Many years ago, after first having a girl, I gave birth to a son. A more experienced mother with multiple boys came to visit.
She peered down at my innocent newborn and in a wise and weary voice said, “The thing with boys is, it’s all about the penis.”
“Weirdo,” I thought.
But like everything else I have learned from all of those moms that went before me, it’s true.
Honey, please let go of your wee-wee. You need two hands to hold onto the swing.
Sweetie, you can’t play tee-ball if you are holding your penis.
For the love of God, let go of your dick and finish your homework!
Boys are just a different breed than girls.
Protest if you want, but we all know it’s true.
I can tell from the pick up line at school who the moms of girls are and who has the boys.
Moms of girls arrive early to chat with the teachers. They wear fresh makeup, cute wedges and designer jeans. They wave gleefully to their girls, “Hi sweetie!” and hustle them out the door off to a magical world full of enchantment and Mommy and Me crafting.
Moms of boys skid into the parking lot sideways, dressed for battle with army fatigues, sneakers, hair pulled back in ponytails and sunglasses on so they don’t have to make eye contact with the principal.
“Get over here,” They yell. “Hey you! Get in the van NOW! Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”
Then they peel away, windows down so all farts and other strange odors can be exorcized outside.
These are my people.
I have noticed over the years that most of my friends are mothers of boys.
And I think this is because moms with boys just get it.
Moms of boys know.
They understand the chaos, the despair, the wacked out look in each other’s eyes.
Us moms of boys, we look at only girl moms with envy burning in our souls. What a wonderful life it must be. Structured, planned, clean…
My sister has such a blessed life.
One winter day when my boys were small I was on the computer booking a ski vacation for the family, when I suddenly thought to myself, “It’s too quiet.”
I walked to my sons’ room and heard hushed giggling.
“Where are you?” I said playing along. “Are you guys hiding in the closet?”
Giggle.
Cold blast of air.
Window… open? In February?
I poked my head out and there on the ice encased roof, laughing and running around like two complete idiots, inches from slipping off and cracking their skulls open on the ground below, are my kids.
As I pulled them back in through the window, I growled at my husband, “When does all this stupidness end?”
“Oh, for boys, let me see…at about age thirty-five.”
Thirty-five. That was his response.
He’s a boy. He knows.
Later that night over a large glass of wine, my hands still shaking, I told my sister what happened.
She stared, mouth hanging wide open and said, “Wow! I don’t think my girls would ever even think of doing something like that.”
It’s true, they wouldn’t.
They are girls.
Girls are smarter.
No argument here, we know.
Moms of boys don’t hold any pretense. We know that our kids are capable of anything and that there is no limit to their foolishness.
Moms of boys don’t blame or point fingers. They learn early on never to say, “Not my kid!” Instead they are the ones rushing in, grabbing their child and saying,“It was you, wasn’t it!”
Moms of boys forgive.There is camaraderie between us based on the basic truth and understanding that,“there but for the grace of God go I.” because maybe it wasn’t our kids this time, but for sure we know next time, it will be.
This is why I love my boy mom friends because there is no need to be perfect when you are the mom of boys. On Fridays we skid sideways up to the bar, sunglasses on to hide our baggy eyes, needing to share a story of our boy’s latest idiocy with those who understand, those who won’t judge or gasp in horror or offer useless advice but who instead just give a hug, nod their head and raise their glass.
And after a while, after a few drinks and a few tears, we laugh because we know our boys are going to be marrying your girls and one day, if they are lucky, they may just have little boys of their own.
About the author: Anne Sawan is a mother and a psychologist who eats, runs, and writes (in that order) in her spare time to keep herself sane. Her work has been featured on BluntMoms, Scary Mommy, Brain-Child, Adoptive Families and Ten to Twenty Parenting. More of her writing can be found on her blog at agsawan.wordpress.com.
184 Comments
Hahaha that was wonderful! A+
This was fabulous! I remember one of “my” mornings when my husband was home with our son. In the relative quiet of the Starbucks, I watched a mom and young (maybe 4 year-old) daughter at the next table. They colored together as they enjoyed their beverages. The girl contentedly sat still on her chair as she colored, occasionally leaning over and speaking to her mom in a quiet voice. All I could do was sit there and wonder “How does she get her to do that?!” Raising my son was like trying to herd a feral cat on speed. Getting him to actually sit still was more rare than the Cubs winning the World Series! He’s 16 now and we’re on to new challenges. Thanks again for a great post! 🙂
Awesome!!!
This article, while maybe true for this author and her group of “boy mom friends” is so far from any reality I’ve ever seen. I am the only girl in a family of 4 brothers. Of course they did stupid things from time to time. They were naturally more daring that I was but you could easily compare every dumb mistake they made to one a girlfriend of mine or I made. My mom (and dad) had thier shit together. There were rules and expectations…for ALL of us! I taught for a number of years before having a son of my own and without question I would take a classroom full of boys over a class of even just 6 girls. Emotions, feelings, hormones, nonstop questions without actually taking the time to explore answers for themselves, constant need for approval or attention… The majority of my girls were so exhausting. I notice this with my friends daughters as well and after spending time with my niece, who while is the sweetest human on Earth, is also the most chatty child I’ve ever met. I always feel the emotional drain of girls is far worse than the physical drain a boy may take on you, if you could even call it that. Of course not all girls and boys fit their gender role stereotypes but they’re just that, stereotypes. My 2 year old is one of the very few boys in his MDO class, the girls are without question the wrecking balls – not the boys. I am ridiculously tired of people using the phrase “he’s just being a boy” as an excuse for behavior that isn’t desirable. Humans are predisposed to certain behaviors and instinct based on gender but that does not mean that boys are wild animals that can’t be tamed. Bottom line: both genders have their advantages and challenges but behavior should not be one of them.
I also forgot to touch on the topic of rolling up to school a hot mess just because you’re picking up a car load boys. But you can probably imagine what my opinion on that is…. I pray I one day get to have a Suburban full of smelly, post practice boys – and now I’ll pray to avoid looking like a troll while doing it.
Eyeroll. You are a mommier than thou BITCH.
One word …..wow
I have raised 3 boys and can’t remember a single second where I would have rather had girls. I LOVED the highs and lows knowing that I was learning as much as they were and having a blast. I am now raining our 5 yr old girl. She is not afraid to play in the mud, the rain, and dig for bugs, hold snakes and be adventurous. I absolutely love being a mom. I may go crazy when I end up with an empty nest. For you wonderful new mom’s out there….remember above all there is NO perfect mom out there. Relax and enjoy the most awesome adventure you will ever be on. All to soon they will be grown and creating families of their own and looking for you for advice.
I’m a mom of 3 boys and 1 girl. …I completely agree with you. My boys have expectations and if the behavior is wrong, it’s wrong. They are generally great kids though. I’ve had them almost set our woods in fire once, but we talked about it, how they felt, the dangers etc. And since then we’ve done a lot more of preparing them (the scouting program is awesome for this, btw) for all their curiosities and they’ve never really had to be curious. They already knew what was coming up and what to do. If that even n makes any sense. …but I don’t show up liking like a troll. My boys hop in the car (after putting their things away neatly in the back) stinking like only boys can smell, but they’re trying to be respectful and mindful of their surroundings. They are 18 – in boot camp becoming a Marine, 17-my one and only girl, 12 and 10 – first year football players and scouts.
Thank you! I was about to say the same thing!
