Being a mom to boys has been interesting since the beginning. I was so excited to have my first little boy growing in my belly. To feel him hiccup and know that he would be my little man. To know that he would grow up to be a protector and sweet spirited lover. I dreamed of him being my little cuddle bug, my sensitive man who would be courteous and kind and compassionate and strong. At least that is how I pictured him.
Never did I think I would end up with three boys in the years that followed. Each time the ultrasound would reveal another bouncing boy growing inside me I would smile and think it was a good thing I loved being around boys. I couldn't imagine having one of my boys be a girl instead. They are each so perfectly mine and I enjoy being mommy and recipient of all of that affection from sweet little boys makes my heart burst. It is amazing.
I will tell you there are many things I have learned as a mom to boys. I know there are so many more things to learn as well. I am praying I get all the years to learn all the lessons I have to learn and that my boys will make it despite my skills (or lack there of) to be a mom to boys!
1. You can NEVER own too many cars and balls. My 2-year-old's favorite thing to get at the store is a new ball. It can be a BIG giant ball, or just a small bouncing ball. It could even be a gumball and he will be thrilled! And don't even get me started on cars. We have toy cars out our ears and we still manage to come up with a reason to get a new one every now and then.
2. Sound effects...for my family it was pretty much sound effects before actual words and sentences. My boys made the sounds of animals and cars and yes, even bodily functions... before they actually spoke coherent sentences. Potty training my toddler was slightly amusing.
3. Don't use the phrase "Let me kiss it and make it better..." there are just some things your little man may call a boo-boo that you just don't want to kiss. My 4-year-old hit his little boy parts on the coffee table one day and asked me to kiss it. Nope, not happening. My 2-year-old got a bad diaper rash when he was sick. Yeah... I passed. Green boogie face (I did kiss it but ONLY after taking a wet rag and washing the little sticky mouth).
4. They find the strangest things HILARIOUS! My 2-year-old will sit and crack up at his little trucks and I have NO idea why. They just looked at him funny I suppose. (I am sure girls have their moments as well).
5. The eating continually begins at an early age. My 4-year-old already has begun the ever going NEVER ceasing "I'm hungry mommy." "I want something to eat mommy." ALL day! (and yes I feed him). I am preparing myself for the grocery bills in our future.
6. It is OKAY to let your boy carry a purse around a little and to allow him to wear or like pink and purple. It will not ruin him. Hey even let him pick up a doll every once in awhile. He may have to carry a purse for his wife one day and I don't want to have raised a boy who says "NO WAY" just at the sight of a purse in his hand.
My boys have begun having conversations with each other and it is the cutest thing to hear communication between them about the random things they are thinking and imagining. One of them will run with an imaginative story line and the other one will go right along with it as though he actually knows what the other one is talking about! And I can sit there and usually have NO clue what they are talking about but they seem to understand each other perfectly.
Also I know this goes for any children but just because you have the same gender doesn't mean they will be the same. My boys personalities are so different. I am having to learn how to do things differently with my 2-year-old because what worked for my 4-year-old isn't working the same way for him. They have different fears, different likes and interests and different ways of handling pressures. They handle being in trouble differently and they have different temptations. They are completely different people and I like that.
God has blessed me with a third boy and I cannot wait to see what his personality will be like as he grows and develops. Right now he is only a month and a half and only has learned to smile, eat, sleep, cry and fill a diaper. Pretty much all the really important things. We will see what the future has in store. So far it looks very full of cars, balls and grocery carts filled of food.
