*Image Credit – edinburghfestival.list.co.uk
Why do little boys always have to be so rough when they play? I hope some of you have the answer to this question because I am completely baffled by it. It has certainly been a learning experience being the mother of two little boys and the aunt of 5 more. Yes, you read correctly, we have no little girls in my family. My parents have a grand total of 7 grandsons ranging from the ages of 11 years old down to 10 months old. They all have different personalities but, the one thing that they all have in common, is that they like to play rough.
When I say, “play rough”, I don’t mean that they like to hurt each other or anything like that. What I mean is that every activity that they partake in usually involves running, jumping, climbing, swinging, racing, karate chopping, boxing, or wrestling. Also, if they have enough time, you can catch them pretending to be Jedi knights with their lightsabers or battling each other with their Pokemon cards. Their playtime is worlds aways from what I remember my playtime to be when I was a little girl. I also have seen that little girls, at the park, have a totally different way of playing with each other and socializing than boys do.
Unfortunately, since all of these activities are physical, sometimes things in the house get broken or damaged accidentally. One such example would be the towel rack in my bathroom that was ripped off the wall during a pretend session of circus play when my boys were swinging off the rack like acrobats. Another such example would be the chunk of sheetrock in the livingroom doorway that was accidentally knocked out during a would be karate lesson. The list of these kinds of mishaps is endless when it comes to raising little boys.
According to someone that I know, he states that this kind of behavior is instinctual and that boys have a predisposition for being rough and for horseplay. He went on to say that this kind of behavior is an outlet for them to let out some of the pent up testosterone that is coursing through their bodies. I’m not sure how accurate his theories are but I do agree that there is something psychological and physiological that makes boys behave differently than girls. I’m no doctor or scientist so I can’t really tell you what the scientific explanation is for all of this.
What I do know is that I am in a house full of men and sometimes I feel like I am on a different planet. Between the jumping off the top bunkbed, swinging from one couch to another, racing across the livingroom, water fights in the bathtub, and rolling around on the floor, I feel like I am on Animal Planet. The men in my family, and my husband, tell me to get used to this because this is how boys have always been. Maybe they are right and that poem, by Mother Goose, is right after all…
A Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme
What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails
That’s what little boys are made of !”
What are little girls made of?
“Sugar and spice and all things nice
That’s what little girls are made of!”
© 2010 – 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.
A cool post. So u r an only girl amongst four boys. Great! I liked the way u presented this stuff. Nice read.But u do really a tough job, handling three men. I'm a girl, and I really don't realise that correct time in my life when I started realising this that any woman can be happy rather happier when she has her own family and definitely to be a mum of two naughty boys!! 🙂
Oh Maria – I have two boys and a daughter but she is now living in Canada and I am left with "the boys", so can identify completely with your feeling of being on another planet at times!!!!! Luckily when my oldest son (who is our middle child) was a teenager we went to listen to a wonderful lady speaker who seemed to have boys sussed, and I came away from listening to her feeling somewhat relieved that the way the males in my household 'played' was actually normal!!!!!!! My husband has 4 brothers and they still 'play' like this no matter what age they are. Yep, that's what boys are made of. Ciao
Hello, Latika. Yes, I am a girl among boys. You are right in saying that having a family can make any woman happy. For me, it is the best part of my life. Thank you so much for passing by and following, I really appreciate it. Come back soon.
Maree, thank goodness this is all normal. I was beginning to think that I was losing it. I wouldn't trade my boys for anything but, they certainly are an active bunch. I can't begin to tell you how many times during the day I say, "stop running through the house", "Don't jump on the furniture", or "Watch the TV!" Thanks for putting my mind at ease, I always love your comments and feedback.
After 2 boys, we had a little girl, and I am SO AMAZED that she can sit and draw for a half hour without jumping on the table at some point. I've actually become one of those mothers at the park who can drink coffee rather than chase a toddler down a hill :).
Following from BF
Unplanned, you are one lucky Mom. I'm sure that you already know, from having two boys of your own, that that is not an option when you have boys. I am constantly watching to make sure that no bones get broken. My 7 year old learned how to ride a bicycle this summer and he whizzes past me like Evil Knievel. There is never a dull moment. Thank you for passing by, feel free to come back anytime.
Aaah, boys will be boys. 🙂
You know, when I was a kid, I used to be a tomboy and I loved to play boys game: cowboys and indians, football, tree climbing, running around like lunatics, etc. lol Today I'm every inch of a girl but still love to hang around with the boys and discuss football, formula 1, rugby, etc.
I guess this is a normal behaviour pattern for boys(I don't know about girls, like me…lol). Most boys I've known growing up are very hyper-active and if I do meet a subdued boy, I immediately thought something is not right. It must have something to do with the level of testosterone.
At least your kids are active and not stuck in front of TV/computer most of the time. Enjoy them because before you know it, they'll be looking for their own appartment. They grow too quick! 🙂
Funkkeejooce, I, also, was very much a Tomboy when I was a little girl. The other girls used to wonder why I wanted to play with the boys instead of them. My boys are very active and very much involved in sports. You are so right, they grow up so quickly that it is important to enjoy every single minute that we have with them.
Hey, I'm following from the Mom Loop. Great post. I love the quote at the beginning! I have 2 boys and 4 nephews…no nieces!! My parents raised all girls and now they're getting all grandsons. My dad is loving it, though. I'm excited to follow another mom of boys.
I blog about early literacy topics. Come check it out when you have time.
http://www.readysetread2me.blogspot.com
Hi, Jackie. Thank you so much, I am so glad that you enjoyed this post. You are just like me, I have two boys and five nephews, no nieces either. I am a Middle School English Language Arts teacher so it would appear that we have a lot in common. I will definitely be checking our your early literacy blog. Thank you again for your comments and for following. I really appreciate it.
I have two boys and my life pretty much involves constant physical motion. I recently went to a cub scout meeting and discovered that every.single.boy there was the same. My difficulty is trying to find the line between "normal boy behavior" and "stop being so violent". OY!
Hi, Metro DC Mom. It is so good to hear that this appears to be the norm for all Moms of boys. I also struggle with making sure that they don't cross the line and get too violent with the wrestling, boxing, karate, and all that kind of stuff. Thank you so much for sharing…