I completely agree. I used to substitute at a high school and I would GLADLY take a classroom of high school boys over girls. The girls were emotional, sneaky, gossipy, and always fighting or bullying other girls.
AMEN Della! I am so sick of these stupid articles about “moms of boys”. Who says that? You’re either a mom or not. I too grew up with 3 brothers. We never had these “problems”. And my mom never referred to herself as a “mom of boys”. My mom was a mom to children.
OMG!! Lighten up! I am the mom of 2 awesome boys and I find the humor in the article. And can relate. Not every written word needs to be over analyzed. Sometimes it’s just the lighter side of an experience. So tired of the scolding. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. If you don’t agree, find something to read that feeds your perspective. Let the rest of us have a laugh.
It’s HUMOR!!! I am also a mom of 2 (WONDERFUL) boys, but can identify with a lot of what’s in this article. It’s witty and cute and funny. The people who are being so defensive, are not anyone that I would like to share my time with, if they can’t take a joke!!! Lighten up is RIGHT! Sheeesh.
I second that!
Thank you!!
exactly! OMG – mothers get over yourselves – a very entertaining article indeed – I had a good laugh as the author intended –
Thank you!! Exactly!
Agreed. I don’t doubt that there is a valid argument to be made about the struggle of raising girls but that’s not the point being made here. I found this article to be funny and relatable. It’s just nice to know other moms get it….we are not alone. No need to get upset or argue the other side….just have a laugh or maybe be inspired to blog about the highs and lows of mothering girls rather than breaking this piece down, line by line.
I enjoyed the read.
I agree with those saying to not take this so seriously. I am a mom of three boys and I have never once been sad about not having a girl. I don’t think the author was saying that boys are hard and girls are easy. She was just pointing out some of the unique traits of boys and the effect of living with that gender only. Funny thing is that in high school, I always wanted to have a chimpanzee. I thought they were so stinking adorable and cuddly how they wrap themselves around you, and so fun. And you get to put diapers on them! I even called a zoo once to see if they “rented” out chimps for birthday parties lol. Well, my mom tells me I finally got my three little monkeys. I wouldn’t trade them for the world. They are so fun and cute. If you live in a house of males where that girly side of you is NEVER fed though, there IS an effect and I think the author was just pointing that out. You do start to notice how other women seem more “put together” than you lol, and I do notice that I have become more like guys in some other ways: I’ve become less touchy-feely I think and less detailed about my looks. I also notice female drama quicker because I don’t see it at home. By human nature, we tend to mesh with those we live with, unconsciously, and often don’t recognize it until we’re outside our home and with others. This is my experience anyway. I think that’s what this author was saying.
“female drama”? really? ugh. I pray your boys don’t become as much of a misogynist as you apparently are
Yes!! Have a cup of coffee and chill already!! My 4 boys make me laugh all day. I wouldn’t trade it. And clearly neither would this writer! ?
I enjoyed the humor I the article. If you only have boys, then it goes to say your a mom of boys. It was done tongue in cheek with a joy for adventure and challenge. All parents have worries. It enjoy them while you can. I was a ‘tomboy’ when young and I know my brother’s influenced some of that but my parents never made a. If deal out of it. Adventures every day.
I agree with you 100%! 2 minutes with girls make me so thankful I have ever my 2 boys!!! But then again, while my boys are sports crazed, bike loving, any dangerous thing they can do they will, I can take them out anywhere and they always behave…it’s all about teaching them what’s ok and what isn’t.
I believe you just made this author’s point. You don’t get it! A sibling and teacher of boys has left you judging, not understanding what it’s like being a mom of boys. Lighten up and maybe one day you will be blessed to join the club!
Actually, Della, the sibling and teacher of boys also has a son–so is in a unique position to weigh in.
I have two boys and I adore lots of boy energy in my classroom!
Agreed! I’m a mom of 2 little girls and they are just as exhausting as raising boys. Moms with girls don’t all wear “fresh makeup and cute wedges..” I’m often late and disheveled when dropping off and picking up my daughter from kindergarten, because I’m a mom! While my kindergartner was relatively easy as a baby, she’s now becoming more emotional and doesn’t listen as well as she use too. My second daughter is crazy – climbing everywhere and regularly destroying things/making a mess (poop on the carpet anyone??). So no, it’s not always a calm, cool and peaceful time raising girls. Being a mom is hard and stressful no matter what gender your child(ren) are!
100% agree with every word. I have 2 girls. Do they colour instead of wrestle? Yes. But they are exhausting and trying and lovely and whining and emotional and mean and sweet….and kids.
I raised three boys! They weren’t as hard to raise as this article states. I would trade raising my boys. I don’t think I could stand all the drama of girls.
I totally agree with you! Love my 3 (now adult) boys and found them no worse than girls.
I was JUST going to post the same. I teach in Saudi now and I teach a class of all girls. After teaching for 20 years grades 2-8…..give me a group of boys at ANY grade level and you will see a teacher with funnier stories but much less stress…..
Do u feel better??? Got all that iff your chest??
And you, Della, and the few others who actually agreed with you, get over yourself. You’re the reason why we are where we are in society. Such crap in your response. I related to it perfectly and didn’t take it literally. While this wasn’t meant to be an exact blueprint to raising boys vs girls, you seem to have taken it as so. Why are you so damn sensitive? Complaining about a humor piece that was true to some extent? Wth is your problem? Get off your high chair and lighten up, there’s an amazing world out there when you don’t get butt hurt over the smallest things, or grow a spine.
As a mother of four boys I could not agree with you more! Boys/males being depicted as buffoons, crude and incapable and girls as strong, smart and capable because of our “I am woman hear me roar” culture is so infuriating to me. Stop expecting so little of your boys!!! It is so damaging to their development.
Thanks, Della. I was thinking pretty much the same thing as I read this article. I appreciate the humor in it and I also see a bit of truth. I’m raising a boy who is more artistic and less sporty, so he doesn’t spend time playing on the roof, but his father and uncle spent most of their childhood on my MIL’s roof. Point is, every child is different whether boy or girl. I’ve raised my son to roll down his own window if he has to toot, say excuse me when he burps, and he knows his “yes ma’am” and “no sir”, etc, even if he doesn’t always use them. I don’t fuss at him for saying “yeah?” sometimes because he hears that out of our mouths more often than not. Although I still say “yes ma’am” etc when addressing elders.
As far as boys and girls go, the girls his age (10-12) in his church peer group are much mouthier and aggressive then all but a couple of the boys. I teach Sunday School and my husband and I chaperone every youth outing so we see it first-hand.
When my son was still in public school, I volunteered every Friday. I wore make-up and dressed in whatever I felt like, whether it was yoga pants or a “fancy” outfit.
I know the article is written in jest, but I see much more exaggeration than truth. I guess when I read blogs like this I want to see more relatable, not fiction-type, writing. And this felt more fiction-y than not.
On a separate note: I love how a mommy has the audacity to accuse you of being a judgmental B-word, all the while judging you and anyone who does not agree with the author, and she has the temerity to do it anonymously. Ironic much? Then another (or maybe the same) trolls another comment telling the mommy that she needs to lighten up so she can be blessed to “join the club”. Frankly, I don’t want to be a part of any club those ladies are a part of. And therein lies the rub. This author posted a blog knowing mommies of all types would weigh in, but certain ladies think you’re only allowed to comment if you agree whole-heartedly with written. I would say to those types, maybe you need to lighten up.
Relax sister. It’s meant to be funny
Thank you! I have two great sons who now have sons of their own. None of this article fits my family.
