That's absolutely normal. The transition from baby to little boy can be a bit trying for the parents. Nothing to worry about...

..and suddenly we're 30. Which is when we find we have to re-learn what we un-learned while growing up. For example, how to say 'no.' Or to make believe we're eating cupcakes with pink frosting at a fantasy tea-party.

Have you actually tried to stop loving him ? and if you did, dear Arnon, how far did you take it ?

Do not worry Mr. Grunberg, in the books it is called ‘the first negative’ period. The second one is the real puberty He is experimenting with his body and mind for the first time . A lot of things will emerge out of the boy now. Keep on loving him whatever is happening. Please do not beat him to much, but I do not think you would.

And when he is 16, he will say 'yes' to all his mothers' questions
and mean 'no' and do 'no'. Crying won't help.
Or shall I nevertheless try that? My son is 16. I'll never stop loving him.
He knows. Which is a part of the problem.

Mr.Grunberg, your godson looks gorgeous. He knows.
etc.

What's the first answer?
Why is there an opportunity for a second answer?
I'm quite lonely as well. Although I slept with a girl, this night.

I finished Kings "on writing", your "rond de wereld" and I bought M. van der Jagts Gstaad 95-98. I'm at page 48, so far I don't consider it to be a great novel, I'm sorry. But I had great expectations, I always forget.

@Dens.
Gstaad is a masterpiece. Reading it is like eating an apple with rotten spots.
Sweet and disgusting.

That's what I 've heard. But the first pages didn't knock me of my feet. I kept paying attention to the overload of alinea's.. That i changed from King to van der Jagt in 30 seconds didn't help, I think. I'll try again this night. 6.99 bucks, cheap as hell.

(mr. Grunberg, do you know it when one of your books get sold, do you get statistics? or do you just get your paycheck at the end of each month?)

And I apoligize for polluting this beautiful blogpost.

gtsaad is a marvellous book. it was my first encounter with your work. i didn't realize until i read de asielzoeker. (was nooit zoon voorstander van ventisme, maar soms kun je er niet omheen...)

@Dens,
The contact (AOL) on your web log is not working. I try later on. Greetings.

@Dens
I have read Gstaad too and I am sure you will like it in the end. I think reading novels is like gold digging, in search for things of your taste and interest. Mr. Grunberg fits me well.
I have only a modest talent, otherwise I would have written my own novels.

@Jan
In my opinion, it's not whether or not you (think you) have talent, but about what you love doing most.

I've continued my readings, in a waiting room, and I admit, it is getting better. although I stand by my first encounter. Perhaps it was too odd in the beginning to cling, now :i'm familiarised with eczema (i realised my niece had the same condition when she was young.)

the AOL-thing should be stuvio2612 otherwise try stuvio at gmail dot com

I don't believe in talents as well. I seem to have a talent for anything, but then again, none of my talents seems to be a mozartian one. If I had parents who stimulated one specific thing more than the others, maybe i would've. Probably not, though.

I like best watching people, but then again, who doesn't and what job depicts that?

@Tess
You have a point, I know. And I do like visiting Grunberg’s web log. Sometimes it feels like frequenting a kind of a café… But there is also a confused mind or better confused feelings. That is why I try to direct some attention, concerning Freud, to the tragic life of doctor Daniel Paul Schreber, whose life story is not unfamiliar to me. Thanks for your attention anyway.