need some erotic toys.

Or better yet, Alex, when did you start masturbating?

<-- thought puberty sounded a little late.

edit: NP - "Too Much Information" - Duran Duran

Isn't it a little bit past the point where we should be making kids feel bad about their bodies?

I hope that I am better about teaching my kids than my dad was with me. Silence or guilt - take your pick.

I totally agree. The boy is not doing anything terribly wrong and really isn't affecting anyone. I think he should be reassured that what he's doing is a part of life, and not told to be "discreet".

Well, there's nothing wrong with discretion. If his mom can't lighten up, he shouldn't, you know, announce that he's about to go rub one out, or anything. It just shouldn't be something that he needs to feel bad about wanting.

Ahh yes, my son hasn't quite hit that mark yet. But I think he's close.

I already had an argument with him over sleeping naked at his age(he developed this mass interest in it) and I see him grab himself a bit some times.

I dunno. It's a precarious situation to be in. You want to be understanding but at the same time it's embarassing to bring up or address.

This just sounds so funny. I can't stop laughing.

Maybe he needs glasses.

I think we should make this thread 'sticky'.

Badumdum.

You jerk off to Everybody Loves Raymond?

I think some may be misunderstanding. We're certainly not coming down on him or making him feel ashamed of his body at all. It's like Chuck(e)d said, silence or guilt. I just want to talk to him about it, let him know that it's quite natural, but that, yes, some discretion should be involved. This is especially the case with his 7 year-old brother hammering on the bathroom door after about 30 minutes. I mean, no one ever talked to me about any of this stuff either. Being 13 with a blistered-up member is no way to begin your teen years. Mom's certainly not a prude about things, either. It's like Charli said, a bit uncomfortable for the female parent to finally realize is going on.

30 minutes?!?! Why the hell is it taking so long? He's young, right? He should be outta there before the first commercial in Everybody Loves Raymond.

You don't rush an artist.

finger painting