Thank you Della. Well said! As a mother of four boys I find each one so different, but primarily mine are kind, funny, cuddly, gentle, sometimes rowdy, responsible, helpful, “make fart noises”, loveable, energetic, respectful and well mannered. I’m sure a mother of all girls would find similar characteristics in her girls……perhaps not the “fart” noises! Let’s not stero type our children…..oh…and yes, please don’t feel “sorry” for mothers of all boys…..we’re doing just fine thanks!
I am a mother both and this article was exceptionally void of love and affection for the very children she has. “Stupid” & “Idiots” are words used to describe your children certainly not mine or any other mom I know including the moms of boys. Sadly this rant sounds more like a mother in need of help and fast. As mothers, our instinct is to love, cherish, guide, and accept our children regardless of sex. Sad to see so many moms engaging in such derogatory thoughts and us women wonder why too many men can’t keep up their end of the relationship, I count my blessings and the men in my life, I couldn’t be happier to have them in my life.
This is really cute! ? I too was a sister to 4 brothers. We have 4 boys, we are decent parents who mostly have our stuff together, because well there are no perfect parents! Lol my brothers insist they were preparing me, because although they are amazing adults, they were crazy wild boys!! Lol
I taught preschool for 15 years and there are distinct diffences between boys and girls! Lol. From birth! I agree. I’ll take rowdy over emotional every day, but even boys get emotional and moody, it’s called middle school. So momma, hold on tight to that precious, well controlled first born son of yours! It does not stay that way and one day you will look back and giggle about what you just wrote!?When you have ALL boys and no girls around to hange the dynamic, it’s a riot most of the time! I say this as my kids just finished sledding the stairs while the baby watched, and banked his own ideas! ??
She’s not saying boys can be allowed to be wild ill behaved hooligans, just that it’s different and she prefers the mommas of boys who get that it’s different! I’ve been doing the momma gig for 17 years. Our youngest is one. I remember all the crazy things I thought with my first and how I changed for the better when I embraced who my boys were and how God made them. Our youngest is getting the creme de la creme of our parenting because we have learned so much over He years! Lucky boy! A book that made me realize who my boys were made to be is called Wild At Heart, John Elderedge. I think they should give it out at the hospital when the precious bundle comes out! ❤
Hugs momma- you are gonna need them!
absolutely! as a mum of boys I totally agree with you, couldn’t say it better myself. love my boys (and all boys) because they are boys! adventurous, carefree and quietly inquisitive. my buddies for life.
So sad to see the war on boys start in their own homes, from their own mothers. Of course you will raise stupid, smelly, reckless boys, if that’s all you think they are capable of.
Of course it’s not all we think they are capable of!!! But this is certainly how a lot of them start out. I had 3 of them that managed to outgrow some of their boyish ways and be adults….most of the time anyway!
Thank you. I have a good seen of humor “, I get some of this was written tongue in cheek. But I hate when people stereotype things like this, it perpetuates a huge problem in our society. Boys are as inherently reckless, smelly, and dumb as girls are inherently quiet, meak, sweet, and clean! It does a huge disservice to all *kids* to perpetuate this attitude. I have 4 kids daughters and so and they are each unique and all of them are smelly, dirty, wild and loud. 😀 only one is obsessed with his penis but it wasn’t okay for my daughters to dig around in their pants (and they all did it in the toddler/preschool years) and it isn’t okay for my son (same rules:bathroom, make sure your hands are clean before and after bud!).
I love boys, I am sure raising a house full of them comes with different challenges for some families, but seriously let’s be respectful and stop boxing everyone into these rude and incorrect cubbies.
YES! Thank you for this!
So true. We are raising kids not genders. I have 2 boys and 2 girls. They are all messy and dirty and kind and loving and affectionate and crazy. My daughters have a Thor and Hulk costume and play superheroes and zombie killers with their brothers and they in turn play my little ponies with their sisters.
I couldn’t agree more. As the mother of two boys, I sometimes found people almost commiserated with me for my “misfortune” and this article plays right in to that kind of stereotyping – ie,girls:lovely (especially if you are a mum), boys:a bit of a pain; noisy; challenging; difficult to bring up. The reality is that every mother is different; and every child is different and our experiences of motherhood are about who we are; what’s happening in our lives; our reaction to becoming a mother and much less to do about the sex of our children.
It’s not that I don’t have a sense of humour, and I’m not offended by this blog, but I do think it’s sad that the author is trying to pigeonhole us in this way, and also that boys are getting such a bad press
Bang on…I grew up with 3 brothers…Insanity ! Way more fun then my friends who had all sisters. I can’t explain it but anything to do with farts sends me into hysteria. I think I have PTSD and find my friends with boys are my people.
I haven’t noticed this at all. Lol. I have a 9 year old boy and he can be a handful, but usually he’s the easy one to take care of. My daughter is the one who keeps me on my toes. That’s just her personality though. Don’t think any of it has anything to do with gender.
I am the mother of two girls and a boy (birth order g-b-g). When I was pregnant with my third, my husband found me sobbing in the bathtub. Carefully – because I was very pregnant – he asked me what was wrong. My response, “I’m afraid this baby might be a boy!”
That’s a shitty thing to say
I too have girl-boy-girl. I actually hoped for the opposite…. I wanted another boy. But then my son is NOT your typical boy….. he’s on the autism spectrum. He’s VERY quiet. He reads a LOT. He’s not into sports at all. But I was afraid of having another girlie girl that I didn’t know what to do with. As it ended up, she is a little bit of a tomboy and a little stubborn (ok, maybe a lot.)
That all being said, I teach 4 year olds. Our class has 12 boys and 6 girls. Yes, as a general rule, the boys are more boisterous and less mature than the girls…. but then we have some quiet boys and a girl that still needs to learn to use her inside voice while playing! They are EACH unique individuals that are growing and learning.
sexiest
I loved this quick blurb on our reality that was stated with truth and hilarity. No war. We don’t love our boys less because we speak honestly of their nature. Thank you for supplying the voice for us all!
Well…
My children must have had their personalities switched because my son, who is the oldest at 30, is the sweet, cooperative one who really didn’t do any of that.
My daughter, now, at 27, is the one to reckon with. Oppositional and defiant. The stories I could tell. Scaring the cat when she was one and laughing maniacally when the cat ran. Crawling across the street before she could walk (she slipped out the back door so fast)! Throwing my carefully saved Breyer horses into the fireplace, again with the maniacal laugh, to watch the legs explode off! Kicking the bedroom door into the babysitter’s head at five. Going down a very steep hill at 10 or so on her scooter wearing no body armor with a grin as wide as the sky. Rock climbing. Driving cross country with a friend and no plans. Taking a job in Colorado. Taking a job in Florida. She’s tough and she’ll survive. But she’s not anyone’s girly girl. That’s for sure. 😀
There are times in life when someone has to go out on an icy roof. God help us all if we have to depend on someone who’s never been out on a roof.
Honestly, I think the author REALLY missed the boat with this article, and I think it’s a shame. EVERY “mom circumstance” has it’s blessings and it’s cursings, not to mention that each mom experiences each of those gifts and challenges through her own life personal experiences, expectations, attitudes, and expectations. I think it’s fabulous that moms can blog and build camaraderie, but I think it’s at too great a cost when that camaraderie has an “us vs. them” mentality: boy moms vs girl moms, single moms vs working moms, married moms vs single moms, moms of one vs moms of 2+, public school vs private school vs homeschool moms, etc. Absolutely moms in various situations should share about their unique challenges, but to set up this false narrative of “look how EASY they have it!” is naive, untrue, isolating, divisive, and ultimately damaging to moms and their potential to work together in a positive way.
