It is becoming increasingly obvious that I am outnumbered, a single XX chromosome in a sea of XY chromosomes. Not only are my babies getting bigger, but they are exhibiting more of their inherent boyness with each passing day.
Evidence of the first part:
This is the curtain rod in my living room, held in place by one of those anchors that pops open like an umbrella after you shove it through the hole.
Note the damage to the drywall. That’s about a seven inch divot. Despite these industrial-strength anchors, the boys have still managed to pull the curtains half off the wall. Would this happen with girls? I suspect not.
Evidence of the second part:
Simon and I played outside today. After watching for a while, I eventually had to join in to try for myself the game that kept him occupied for the best part of an hour: scrounge around the side of the house for fallen icicles, impressive in size from the mid-week thaw, and smash them to smithereens on the bricks. We must have pulverized 20 lbs of ice. I can’t believe it kept him engaged for as long as it did, but the very best part was the evil giggle that burbled from him every single time he smashed a hunk of ice to bits. Wanton destruction not only sanctioned by but actually accompanied by Mommy – he was in heaven.
Evidence of the third part:
As I type this, I’m curled up on the sofa while Beloved and Tristan are a few feet away, playing the Cars video game on the Xbox console Beloved just rented from the video store.
They’ve completely forgotten I’m here, father and son bonding over a video game. Tristan, not even five years old, has already beaten his father in at least one race. He holds the game controller like he was born with it in his hand.
I have this sneaking suspicion this is only the beginning…
So you rent the console? That is an excellent idea. I’ve always said I don’t want to own a gaming system, but if we could rent one for special occasions (or desperate, boring weekends here and there), that would be perfect.
So you rent the console? That is an excellent idea. I’ve always said I don’t want to own a gaming system, but if we could rent one for special occasions (or desperate, boring weekends here and there), that would be perfect.
It is only the beginning…
It is only the beginning…
Every night, just before bedtime, my 2-year old minus 2 weeks finds it fun to wrap himself in the curtain by the window. Every day, I remind him not to do it, and every day, he pulls a little harder.
Seeing your picture with the damaged drywall, perhaps it’s time to take the curtains OFF, shorten them, or stick to a blind.
Every night, just before bedtime, my 2-year old minus 2 weeks finds it fun to wrap himself in the curtain by the window. Every day, I remind him not to do it, and every day, he pulls a little harder.
Seeing your picture with the damaged drywall, perhaps it’s time to take the curtains OFF, shorten them, or stick to a blind.
Ohhh, I know just what you mean! When the young cousins are together (all boys aged 3 and 4), the full scope of their play runs from being “Bad Guys” bent on destruction to being “Good Guys in a Bad Mood” who are bent on destruction. They tear by – capes flying, plastic or imaginary swords drawn – looking for something to fight. Though it’s entirely unfair, the sister-moms all turn their hopeful gazes to 4-month old Anabel and talk of the Golden Days to come of tea parties and doll dressing and paint by number projects. Given her environment, tho, Baby Belle is more likely to be shimmying trees, chasing frogs and smashing lego towers with the best of them (no matter how much pink we put on her!). But you know, in my observation, mothers of sons go through that “invisibility” phase when the boys are very young, and mothers of daughters suffer through it when their girls become teenagers. Frankly, I think I prefer the former! Enjoy the madness 🙂
Ohhh, I know just what you mean! When the young cousins are together (all boys aged 3 and 4), the full scope of their play runs from being “Bad Guys” bent on destruction to being “Good Guys in a Bad Mood” who are bent on destruction. They tear by – capes flying, plastic or imaginary swords drawn – looking for something to fight. Though it’s entirely unfair, the sister-moms all turn their hopeful gazes to 4-month old Anabel and talk of the Golden Days to come of tea parties and doll dressing and paint by number projects. Given her environment, tho, Baby Belle is more likely to be shimmying trees, chasing frogs and smashing lego towers with the best of them (no matter how much pink we put on her!). But you know, in my observation, mothers of sons go through that “invisibility” phase when the boys are very young, and mothers of daughters suffer through it when their girls become teenagers. Frankly, I think I prefer the former! Enjoy the madness 🙂
Heh. Nature vs nurture aside, it’s been my observation that boys certainly are more, urm, active. Having said that, my daughter also enjoys smashing icicles on the pavement… almost as much as Simon! So it seems that some thing transcend the gender differences!
Heh. Nature vs nurture aside, it’s been my observation that boys certainly are more, urm, active. Having said that, my daughter also enjoys smashing icicles on the pavement… almost as much as Simon! So it seems that some thing transcend the gender differences!
LOL, Dani, I have the opposite situation. I live in the Casa del Estrogen. There are no video games, nor do my girls swing from the curtain rods. But, the emotional swings of the eye-rolling 7-going-on-24-year-old drama queen and the incohate sobbing tantrums of the 4-year-old when such horrible things as bedtime and vegetables are thrust upon her, not to mention the constant and deepening detritus of Barbies, Littlest Petshop, and Polly Pocket encroaching on all rooms of the house are enough to make me long sometimes for boys. Oh, and doing some math, it seems likely that my menopause and Leah’s puberty will overlap. Oh joy.
LOL, Dani, I have the opposite situation. I live in the Casa del Estrogen. There are no video games, nor do my girls swing from the curtain rods. But, the emotional swings of the eye-rolling 7-going-on-24-year-old drama queen and the incohate sobbing tantrums of the 4-year-old when such horrible things as bedtime and vegetables are thrust upon her, not to mention the constant and deepening detritus of Barbies, Littlest Petshop, and Polly Pocket encroaching on all rooms of the house are enough to make me long sometimes for boys. Oh, and doing some math, it seems likely that my menopause and Leah’s puberty will overlap. Oh joy.
YOU HAVE BOYS AND CURTAINS????
Are ya nuts?
This is why I don’t have Curtains or anything that can hang from the ceiling that Nathan can get ahold of.
As for the xbox or game cube. It’s only time to I hear the whine I want and XBOX like my couisn Brandon.
And Brandon is 6.
SIGH
YOU HAVE BOYS AND CURTAINS????
Are ya nuts?
This is why I don’t have Curtains or anything that can hang from the ceiling that Nathan can get ahold of.
As for the xbox or game cube. It’s only time to I hear the whine I want and XBOX like my couisn Brandon.
And Brandon is 6.
SIGH