Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Thank Heaven for Little Boys...


What are little girls made of?

What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice and everything nice
That's what little girls are made of!

What are little boys made of?

What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy dogs’ tails

That's what little boys are made of!

(Traditional English nursery rhyme)



Hmmm.

I’m not sure what a “snip” is.

But I agree that there is a major chromosomal difference.

Having raised 3 girls, this boy-thing is exotic unknown territory. I am learning something new about the species every day.


Little Boys:

…sneak into their grandparents’ bed at night and awaken them the next morning with a head-butt and a hug.

…dig the keys out of their grandmother’s laptop and hide them. (If I miss a letter, you’ll understand why.)

…obsessive-compulsively carry around action figures, trains, and Toy Story characters at all times.

…conduct frequent self-anatomical explorations.

…can only with great difficulty resist the impulse to pull on the tails of small animals.




…turn every occasion of getting dressed into a Sumo wrestling match.

…conduct experiments by pulling all the dental floss out of the dispenser, all the toilet paper off the roll, and dumping all the shampoo into the tub.

…cannot walk into a room without divesting a couch or a bed of its pillows and jumping on it. (And pulling down the canopy for good measure.) 


…receive a major boo-boo at least every other day.

…inexplicably place their grandmother’s English china plates in the freezer so that they crash on the brick floor when she opens the door.

…think eating boogies and spitting are hysterically funny. (The more in trouble they get over these issues, the harder they laugh.)

…steal their grandparents’ glasses.




…attempt to put foreign objects into fans, no matter how many times they are warned against it.

…request French fries for every meal.

…hide car keys in the soil of potted plants.

…attempt to use Super Hero martial arts moves on unsuspecting care-takers. (“Pow!” in your face.)




…conduct frequent self-anatomical explorations. Oh wait, did I already mention that one? IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN!


Little Boys:

…say, “I’m sorry, Mimi!” immediately after every disaster.


...are absolutely delicious when asleep.





…cover their grandmother’s face with kisses.


...whisper, "Don't worry. I'll take care of you," to their stuffed animals.

…love to cuddle and snuggle.

…exclaim, “You look bootiful!” when the grandmother tries on a new dress.

…yell, “I love you THIS much!” while holding up all 10 fingers.


Little boys make me absolutely crazy



in love.

***************

(If any of the above characteristics are extremely abnormal, will someone kindly let us know? I have no frame of reference here. Never even had a brother.)

***************

This book is so true: 



I read it to my girls, but it's even more fun now.

5 comments:

Laurel said...

OMIGOSH! When did you start spying on my house with my own webcam?

Just a heads-up on what's coming next: Swashbuckling from handy household items WILL break the shower head, tear the towel rack off the wall and leave a hole in the drywall, and leave your curtain rods permanently cock-eyed.

Also, the anatomical thing? We just hit the 7th birthday and there is no end in sight.

Christine said...

Yes, your description of little boys is to the T! I have 2 of them and it makes for very interesting days. My mom is one of 3 girls and I have a sister (and a little brother) and my boys are ALL BOY and have done every little thing you describe in the post. My friends have little girls who sit and color, help mommy cook and are so good at playing by themselves quietly. I try to explain how different and hard at times it is to them, but I think to myself, they will never understand until they have a little boy of their own.
And the headbutt thing. WOW, there have been times that my eyes are burning with tears from the accidental headbutt and I want to scream bad words b/c it hurts SO bad, but they are just trying to love me in their little way. I keep telling myself that there will be a time when raising boys is easier (no hormones, easier as teenagers, etc) but for now, it is a very physical, energy draining time, but I wouldn't trade them for anything!!

Anonymous said...

Yes, you have described the universal world of boys. After my first son, I thought I had experienced it all - until I had my second (he's the one who just graduated with a degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering - should have seen the writing on the wall!!!) and life as I knew it was no more!

But now that my two are grown (do we really ever grow up), I can honestly say God knew what he was doing when he gave me boys! They are the ones who teasingly (at least I think teasingly) remind me they will be the ones to choose my nursing home!! But they have such tender hearts underneath all that exterior "boy" facade! And I am incredibly blessed.

Oh the tales I could regale all you mother's of sons with ... but then I would ruin the surprise as you discover these places with your own sons! Enjoy the ride! It is so worth it! (My two sons are now 27 and 24 and a great delight - and they often quote: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my Mommy you'll be." Doesn't get much better!!

Blessings to you one and all!

L

Anonymous said...

love love love this post!

Donna said...

Oh my goodness.....so true, and you have just scratched the surface with your list of "boyisms".

I have 2 grown sons; one has 1 son, the other has two sons, and is soon to remarry a great gal and she has 3 sons!!!!

Oh boy!!!! I sure have a longing for a little "pink" in our future but I wouldn't trade the "blue" for anything. Love this post!