Egads, there are a lot of errors in my post! Sorry about that! I’m tired this morning, and typing this out on a cell phone, with a short text window. 🙂
I love this comment, thank you for making it!
Totally agree Michelle!
I get that it’s a bit tongue in cheek but this author is way off the mark with what girls are like! My 3 girls are all different. One often calm and quiet (not always) and two are full of energy and loud. One has a missing tooth from climbing when she was 1, one has scars on her palms from refusing to stop with the monkey bars, one prefers to draw and read!
It’s certainly challenging and the comment about mums of girls wearing wedges and being all done it is pretty ridiculous!
What do mums of both boys and girls look like?! One foot on a sneaker and one in a wedge haha
I totally agree with you that this article is putting mums of boys and mums of girls against each other! Let’s all just high 5 each other coz being a mum is hard and crazy and wonderful and fun!!!
I picked my daughter up from school today wearing gumboots. When we lived in the city I would wear commando boots as they were great when I was riding my single speed bike (and I was not the only Mum so dressed). My friend, who has a boy at school wears silk frocks and heels to school pick up. My youngest daughter once commented that ‘Mummy is an artist (cake) and I’m a “fartist.” The gender of the child does not determine who we are as mothers. I agree Sarah
I know this was written for laughs but it always bothers me when someone paints boys with a broad brush – especially when they’re labeled as stupid. Sheesh, just imagine if someone authored an article about girls in this light. I get it but parents need encouragement to love each child as an individual- not a stereotype.
Welcome to my world..this is so true. I have a fifteen year old and a four year old. They drive me crazy but I wouldn’ trade them for the world. I always thought that if we had another baby I would want a girl to ‘complete’ the family, but recently I though how great it would be to be the mum of three awesome boys. Love my boys… Can’ t wait till they become awesome men and fathers …..payback!
I’ve been a girl mom and there were hard things there too. But as a boy grandma, I completely agree with this article. Boys are a different kind of challenge. From the teacher standpoint, I also agree with the teachers comments which say that they would take a roomful of boys over a roomful of girls. Single sex classroom dynamics are very different and a classroom full of boys would have clear divisions of behaviors that could be focused for educational purposes. A room full of girls would be behaviorally more diverse. Yes, poor behavior should have consequences, but with boys it seems to be a constant flow of issues whereas with girls you get many lulls in the storm.
I was definately the exception to the rule for most girls since I was the only girl after five boys. My mom tried her best to keep me clean, in pretty dresses and clean clothing. I justed wanted to be one of the guys I grew up a tomboy and loved every minute of it. I am the proud momma of a very wonderful girlie girl and an awesome boy. The whole “penis” thing is so freaking true he always had his hand shoved down his diaper or shorts until he arrived at school age. My girl on the other hand loved fancy frilly dresses and her dirty blonde curls brushed just so. She aways wandered around in cowboy boots though cause those were her “fancy shoes”. So you are so right about the boys thing but there are some of us girls who grew up tomboys and it has made me a better woman and mom to my boy….
Funny article, yes big differences between the semester, boys are so much more physical, typically. I have watched my friends with 2 boys wrangle them, although I feel like I do much of the time with my girls too. Yes we must have a different breed of Girls being raised at our house! We have three girls, and none of them are the sit still, quietly do their drawing types.
…or the boys will marry each other and create even more mayhem.
I am a Blunt Dad of 3 daughters and 2 sons who are all grown now. When people would ask me what was different about raising boys vs girls I told them “Boys are idiots and Girls just attract more idiots…
Haha I like this Steve
I am reading this while my 2 year old redheaded ‘spirited’ little man wraps garlic butter covered fettucini round his head and throws feta cheese at me!!
Haha it’s so true. I have 1 girl and 3 boys. I know the difference.
Yep, I’ve had a crazy boy run around on our roof before when he was just 4 years old. He used the same escape route and I about died!
Some of these comments are hilarious. People are so desperate to make everything about themselves they’ll actually take the time to argue that their daughters are as dumb as any boy. Congratulations!
Girls are smarter??? I forgive you?
I am the mother of four boys and grandmother of three grandsons and I wouldn’t trade them in for the best behaved girl! They were fun and adventurous and loving. I always told people when they asked if I missed having a girl because they were “easier” that after growing up with five sisters, boys are definitely easier! The major differences I have noticed over the years are: A girl wants to be entertained; a boy can take a block of wood and turn it into anything and play for hours; boys will often be physical when they fight, but two minutes later everything is forgiven (and forgotten!) and they are all best friends again. A girl will hold a grudge FOREVER! Let’s admit it ladies, it doesn’t always get better as we age. Maybe I’m just odd…I liked the challenges, got over the smells and was never much of a girlie-girl myself, so we had lots of play time. I even liked the terrible-twos! I just had a granddaughter and am head over heel in love with her and secretly hope that she’s a tom-boy like her grandma!
LOL, blunt but true. As a 44 year old man, formerly a little boy, I can fully attest to a lifetime of doing or otherwise participating in…dumb stuff. It is one of the many joys of having a penis of which there are too many to list. Besides, two heads are better than one, right? Just think of how far back we would be if throughout history if the prevailing gender was thoughtful, careful and liked to contemplate decisions before acting them out. Let’s not even factor in talking and discussing said decisions until heads start exploding. We would still be in a cro-magnon stage of development.
That is why we men-formerly-known-as boys do dumb stuff. When we decided we wanted to hunt bigger game, move the village to the cave across the way or see how long it takes for the dumbest of us to reach the bottom of a ravine…stuff gets done! LOL.
So you see, we also get it. We not only accept it, even against our better judgement sometimes, we just embrace it and see what happens. So, to put your mind and hearts at ease, follow these simple instructions if you are the mother of boys…there are no rules, we do not use logic you are capable of understanding, just love us an go with it and have some band-aids ready. Why do boys do the things they do? Simple, because they can.
And for the husband that claimed 35 is the age the dumb stuff stops happening…someone’s pants are on fire! LOL
Missing only the “Dads of Boys” blunt perspective, which is this:
I know he did it. I’m just surprised he didn’t do it sooner. I expect he’ll do it again. And no, there’s no fault to be placed here. HE is the one who did it, and he’s just a kid. Couldn’t I say that in a way it’s sort of your fault? After all, you agreed to have a kid with me and you knew we had a 50/50 chance of getting one as obstinate and obtuse as I am! By the way, isn’t he so incredibly cute!?!
Excellent, believe most if it and lived some of it, would not change a day of it.. I just love my Boys (46 & 40 years old!) Sooo much xx
As a mum of 3 boys, I LOVE this !! So true
I firmly believe as a mother of one easy going son and s slightly more neurotic one, that from the time they are born, they try hard to die. My girl is sunny, co operative and tries to prevent her brothers from dying quite often.
Thank goodness the penis thing is “normal”! I was beginning get worried! LOL
I don’t have brothers, we are the first in our family to have kids and most of my friends boys are still babies. And I prefer not to talk to my mother-in-law about whether my husband used to touch his wee-wee the whole time as well…
Even though my daughter (aged 5) hardly sat still in a restaurant, my son (aged 3) just has a way of doing something that will end up with him getting hurt or me almost having a heart attack because he nearly killed himself. He has hit his head more times than I can count – maybe the reason why girls are smarter
Loved the article! Boys and girls are really just this different.
