Name: Teach Them Diligently (Branson)
Start: 2025-05-15T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-17T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Branson, MO

Tagged: facial expression, habits, posture

This topic has 12 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 3 months ago by lgeurink.

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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December 15, 2011 at 12:20 pm
deltagal
Member
I have a TALL 12 yo son who has gradually been developing poor posture and a very unpleasant facial expression (i.e., a snarl). His father and I have been reminding him daily for several years to stand up straight and smile, but the issue has become quite severe. I’m at the point now that I’m somewhat anxious. He’s a tall, handsome young man, but his facial expression and posture are so, so poor I’m concerned about his future. Other people even talk to us about how sour and lumbering he looks. His father recently has suggested that perhaps, we send him to military school. Can someone offer us some tips on how to tackle this and get results…quick!
December 15, 2011 at 2:06 pm
missingtheshire
Member
Is he perhaps embarrased about his height? He may be feeling really gawky and is still growing into himself so to speak…I would think perhaps he is slouching for that reason, and maybe the snarly expression is his way of looking a bit tougher as he is so uncomfortable with himself. It is a difficult age and if he is taller than his peers then he is likely feeling very different. I am not sure that military school is the way to go – I would try and ascertain the reason for his slouching and snarling and try and understand where he is coming from first. A lot of us felt very awkward at that age, and it needs a bit of sleuth work to figure out what is going on. Do spend time talking with him, asking him some questions and trying to see past the sullen pose – 12 is still realy young and lots of things are happening with his body and mind right now – if he is really stooped and cannot stand straight, I would take him to the pediatrician and have him checked out as well as a precaution. Sorry I am not more help…..:))
December 15, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Tecrz1
Participant
Perhaps if he saw pictures of himself? Take some candids of how he normally looks, and then get him to stand up straight and pleasant and snap some. Maybe he could see the difference this way. He is at a very awkward age but helping him see how attractive and pleasant good posture and expression is might help. Also, some confidence boosters couldnt hurt like taking a karate class or another area where he could excel. I often got comments on my excellent posture as a teenager because it was so uncommon I think. I was a confident teen who felt no need to hunch over to hide. For me walking in a room straight and tall was naturally an extension of how I approached life. He is young, and with love and plenty of affirmation he may straighten his spine on his own. Feeling your disapproval could be worsening the problem. Teens want acceptance and need tons of support during the difficult and awkward years.
December 15, 2011 at 2:47 pm
deltagal
Member
Yes, yes, thank you both. We had a heart to heart on this topic this morning and he just started crying. When I talk to him about his posture and his expression with a loving heart and tone, he “hears” me saying he’s not a good boy. He has always been this way. He IS a good boy. A great boy, in fact, but he has a lot of poor physical habits that we just can’t seem to get him to address, because he’s not “hearing” what we’re saying. Regretfully, he’s not a talker. Never has been. It’s sooooo difficult to get inside his head. Pray with me on this!
December 15, 2011 at 2:55 pm
csmamma
Participant
When our son was about 12 years old, we started noticing he had poor posture. I kept telling him to stop slouching and stand up straight. He would correct his posture and only minutes later go back into a slouch. It progressed over the next few years, and then we decided to bring him in to get his back checked. He was diagnosed with hyperkyphosis and is currently under going chiropractic care and physical therapy. We, too, found he had a sour look on his face sometimes and it was due to his discomfort, though he didn’t realize it at the time. Not saying this is your sons case, but thought I would share.
December 15, 2011 at 3:07 pm
missingtheshire
Member
Will pray for your son, and I think CS Mamma has a good point maybe it is something worth checking into…I find nagging on a bad habit makes it worse, I try and praise when they are doing the right thing, so try and catch him when he is standing tall or when he does have a nice expression, build his esteem up so he wants to stand tall….good luck – it is an awkward age:))
December 15, 2011 at 3:15 pm
chocodog
Participant
I have to agree with Csmamma. I have a friend that’s son had allergy problems. Somehow, this made his spine curve to look like he was slouching. He had to have his ribs broke and his spine straightened. This helped him straighten out. My mother on the other hand has scoliosis. She has had it as a child and it is getting worse as she ages. It didn’t hurt but it did give her a slouch that you can definately see now. If he hasn’t been tested for it by a phsician than maybe it is time to seek out some help. Sometimes, doctors overlook things that are not on the physical evaluation chart. just sayin’ 🙂

December 15, 2011 at 4:21 pm
deltagal
Member
I don’t “think” this his posture and expression is a health issue. I truly think it’s simply a bad habit, but he does have a physical today and I’ll definitely look into it. He’s been telling me for months that the sour look on his face is because he’s always hungry, but honestly after frying him 4 eggs for breakfast and a 1/2 a pound of bacon…what do you do?!
December 15, 2011 at 4:25 pm
missingtheshire
Member
Bread, that was always the filler for us when we were kids, nice wholegrain bread….good luck todayLinda
December 15, 2011 at 4:25 pm
missingtheshire
Member
Bread, that was always the filler for us when we were kids, nice wholegrain bread….good luck todayLinda
December 15, 2011 at 4:39 pm
LindseyD
Participant
We have been going to our chiropractor weekly for almost four years. Your ds’s posture may not be a health issue now, but if it continues it could cause health issues down the road. Poor posture contributes to spinal misalignments known as subluxations. These subluxations create nerve interference in the messages the brain sends down the spine and to the rest of the nerves in the body. You might see a good wellness chiropractor who can explain to your ds from a professional point of view the damage he could potentially cause in his body if his posture does not improve.
My late grandmother had a horrible hunchback. I really believe it was because she never sat up straight and she bent over a lot when she was cooking, reading, watching tv, etc. Maybe you could show your son some pictures of people with hunchbacks and let him decide for himself that he doesn’t want to look like that when he’s older. Not only is it unattractive, but those people are all in a lot of pain all the time too.
I agree with the others too. 12 is a hard age…I would never want to be 12 again! If he’s lacking confidence, perhaps your dh can help him with that.
Hope you get it figured out!
Lindsey
December 15, 2011 at 6:20 pm
my3boys
Participant
We will keep your son in our prayers and you all as you seek the Lord in how to support him. I have a 12yo as well, and although it has been fairly easy to get through this year (and we have several year’s ahead of us), we have had things come up, so I can relate to a degree.
I don’t have time to add anymore right now, but just wanted you (and your son) to know that you are not alone. This is a tough age, and like Lindsey, I wouldn’t go back to that age for love or money.
Blessings.
December 15, 2011 at 9:23 pm
lgeurink
Member
I can’t speak to the posture, but 4 eggs and a half pound of bacon for my husband at 12 (& till he was mid twenty) would have been considered a snack! And he was a healthy athletic boy. The casseroles his mom made to feed his family when they were growing are ridiculous! I quarter the recipes for our family of 5 but my kids are still young and thankfully for our grocery budget, girls!