--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My boys had grown up. They were…" description: "\"“My boys had grown up. They were destroying things all by themselves, now. “We”\" — Terry Mancour" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/terry-mancour-18695_boys_my-boys-had-grown-up-they-were-destroyin_2309503.jpg" --- # My boys had grown up. They were destroying things all by… ![“My boys had grown up. They were destroying things all by themselves, now. “We” quote by Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/terry-mancour-18695_boys_my-boys-had-grown-up-they-were-destroyin_2309503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/terry-mancour-18695_boys_my-boys-had-grown-up-they-were-destroyin_2309503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/terry-mancour-18695_boys_my-boys-had-grown-up-they-were-destroyin_2309503.jpg) > ““My boys had grown up.  They were destroying things all by themselves, now. “We”” [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A parent reflects on children growing independent and causing trouble without supervision. **In simple terms:** Children become independent and sometimes troublesome. Key Takeaway Accept growing independence, set boundaries. Themes parenthood independence responsibility Mood reflective concerned Type advice observational When to use this quote - family life - parenting challenges - setting limits Key Concepts development autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How can parents balance freedom and guidance? - What boundaries are needed for safety? A Different Perspective Children may need guidance beyond freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Destroying things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroying-things/) ## Related quotes > [You see, freedom has a way of destroying things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/you-see-freedom-has-a-way-of-destroying-things/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [I can run fast when I want to run fast, and I've always been good at destroying things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-can-run-fast-when-i-want-to-run-fast-and-i-ve-always-been-good-at/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [I wish I could have built without destroying things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-wish-i-could-have-built-without-destroying-things/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I wish I could, instead of destroying things like that, I wish I could build, build, build.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-wish-i-could-instead-of-destroying-things-like-that-i-wish-i-could/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [All the boys were grown up and done for by this time; so it is scarcely worth while saying anything more about them. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-the-boys-were-grown-up-and-done-for-by-this-time-so-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Might not most men be as well named boys grown old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/might-not-most-men-be-as-well-named-boys-grown-old/) [Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/) > [The more I study men, the more I realize that they are nothing in the world but boys grown too big to be spankable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/the-more-i-study-men-the-more-i-realize-that-they-are-nothing-in-the/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [Grace is what matters. In anything. Especially life, especially growth, tragedy, pain, love, death. About people, that's what matters. That's a quality I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/grace-is-what-matters-in-anything-especially-life-especially-growth-2/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [The Arab awakening has been, up to now, a lot about freedom from dictatorial regimes - Syria, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia, Bahrain and Egypt. 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Because I was very, very good at destroying things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-occurred-to-me-then-that-i-was-the-opposite-of-my-father-because-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [You can grow without destroying the things that you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mcmahon/you-can-grow-without-destroying-the-things-that-you-love/) [Ed McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mcmahon/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) ## More by Terry Mancour > [“What’s our situation?” “The technical military term for what we’re doing is hiding,” Terleman lectured.  “We’re where the enemy isn’t, hoping that they don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/what-s-our-situation-the-technical-military-term-for-what-we-re-doing/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“So that was it?” she demanded. “All that build-up to rescue a princess, and . . . that was it?” “Would you prefer trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/so-that-was-it-she-demanded-all-that-build-up-to-rescue-a-princess/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“Her mother had been slightly less diplomatic. To her I’d always be “that nice barbarian boy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/her-mother-had-been-slightly-less-diplomatic-to-her-i-d-always-be/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“Yes, but he faces a human mage with great power and no idea what he’s doing,” I boasted. “That has sunk islands, before. Entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/yes-but-he-faces-a-human-mage-with-great-power-and-no-idea-what-he-s/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“You burn down an entire town, and don’t even invoke me?” an angry female voice asked from behind me. “I didn’t think you’d be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/you-burn-down-an-entire-town-and-don-t-even-invoke-me-an-angry-female/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“I hope I won’t be eternally damned for that, but then again I’ve warranted damnation for so much else that one atrocity, more or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/i-hope-i-won-t-be-eternally-damned-for-that-but-then-again-i-ve/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“Behold, the Cavern of Ages,” Lord Aeratas pronounced, reverently. “Depository of our ancestors’ enneagrams, held within the living stone for all eternity.” “It smells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/behold-the-cavern-of-ages-lord-aeratas-pronounced-reverently/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“But . . . this door is allayed with a sign,” Onranion pointed out, waving his hand in front of it and singing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/but-this-door-is-allayed-with-a-sign-onranion-pointed-out-waving-his/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“While hope was a much-needed commodity around the castle, what he was doing went beyond good leadership – it was a blatant disregard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/while-hope-was-a-much-needed-commodity-around-the-castle-what-he-was/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“A few of the lads on the walls dared to applaud with rude gestures, insults, and – in one bold case – the quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/a-few-of-the-lads-on-the-walls-dared-to-applaud-with-rude-gestures/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“Cutthroats?” Lt. Jameson, the Golden Hand guard standing behind him said, offended. “I haven’t cut a throat in a month!” “They”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/cutthroats-lt-jameson-the-golden-hand-guard-standing-behind-him-said/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“It’s technically habitable, but it only makes four rotations every orbit. Extreme environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/it-s-technically-habitable-but-it-only-makes-four-rotations-every/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“We have the aid and alliance of an ancient and wise people,” Mavone, suggested. “Don’t take me as an example,” Onranion hurried to say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/we-have-the-aid-and-alliance-of-an-ancient-and-wise-people-mavone/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“Everyone has to be somewhere,” he shrugged. “And where we are is always the result of the steps we’ve chosen to take.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/everyone-has-to-be-somewhere-he-shrugged-and-where-we-are-is-always/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [“But a knight must have faith that the gods will reward and support his chivalry,” Sire Cei pointed out.  “If he did not throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/but-a-knight-must-have-faith-that-the-gods-will-reward-and-support/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) [Explore all 34 Terry Mancour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) ## More Boys quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) MrAwesome > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. 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I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [She had been dragged in the most humiliating of all dusts, the dust reserved for older women who let themselves be approached, on amorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-had-been-dragged-in-the-most-humiliating-of-all-dusts-the-dust/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. 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This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) [Browse all 7,168 Boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My boys had grown up.  They were destroying things all by themselves, now. “We”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Mancour" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/my-boys-had-grown-up-they-were-destroying-things-all-by-themselves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boys" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/my-boys-had-grown-up-they-were-destroying-things-all-by-themselves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/terry-mancour-18695_boys_my-boys-had-grown-up-they-were-destroyin_2309503.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/terry-mancour-18695_boys_my-boys-had-grown-up-they-were-destroyin_2309503.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/terry-mancour-18695_boys_my-boys-had-grown-up-they-were-destroyin_2309503.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My boys had grown up. 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