Great post, but I’ll take raising a boy over a girl any day of the week. I had a girl and it was all drama, drama, tears, drama. I’m never afraid to say “hello” to our son.
I’m somewhat upset that a psychologist would perpetuate these gender stereotypes like this.
I’ve worked with children for over a decade. I see lots of moms of girls looking disheveled and moms of boys in fresh makeup and perfectly matched heels. I’ve seen gentle boys who take over care of their friends and rough and tumble girls. My own daughter is probably the most rough and tumble child I’ve ever met, and her interests all align with her father (she even has her hand in her pants more often than socially acceptable).
I have two girls. I drop off and pick up looking disheveled, I’ve got a lot of stuff to do and no time for makeup and a t-shirt that doesn’t look like I’ve worn it three days straight. If my older daughter, the one who likes dresses and jewelry, is standing near a crying kid on the playground I immediately wonder what she did. Both my girls have done things that make new doubt they have any sense of self preservation more times than I can count (what could possibly go wrong with a soap rink in a bathtub, right?)
Bottom line is this: kids are kids. Expecting boys to be rough and stupid and girls to be quiet and intelligent is doing nothing but putting harmful expectations on the kids and adds to the anxiety of mothers whose children fall outside these ideas, who don’t themselves reflected in all these #momofboys stories. I find it tone deaf for any author to perpetuate this bs, but I find it particularly irresponsible of a psychologist who should know better than to stereotype people and claim unilaterally that certain people are a certain way and some have it easier than others based on the gender of their kids.
Yes-this is absolutely exactly what I was thinking while reading. A psychologist?
Thank You to the author of this story, sometimes we just need to hear this from someone ells. I had a good laugh out of this and can relate to everything you mentioned.
Breaking this down to “girls are smarter than boys” is an idiotic approach. Boys are more adventurous and take risks. It’s how they become innovators and feed their young brains. This trend of trying to insinuate the behaviour of boys is related to their intelligence is the reason why so many young men are no longer going to university. Society has stacked the deck against them.
I liked the piece, but not the sexist drivel.
I have two brothers I grew up with and another who’s twenty years younger. Mom (who had five sisters) always claimed it was easier to raise boys than girls. How she ever came to that conclusion, I’ll never know. Maybe it’s a case of “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
I hear you, sista! You are my people, too. I am the courageous, pony-tailed and battle-scarred momma of three boys! Yep. THREE. I laughed so hard reading this post that I cried! I had to subscribe 🙂
Doesnt sound at all like my life as a mom of a girl. my girl is a whirwind of energy and a mighty challenge.
You’re the idiot who doesn’t get it. In other words, you’re a girl, and you only get girls. Your poor boys have to grow up with a mom who thinks they’re idiots and less intelligent than girls.
My kids must be weird then, because my boy never tries anything crazy and is super calm and reaponsible. My girl though.. *shakes head*… makes me want to pull my hair out. She is totally the one that’s going to break her arm falling off a roof and she’s the child that thinks farting is the funniest thing ever.
I know you’re trying to be funny, but if this “humorous story” were written in the reverse, by a bluntdad, about his daughters’ anatomy, and stating that boys are smarter, imagine the outcry and hysteria in the comments. Total double standard in our culture.
Also, your boys are behaving and feeling and thinkng exactly how evolution has taught them to behave and feel and think. They’re normal. You, unfortunately, don’t get it, because you’re not male. And that’s normal. A boy not behaving and thinking and feeling like a girl is exactly right.
“Moms of boys don’t blame or point fingers. They learn early on never to say, “Not my kid!” Instead they are the ones rushing in, grabbing their child and saying,“It was you, wasn’t it!””
YES! THIS!
This is exactly how sexism and misogyny are incubated — by spreading all these ridiculous, untrue, gender stereotyping fallacies.
Every time I read something like this I just feel sorry for all those boys being shoved into their mommy’s super narrow definition of “boy”. And equally sorry for their daughters who are both expected to be perfect and polished all the time, and vilified for being so much mire “high maintenance” than their brothers.
Why can’t you just relate the funny, quirky side of motherhoid without fueling gender wars.
Wonderful comment!
since you knew you weren’t going to like the article as soon as you read the title, why bother reading?
As the oldest of a mixed tribe of siblings and the mother of three boys, I can relate to the humor in this article with deciding the author is sexist. I do have a different relationship with boy moms than I do with girl moms. We have more shared experiences and more in common. That’s not being sexist.
This is soon true! My two munchkins where parkore running and jumping all over the county, even off the city hall building when it was getting a new layer of gold applied. After they grew up, I found video of them jumping off the top of the house at age 12, and off the back of a moving truck. My two were always up to pranks, and into the fireworks having a blast. But I always knew where their prankster ways came from, that was from good ole’ mom! I grew up with 3 older brothers and on a farm, and always into something myself. ADHD and never still, I was always wrestling with my kids and that was the environment of our loving home. My husband and I were firefighters as well. How else could the boys be but roughiens. As an artist and allowing them to be as creative as possible, at 16 my youngest asked if he could borrow my acetylene torch. Boys are smelly and rough, that’s a fact. Sometimes girls are too, but that is out of the norm. That’s ok too. What’s wrong with reality? Our world is getting so off base as to deny reality and get offended when others state a fact. Really people, we need to get over it. Quit being so PC. Just because someone has a differing perspective doesn’t mean to get your panties in a wad. (Guess you can tell I’m a ‘boy’s mom”…. and yes, I went there!) You might actually learn something if you would open your eyes and ears (and mind) and observe. I fully agree that I had rather be around the guys than girls growing up, and now too, because of what others have stated here as well…. Emotions. (See, girls are different!) Wow! So many have already shown that they still haven’t gotten over being emotional and don’t know how to control it. Emotional mean girls who don’t know how to see others’ perspective, nor humor in an article, still live on and raise their little girls to be such. As a mom of boys, we have had to deal with these behaviors, roll our eyes again(!!!), and it is always shocking the havoc girls will play with boys lives for their own entertainment. Reality bites. Grow up women.
I enjoyed this article although I am the mom of one girl and one boy. I love having both. I think like anything else, you really can’t generalize. And unfortunately, I see a lot of moms in the comments talking about how they’d hate to have girls and are so happy they have boys. These types of comments always grate on me. Let’s remember that as moms, we are ALL girls/women. Let’s not make ourselves look bad by saying we’d hate to have one of ourselves as a child. And it’s not OK to generalize and say that girls are all gossipy liars, etc. Or that all boys grab themselves all the time. I agree 100% with the mom in the comments who said we are all moms of children. Our children, boys or girls, have to learn to exist, work with and date/marry each other. Let’s just try to give them the best foundation for this that we can, regardless of sex.
this is not my reality. I had a boy first, then a girl. The girl takes more risks, does more messy play, needs more persuading to put on suitable clothing, brush her hair, wash her face etc. she was the bolter; he held my hand. He follows rules; she questions them.
she is much more of a dirt magnet. both of them like loud, boisterous play but this idea that boys are different and are to be held to a different standard of behaviour is what leads to excusing sexism and harrassment and boorish behaviour when they grow into teenagers and men.
excusing bad behaviour as ‘boys will be boys’ does boys a disservice.
