As my children grow older, I am really surprised at how different boys and girls really are. We seem to live in a parallel universe, hovering between sparkling castles where unicorns prance across our backyard and a place where the vacuum cleaner is the evil villain and super spies are closing in for the kill.
My boys seem to be polar opposites from my girls. Dirt is attracted to them like magnets and there are moments when I think the mere smell of them might drive me bonkers. And, is it really necessary to crawl along the floor of every store and restaurant we visit? Seriously?
Who are these small, grimy creations made in the image of God and why were they entrusted to me?
Franc, my sensitive four year old. Emotional, yet curious. We have been to the emergency room more times than I can count but no trip as stunning as the incident where he grabbed a light bulb in a lamp that had been on for hours and landed us in the hospital for three days over the weekend of my birthday and Mother’s Day.
Ruble, my charismatic two year old. I am certain that he will one day have a career in either demolition or engineering. The boy with the insatiable appetite for disorder also has an insatiable appetite for… well… food! He has been known to gnaw through the plastic around a loaf of bread and chomp down half the loaf before being spotted hiding behind a curtain.
Sometimes, when I am just short of testosterone overload, I picture myself at a MBA meeting… that’s “Moms of Boys Anonymous” and it only exists in my imagination…
“Ahem… Hello, my name is Tabitha and I am the mother of two boys.”
I glance into a sea of sympathetic faces, wrinkles added by unexpected traumas and gray hairs sported like medals of honor. The answer is a resounding, “Hi, Tabitha!” Somehow, this imaginary support group understands.
“Did I mention that we homeschool?” They escort me straight to the padded wagon. HA!
These boys have the power to drive me to the brink but more so than that, they can melt my heart with a single glance, change my mind with one tiny giggle or turn my entire day around with a warm snuggle.
Books to encourage the mom of boys
So, I think some special reading is in order because I need help figuring out in my female brain how the male brain works. Here are some books that have been recommended to me from moms of boys:
Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys
Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons
And sooner than I like to think, I will need to read Preparing Your Son for Every Man’s Battle: Honest Conversations About Sexual Integrity (The Every Man Series)
HI there, found you over at MOB. I too have boys and girls! Feel the same way…come for a visit! http://just-starting-out.blogspot.com Melissa
Hey Penny,
I LOVE this post! I too have boys who insist on crawling on every public places floor! We homeschool also! I am stopping by from the Mom blog hop! Great post! Blessings! Mindy
Oh, they’re cute! The lightbulb incident must’ve been so scary! I have had to call poison control this month TWICE for one of mine!
Hi from MOB blog walk! Your post made me laugh and cry! I can sooooo relate….
Dirt seems to seek my three year old son out. We have gone through a lot of stain remover here. What a wonderful family.