Really having issues....

Where to begin...
Will is 7 1/2 now, and for the last month has really been just... overly... something...
wild... loud... obnoxious... not listening... a bit rude....
It's gotten so that I don't even want to take him out in public anymore, anywhere. Not the store, to eat, even the dr.
He acts like he's 4 half the time, doing things that he knows not to do. He has taken to treating most adults like they're his friends, too. Normally this hasn't been an issue because he doesn't act ugly or anything, but lately he's gotten to be a little tactless and saying things that he shouldn't or talking about things that are none of his business.
We get on to him constantly, and have taken things away (tv time, games, etc). Getting on to him seems to do no good, as he'll stop for the second, but a minute later he's back at it like he never heard you the first time.
Taking things away has a slightly longer effect, but nothing long-lived.
DH had to have a really long talk with him again yesterday bc while we were eating lunch at a local cafe we were standing around talking to the owner/workers. The owner was standing in the door way bc the door was open to let in fresh air. Will was next to the door and decided it would be funny to close it on the lady!!! I really felt like ringing his little neck I was so embarrassed!!
We took the week of spring break off along with the schools so all that week he played, played outside with the neighbor kids. I thought that would help, but even after a long day playing he would act up if we went somewhere for dinner or whatever.
He has gotten so that he thinks obnoxious behavior is funny now, and I can't seem to figure out why or what to do about it. There are moments when I wish I could send him to grandma's for a few days, just to have a little break. Of course, then I feel guilty.

Anyway, sorry this has gotten so very long... I guess I needed to really vent.

I feel ya. Could it just be a phase? Ben is 7 and going through the same thing. He does all these things that he thinks are cute and funny, but are really just inappropriate. He is learning it from his school friends. I don't understand why they have to pick the 2 or 3 kids I would least like him to hang out with to be friends with. Stupid free will. Its about enough to make me want to home school. Almost.

Hang in there. Be consistent.

This tactic came directly from the Love & Logic playbook but I have to say it stopped this behavior after one try. It's definitely tough love. O went through this, too. After trying less drastic measures to no avail, we hit where it hurt. We went places without her. The next time we planned on going out to eat, we called grandma in advance and arranged for her to watch O. Didn't matter that grandma would have fun with O, O can't stand not being a part of our action. O was not part of the planning process. On the way to the restaurant, we made a detour at grandmas, explaining that we wanted a dinner out without worrying about her poor behavior. She was so not happy to say the least. Needless to say, she never pulled out that demon child again. All we have to do is remind her that's always an option and she straightens right up. This method isn't for everyone but O is the kind of kid that reasoning and taking things away just don't make an impact.

We're not far from doing that very thing. I hate to, but I can't and won't have him acting all obnoxious, esp in public.

The funny thing is we actually do homeschool! LOL But he's around other kids all the time so I don't know if he's picking up stuff from one of them or if it's from tv or, Lord help us, it just comes naturally.

I've been trying to spend a little more one-on-one time with him the last couple of afternoons, even after school, doing fun stuff. And each time we've gone anywhere we've had "the talk," so hopefully all this will help...
if not, he'll be staying home for a while.

Thanks for the input, guys... appreciate it!!!

I think this is a great idea.

Good luck, OP!!!