All of you moms who don’t find ANY humor in this article – mom-of-girls, or mom-of-boys – need to find a new blog to read. If one blog post, one person’s perspective, is going to send you so far off the deep end – my lord, check your mental health insurance benefits. You may need to use them – SOON!
You’all are probably the same people that petition to have Disney movies banned, and shame people on Facebook for not agreeing with your opinions and views. Be big enough to appreciate someone’s life without having to make them feel bad because they aren’t like you or your children – boys or girls.
You, with the perfect, obedient, honor roll achieving, sensitive, and quiet colored book obsessed children. You think YOU did that! LOL! You got LUCKY my loves.
I hope you find your tribe on some other blog. You clearly ARE NOT our people.
Wow. Reverse sexism much?
As a mother of three sons I find this a terrible, negative article – ‘farts’, ‘odors’, ‘chaos’, ‘despair’, ‘foolishness’, ‘idiocy’. Awful, awful, awful. My sons are in no ways foolish, they’re creative, inventive, and brave. They’re even-tempered, drama-free, and low maintenance. They loved crafts and mommy and me classes. You should really examine the all the negative ways you describe your son because it’s not at all humorous and he must pick up on your attitude towards him.
My boys are also creative and funny. But they do fart. And middle school boy feet are the WORST smell. And I think you can be creative and still find bathroom humor hysterical. People are so freaking touchy.
Omg utter rubbish! Reading comments like this angers me, I am a mum to girls, I wouldn’t swap that for anything, when I found out I was pregnant with twins I prayed they would be girls, I knew twin boys at the time who were a handful, it put me off, call me a sexist if you want but then you may as well call most men sexist as they when asked would want a son! maybe I wanted an easy life. I will add I am very close to my nephews but one of them has run my sister ragged. I work in a public place and get sick to death of the phrase” he’s a boy” so basically your saying we have to accept bad behaviour because of gender! When my girl and me walk round town we point to the silly boys that walk round with their hands down there trousers. My close friend has 2 boys I also look after them on a Monday, really good kids a little hyper maybe but still prefer my girls. Mums stop ruining your sons, I want my girls to have a decent man in their lives, not a mummy’s boy!
Sounds like deep down you want a son. It’s okay.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! Just what I needed on a Friday morning heading into a weekend with our TWO boys!
Truth! But I wouldn’t have it any other way! Love my boys! 🙂
Sexist AF.
Ya, the little head rules guys much of the time. The truth about girls is that they’re trouble too, but sneakier about it.
Yawn. Boy moms just get it? Really? That’s low hanging fruit. All kids are hard in different ways. Me and my girls aren’t over here crafting in matching smocks. I am trying to get them to not eat dirt, boogers, and dog food. Boys are girls are different yes, but there is no easy, just different types of hard (not a dick joke, though would be funny there).
I understand you’re trying to be funny, and trying to create camaraderie, but this is hitting below the belt. Stop perpetuating gender stereotypes. You’re a psychologist for heaven’s sake! You should know better. I am mother to boys AND girls and labeling them and putting them in boxes hurts both sexes. I know you’re not trying to do any harm, but we need to work together to break down these ideas. If you’re open to it, watch “The mask we live in” for boys and “Miss representation” for girls. Have your children watch BOTH movies when they are old enough. Take care.
This is the best article I have ever read! SO accurate!
The title of this blog is BLUNT MOMS!! If you can’t take it, get lost! All you whiny people need to get a life and stop being so damn offended all the time! This is sooo what’s wrong with the world today…..Laugh a little, would ya? Good Lord!I loved this article. I see what my daughter goes through with 3 boys and a teenage girl. Lots of love & chaos.
Got here from Facebook. I chuckled at what was being said. I have 3 boys and it is like that some of the time. We had my niece come live with us for three years. For the most part it was good but when I had to deal with the hormones, puberty, wanting to being on the computer talking to her friends all the time, having fits because she didn’t want to listen or do her chores and raising my voice not doing anything to get things moving…I sometimes was happy to have just boys. Oh, by the way, I read a bunch of comments before putting my comment in, I see the nails coming out and sticking together in certain groups to attack the ones you don’t agree with…girls will be girls and boys will be boys. There are exceptions to the rule. I look at other families at church and wonder when my boys will sit and behave like them…one day they will…until then I will do my best to love, direct and if need be discipline.
Clearly the author has never seen me and my day four of jeans and day three of ponytail pick up my daughters from school. But hey, whatever makes you feel more in need of commiseration! Boys come with their own challenges but a monopoly on moms time is far from exclusive.
I am the mother of 4 boys- now ranging in age from 42-30. Yes, it was crazy, noisy & messy. I, too, assumed one day they would out grow fart & dick jokes. Aaa no. Get any 2 of them together and we are right back there. All have married & two have sons of their own and I am here to tell you adult sons are a joy. Mine have a special protectiveness for me (especially since their dad died) that is priceless. Enjoy moms of boys – the future is bright!
hahaha Steve I love your comment and your honesty,
” boys are idiots and girls marry even bigger idiots” Just brilliant.
Not true at all… Mama of many here. False, false, false.
If you picked up your daughters looking like a hot mess you’d have to hear “OMG mom, you’re wearing that! What’s with your hair?” I would have loved to leave a messy project and go “as is” to pick them up!
I so relate to this. I had two daughters, most of our friends had boys. Our girls weren’t angels, but I found myself often comparing our experiences to those of our friends. And both my husband (now my ex) and I agreed we were so pleased we had girls, they were so easy and quiet in comparison to the mostly rowdy, noisy, and exuberant boys. Our girls would often sit and watch their antics too. Now I have a precious 6 year old grandson and I love his energy and his rowdiness.
Ha ha!!… truly you have stated the truth bluntly 😀 as your name suggests
I have a boy and girl and i try not to chat with my boys teacher a lot (coz of what i might hear)…
but chat a lot with my girls teacher and let my pride shine away … :-DD…. so true…
WHAT? How does this claptrap ever get published? I am the mother of children of both genders. My girl can climb and conduct experiments and traipse mud through the house in equal measures to any boy we know.
Meanwhile my 6 year old boy can cook and focus on puzzles and read to himself as well as any girl. Actually he is more organised than his older sister.
This kind of rubbish does nothing but create comparisons and perpetuate gender inequality.
How about let your children be children. Let them explore, create, make mess, physically expend their energy and also teach them to focus and enjoy their own down-time. Let boys like pink and girls like mechanics.
Your credibility as a publisher significantly diminishes when you publish such outdated, divisive nonsense.
Absolutely agree with Della. Well said.
And just for the record – you CAN get your son to stop fiddling with his penis – at the wrong times, at least. It just takes some time & effort. Just like all behaviours – including farting in the car.
Come on mums. Stop hiding behind the stereotypes. Let’s make boys that those girls will actually WANT to marry.
As a mom of 5 with 3 boys, I couldn’t help bet laugh at some of your comments throughout your post!!! Boys definitely leave you harried. Mine are all grown now, 27(getting married in October) 23,( in the Army living in Germany) & 19.( he’s still trying to figure it out!) I actually miss the chaos some days!!! I definitely have some great stories though!! My hubby is one of 12- 8 boys, 4 girls!!! Not sure how my mother in law made it to 86 with her sanity intact!!! Thanks for a great article,it made my day!!!
As a Mum of 5 boys, I half laughed and half cried at this! So true!
What funny nonsense, hope this mom doesn’t really have sons.
Or daughters for that matter. Imagine being a daughter to her and having to live up to the expectations of being a perfect, tidy princess and miss out on all the fun!
