You must have heard a dazzling mixture of supportive, commiserative, even pathetic comments when you announced that you were about to be blessed with a another boy. Preoccupied with anticipated challenges, you may have approached the early years of mothering your sons with little room for joy!
But, as time passes, things start to loosen a bit for most mothers of all boys. After all, it looks like a lot of what you have heard was just hot air. Here is a list of 10 things that only you and your fellow ‘blue tagline’ mothers can relate to:
1. You own the exclusive rights of being “the only woman in the house”
There are no power struggles over makeup or accessories, no problems in sorting laundry and no other female dealing with “her time of the month.” That must feel so good!
2. You have lots of “boyfriends”
If fathers of girls have their own father-daughter time, you have got your mother-son dates. It’s true that female friends may be more compassionate or understanding, but a ‘masculine’ touch of friendship has its own magic, especially when you need a reality check. In addition, having multiple men in the house means that there will always be a big boy around to save the day, like when you need the spider on the wall killed or the jar just that you just can’t seem to open.
3. You cook a lot
For some reason, men eat more and it doesn’t necessarily reflect on their shapes. Nevertheless, as probably the main cook in the house, that fact doesn’t make a difference to you! And what a wonderful time you would have when your sons decide to invite their friends over for dinner or to watch the Super Bowl at home. That’s the time for blessings to multiply.
4. You enjoy shopping for newborn girls
I have met quite a few mothers of all boys, and despite their vast differences, they share one thing in common: they all love shopping for little girls. Is it the pink color that they miss, or is it the irresistible attractiveness of those little ruffly dresses? No matter what the reason is, your I-am-expecting-a-girl friends have one more reason love you!
5. You don’t have much drama in the house
Boys usually speak their mind, and tend to have higher self-regard. It’s true that they still fight, but they come to resolution faster and hold no hard feelings afterwards. And, most importantly, they usually don’t involve you in the aftermath, which offloads your time a lot!
6. You need less time to get everyone ready to go out
No pony tails, tights, hair clips, matching shoes or scarves. Boys still love to dress up and look good, but it takes them less time to get ready. Even when they get older, most of them don’t grow long hair and won’t need to spend hours on its drying and styling. An ad hoc outing? No problem: quick shower, jeans, T-shirt, throw some sneakers on and you’re in the car!
7. You get creative to bond with your kids
It may get a bit challenging for you to bond with the boys, especially when they grow older. Instead of making beaded bracelets or decorating cupcakes together, you may have to get out of your comfort zone and get a bit tough in search of a common activity with boys. Do Thomas the Train and hockey games ring a bell?
8. You know that boys are not all the same
It’s true that you have not experienced how different genders of children mingle together, but you know that there are differences in personalities even within the same gender. Erica Hill, a mother of all boys, shared her experience on this matter in an article that appeared on Today Parents: “I do believe that having four boys helped me to look at them as individuals, rather than chalking up their behavior to their sex.”
9. Your definition of ‘fun’ is probably expanded
Do your boys have a contest on who can burp the loudest or create the biggest mess? You are not alone. A boy’s definition of fun spans a wide spectrum: wearing ugly masks, carrying around swords and putting in fake teeth. They may often dig in the mud, kick a soccer ball around and get dirty. Fun can even take a disturbing turn: killing ants and pulling the tail of your neighbour’s cat.
10. And last but not the least: you have tremendous power to end domestic violence and enhance gender equality
You can teach your boys how to treat women respectfully, and you can model it to them. It’s a tremendous opportunity that you have to make an impact. Alexandra, another mother of all boys, mentioned in a blog post that appeared on Scary Mommy: “It sounds ridiculous to have to teach this, but it’s what we as mothers need to do. I turn off commercials that show women as less than capable or inferior or needy, because actions speak louder than words. I comment on magazine covers or ads that show women feeble and manipulative.”
Featured photo credit: What a life / Ryan McGuire via imcreator.com
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