Funny Things Boys Say - Hope for the Home

My grandmother used to sing the nursery rhyme – girls are made out of sugar and spice and everything nice, and boys are made out of snips and snails, and puppy dogs’ tails.

Although I don’t give much credence to this little rhyme today, there is no denying there is a drastic difference between the two genders.

I was the only girl in the family, and it was normal for me to play all the boys’ games- toy pistol shoot-outs, Cops and Robbers, Cowboys and Indians- you get the picture. I was definitely a tom-boy and this was normal in my world. Some of my best memories were playing in the dirt and riding in the tractor.

My grandmother meant well when she would sing, as she dearly loved each one of us the same.

There’s also no denying it is more evident today than when I was a kid how males in general are portrayed with such disdain. Boys aren’t saints but neither are girls. Neither one is greater or lesser than the other. Both are of equal value in my eyes.

I certainly love my boys and I think if I had 10 more, I would still be learning new things about how they tick, finding new ways to keep their attention during their math lesson, and being entertained at all of the funny things they do and say.

There is just something really adorable about the men in my life. I’m sure all boy-moms could find common ground on how wonderful being a boy-mom actually is. They are witty, creative, and there is never a dull moment when you have a lot of energy coming from one tiny human being. It surely would be a boring life without them.

Oh, the potential they have to be great men someday!

My littlest guy is a very sweet, kind-hearted soul, like his daddy, and he’s always finding ways to color me HIS favorite pictures by putting the finishing touches on with my favorite color. He brings me bouquets of dandelions from the yard, and is always skipping around the house. He’s a genuinely happy little boy. He brings our home the greatest joy from his cute, youthful personality. Every day is a new adventure.

This morning after breakfast, I was reading the two youngest a book. We had some snuggle time under the blanket looking out the window at last night’s snowfall talking about what our day was going to hold.

I talked about their efforts in reading new words, and how proud of them I was that they have been so eager to learn new things in their workbooks. They came up with some great questions for me today and when we needed to move forward with our morning, I turned to my little guy to say that he was adorable and he was exactly like his daddy.

He is really good at deflecting praise and said, “You are too mommy. I love your brown eyes. But I really like those things that go up, you know the pretty ones that stick up, those spikes on your eyes.”

He could tell he said something a little different because I was trying really hard to hold back a giggle. He is a person that pays attention to detail and I always look forward to what he’s going to say next.

“Spikes on my eyes” is a new one. It’s interesting what he makes mention of because my eyelashes are not that long. It must be something that he has noticed about all of the females in his life.

Just the other day, our 6-year-old daughter asked her dad to draw a flower so she could color it. As Jason was drawing, our 4-year-old son came in the room and asked his other sister to draw him a picture of a dog. She said she would, and then he quickly changed his mind to request two dogs instead, paused, and then added that they should have 2 pistols so they could fight.

I have one boy who likes when I wear earrings and flicks them back and forth during church. One is very affectionate and gives the best hugs. The other one likes the spikes on my eyes.

Well okay. I love you too bud.

Certainly, boys have images of conquering enemies, engaging in risky adventures, and protecting those they love in the process. They are made different and that’s okay.

We aren’t to squash their manhood. We can teach them self-control and not everyone that has a pistol is ready for war. You can foster that relationship by teaching him a balance of what a gentle, but bold leader looks like. Read him biographies of George Washington, Ronald Reagan, and great heroes of the faith. Tell him he is going to be a great man like his father. Encourage his manliness because it’s the way God made him.

Young women, get married and have babies. No matter if you have a boy or girl, it will be the most fulfilling roles you’ll ever have in this lifetime.

I promise.

Much Love,

Natalie