Mom of two boys here. This article is very funny, and I can totally identify with what she is saying. I am surrounded by farts and DEezNuts jokes all day long. I wouldn’t have it any other way though! I don’t have to do hair, and they care very little about what they are wearing as long as it is comfortable. I appreciate that kind of freedom.
Don’t let anyone fool you though, there is plenty of drama to be had, regardless of child gender.
I will also say, as a sociologist, a lot of this “boys vs girls” mentality is our social expectations being played out in our children. What I mean by that is, we treat boys differently than girls from the time they are infants (we are more gently with girls, we encourage them to stay safe, and be quiet and caring, and we do the opposite with boys – encouraging the to play harder, and take more risks).
I’ve known plenty of girls who were just as much trouble prone as boys (me being one of them) and plenty of boys who would rather sit at a table and color or read quietly rather than go tearing off into the woods (my oldest boy would much rather be sitting beside me at starbucks and my youngest would be out trying to catch snakes).
What I am saying is, each child is different and will have different tastes, preferences, and demeanor that are shaped by parents, siblings, context, and definitely their friends.
Love those boys and those girls and encourage them both to be self assured, kind, and considerate human beings – regardless of whether they fit the mold we expect them to or not!
Nice blog!
I am an all boy mom and find some of your words to be true but overtly negative. I think generalizing like this contributes to the double standards that all women fight all the time. We can’t say we want equality and then put all boys and all girls in one of two boxes. I don’t expect my boys to be loud, risky, or gross just because they’re boys. One is athletic the other artistic. Both want to grow out their hair. Boys and girls like all humans are equal but not the same.
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Thank you so much for writing this! I have 3 boys and most of my friends have girls. I always thought there was some secret to discipline that I just couldn’t figure out! Why always my kids??? Why always being dumb and dangerous. Now I get that’s it’s not some flaw in my parenting. It’s boys. And the more you have the worse it gets. It’s pack mentality or something. 🙂
Thank you, thank you
nope, it’s your parenting. 😉
Funny article, unfortunately not anywhere near the truth! My wife and I are the parents of two boys and one girl, all now college graduates! Their behavior as well as the behavior of there friends was more a factor of parental control than their sex! We’ve been all over and watched both boys and girls act like animals and at the same time watched other children be polite obedient children! We were not overbearing parents who didn’t allow them to have fun, but they knew that no meant no and stop meant stop! I’ve heard parents say boys are easier and others say girls are easier, but to me they are all the same, a treasure to behold! If I could I’d turn back the clock and start all over!
Though I thought the post was funny, it also strikes me as being very sexist and stereotyping. I find it kind of surprising that a psychologist would put it that way, but then I happen to also be a teacher and I see most of the kids being raised to be stereotypical “boys” or “girls”. How your kids act has an awful lot to do with how you raise them! If you raise your kids in a gender neutral way, you will still see some differences due to biological factors, as well as social ones. If as your kids grow up they are not highly exposed to gender stereotyping, you will be less likely to be raising (wrestling/primping) mud covered superheroes and/or ballerina princesses. I have seven kids, now 18-33 years old. (Birth order B,B,G,B,G,G,B) Every one is similar, yet has their own distinct personality. Besides birth order, differences can be seen due to what our family was going through as they grew up. The boy that was most “boyish” is the oldest with a brother two years younger. The girl who was the most “girlish” has a sister two years older. But both have had extremely long hair (pre-teen, teen) as well as extremely short (twenties). My kids were expected to be smart and get along with each other and they played together not caring (much) about the sex of the person they played with. When they were in school their teachers would be totally amazed at how they played equally well and were friends with kids of both sexes. My kids were (and are) both tough and sensitive. I grew up playing in the woods and riding a bike and so did they. I grew up playing with a baby doll and playing house and so did they. They also played with Legos, blocks, super soakers, laser tag, paint ball, board games, trampoline, roller blades, skate boards, sleds, trucks, cars, Magic, Pokémon, stuffed toys, Playmobil sets, dollhouses, toy kitchen, plastic animals, musical instruments, various electronic toys and gadgets (no, we were not financially rich but with 7 the toys start adding up)…. took care of real animals, built fires, camped in the woods, cooked food, did laundry, washed dishes, vacuumed…. looked out for and took care of each other. If your boys or girls are acting out it is partially because you are letting them or expecting them to. I do know that some kids are naturally very stubborn and/or difficult to deal with. But it can be done, and with love as well as being firm and having certain expectations of rational and kind behavior. Think about what kind of an adult you would like your kid to be. Do you want a goofy rude person with no control? Do you want a prissy selfish materialistic person? I live near a college town and I see a lot of young “adult” people with these problems. And these are the ones who are successful enough to get into a four year college!
I’m sorry, but no. I’m a girl and I can tell you right now, I was the one on the roof. I was the one taking my bike to the ‘forbidden’ train tracks trail….NOT my brother. You are living in dream world. My daughter is just as adventurous. Sure, she loves her princess dresses, but she also attracts more dirt than a Swiffer and getting her into her ‘jamas is like getting an octopus into a sack. I suppose yay for you for being ‘funny’ but your blog blurb is a the very least sexist.
Loved the post. Can identify so much with what has been written about mother of boys
I’m sick of these articles that treat boys like broken girls, that somehow the female is the preferred sex, that outright states its hatred of males by saying “girls are smarter”, that treats masculinity as a pathology.
You aren’t cursed if you have a boy. If you think you need suddenly find within yourself this “forgiveness” for having a boy, you don’t deserve to have the one you have. If you think you’re morally right publishing that it’s acceptable behaviour to growl at your husband, seemingly to blame him, when you ask “when is it going to end”, your deserve resentment from him.
Both girls and boys have their natures, and the bad you see in little girls is the other side of the good, just as it is for boys. You’re a psychologist??? Get real.
Pfff. I wish. My six year old daughter just this morning told me loudly and proudly on the way to school all about the farts she was doing in the back seat. She’s muddy, she’s messy, she’s a risk-taker, she’s exhuberant. She’s not a “tom boy” – she’s a girl. The girls who don’t make mess or fart or any of that are the ones who’ve been taught since birth that girls should be ‘little ladies’ and keep their pretty dresses clean. Kids are kids, regardless of gender and I’m fed up with the stereotypes.
Also, I am a hot mess. I don’t own wedges or designer jeans, and more importantly, neither does my daughter. Because if she’s going to skid off a roof and crack her fool head open, I’m not having her take an expensive pair of trousers with her.
Army fatigues and sneakers? I don’t think so love
It’s exactly these kinds of gender attitudes which perpetuate gestructive gender stereotypes. My girl was my boy son were nothing like the generalised descriptions provided.
so untrue – you sound like an aweful person not seeing that your boy is way better than any bratty girl – your poor son. I would take a boy over a bratty self absorbed (you know they all are) girl any day. Its crazy how you dissed your own child like that, poor kid
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Had to share this with my friends! As a mother of a 3 and 5 year old boy I can totally relate! Brilliant!
If you notice the Author is a Psychologist. She probably wrote this article with a blatant gender stereotype edge to study parent responses. Anyone who comments is one of her guinea pigs to a paper she will publish.
that is sooo much i can relate to. nice article which gave a good laugh.. Thanks sooo much..
I’m confused. Did I read this article correctly? I have a boy myself so I’m not dismissing this article, I thought it was kinda funny. But it starts off with saying she first had a girl, but then finishes with a story about her sons. It doesn’t seem to add up.
