I guess I should have been more prepared for it as my sister's eldest daughter is 2 years older than my eldest...but I wasn't sufficiently prepared to deal with the sudden surge in the talking back, the argumentative style and his general challenging of my authority. At 17, my son is definitely trying to show me that he is a 'big man' and although we haven't had a showdown yet, I can see it looming in the wings. Help....

Boys at 17 do that, and he will continue to challenge as long as he feels you are doing things that are not in his interest. I would suggest that you both spend some time together in easy settings and try to show him that you are both on the same team.

I cant believe yours waited until he was 17 you know most start earlier in their teens. I remember growing up with my better half and he was a smarty pants at that age for sure.

It happens to most kids in their teen years, some later thna others. They are growing independant from you and need to try things themselves. It actually shows a healthy, emotionally sound teenager to feel comfortable becoming the adult he'll be. It doesn't seem so now, but you need this just as much as he does. It's helping you both get used to his breaking away from the nest.