I am shocked at the over analyzing of this article. It’s clearly meant to be funny.
I have a boy as well and wouldn’t trade it.
This is just funny. Thats it !
Yeah.. Just sounds like a parent that doesn’t teach her kids discipline or respect. I feel sorry for the teachers of these kids who have to spend 8 hours a day with them, along with 30 other children.
Parents, please discipline your children and stop trying to be their friend.
Thank you so much, wannabeblunt! Finally someone understands me!! I’ve shared your article numerous times. Just recently I shared it with a friend who has a 1 yo boy. Her MIL responds to what I wrote… Sarcastically I wrote that the hair on my head is turning all grey and my son isn’t even 7 yet! She writes, my hair is just turning grey in the last 5 yrs, and both my sons are in their 30s. Well, that burns my buttons! But then I realized hey, she doesn’t have a daughter, like my MIL… Who apparently decided it’s ok for her and her husband to ‘tag’ along on our honeymoon, and for her to come in her sweats on our yearly picture session, and for her to walk on by without saying hi to her grandkids, and so on and so on. So my next request for you, wannabeblunt, is if you would write an article about those MILs that don’t have a daughter but they sure need one? Unless, you are lucky you’re not in that situation! Hey, I’m in need of another good laugh! Thanks!
omg REALLY? When did everyone lose their funny bone and decide every article written was some sort of personal knock down to them and their “own” feelings!? Read it and LAUGH, stop dissecting each line to make some silly stupid point. IT’S meant for a laugh you silly twits, not a serious mommy war commentary! I really fear how this world is turning out when even light hearted funny reads turn into a back and forth tirade about hurt feelings and how this is NOTHING like their own perfect worlds. Then STFU and move on if you didn’t laugh or have nothing positive to contribute but complaints.
Girls may be easier when they are younger, but when those hormones start kicking in, I’ll take my two boys every day over those sassy girls! Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t like my boys in their middle school years, (although I never stopped loving them, I just didn’t like them), hearing from mothers of girls, boys are much easier at that point.
This was great! But now I have to wonder about my daughter! She, like your boys, discovered how to open windows and was caught after many instances, running around on the roof outside her bedroom! Is the the exception to “most” girls? 🙂
Oh my… I have a 4-year-old girl and a 1,5 year-old son. I already notice that things are different but that it could be that bad, I prefer to ignore still, a little 😉
Great post. As a mom of 3 boys I fully relate. I’d like to add that this post is really for moms of more than one boy. It must be the testosterone bouncing off each other. If my sisters didn’t have boys that are now calm, maturing, kind teenagers and older kids I would think it was my fault that I’m raising hooligans. But no, that’s just the Y chromosome:) Life is certainly ever dull!
I have one daughter and I assure you, she would have been out there on the icy roof two steps from splitting her head open. And would have been the one who thought it up. Not into gender stereotypes.
Love this, I’m a Mom of 2 boys, don’t forget when they get of age and say” you know its my birthday, all I get is $25.00.
Amen sistah! Mom of 3 act first and think later bosy
I feel differently, diversity among my 4 boys in character and temperament is very high, the spinal, the thinker, the hands on, the artist, the more talkative, the accommodating, the blames…all in 4. Sorry, when I see the drama that some of my girl friends get from their girls, I do not envy. In my mind, self fulfilling prophecy is responsible to a lot of what is described here…:-)
Shiri
Hmmmm…..as a girl mom I cannot take it when boy moms tell me how easy I have it. It’s insulting. They’re are calm girls and calm boys. They are crazy girls and crazy boys. Nothing to do with sex. My daughter hangs out with all boys and she’s the ring leader. So girl mom’s can be stressed too. We’re all in for it.
I’m loving this article!
I own one of each, and although they both present challenges that I can only describe as being ‘gender’ biased (enter the low hum of collective disapproval from the sanctimonious seats), this article certainly resonates with my experiences of said gender.
There are predominately two catch calls in my household that prompt an immediate call to action if my wife or I are fortunate to hear them, Code Red if you will.
“Ready …. Set ……”
This is my son, counting himself down before launching into an action that has a high probability of ending in a disaster.
We know its high probability, due to the fact that he reserves ‘count downs’ for only for ventures that, even to him, seem to present a high degree of danger/difficulty.
Usually there is an element of ‘height’ involved.
‘Mum, Levi’s got blood!”
This is my daughter dutifully reporting the fact that Levi is bleeding (again), as a consequence of our missing the aforementioned. And requires immediate assistance.
… Although I’m so proud of his boyish spirit, I just wish he would ran a couple of his ‘plans’ by me first before embarking on them
I have a son…he just turned eleven…and this whole article is such crap.
Hahaharrrr so true… in the last year it has been penis year for me. My don is 11and every picture, every fruit & veg, every oject is apparently a penis. Now he has even taken over my bathroom…because the door Iocks why I cringe… to find even my soap had been chiseled away to be a penis… to then look up what do you know the steam produced fabulous artwork of a giant penis and balls on my lovely clean screen… and laughed my ass off I did baaahaha
Waste of time reading this shit
REALLY ppl? For a blog called “Blunt” Moms, there sure are a lot of sensitive readers. This is a humor piece meant for entertainment. There is exaggeration because, again, it’s a humor piece.
No need to pick it apart. No need for a long message about your personal experience. Read it. Like it or dont.
You know what you’re getting by the title and you still chose to read it for the sole purpose of leaving a discouraging comment.
You guys bitch about wars between moms but here you are to create one. Everyone knows that kids are individual and can be different. Everyone also knows that there is plenty of talk (even by you all in these very comments) about the downfalls of girls and how they are with the drama and such.
And fathers DO joke about the challenges of raising girls and nobody calls them sexist, so calm down whoever it was saying that (don’t care enough to go back for your name).
Seriously wth is with this crowd? You ppl make me hate the internet. Go find something better to do.
My son is opposite and I still loved this piece. Well written. Loved the comparison and the visuals drove the point home. Nice job.
I love this article! I love how boy moms can say ‘me too’ because we all have been there. Wether it’s peeing at the zoo in front of 100 people or pulling the fire alarm in the hotel. Boys are curious, wild and not ashamed. I’m proud to have the chance to raise two of them who are ‘all boy’. They keep me on my toes!
Anne, I loved this post! I am, for better or worse, a mom of girls – but I have friends with boys and they say the same things you did here. (Not as well, because you’re the writer, but you know.)
I also work for ForEveryMom.com, an inspirational parenting site, and I’d love to share your post with our readers. Would you let us republish it on our site? We would give you full credit as author, link back here to the original post, and include your bio and head shot. What do you think?
Hi Mary. Thank you. Sounds great. Anne
Thanks for perpetuating gender biases. How I dress or behave has little to do with my kids. How I behave, on the other hand, has everything to do with them. I have boys and girls and my girls are so much wilder than my boy.
So what about your daughter? One boy and you’re a boy mom
Hahahaha..I totally relate because I have a boy and a girl (who is very active just like boys). Everyday is like i have boys. That part of the wee-wee, funny but it seems all of them do this ;).
http://www.theirsmallworld.com
Kathleen I agree with you a lot. I’m a feminist but I never intended to roll all over boys and say “screw you, this is my world”. It’s about equality, not about being superior to the other. I have a girl and a boy and I noticed that in the late Disney movies (even Ghostbusters), girls are portrayed smart and practical and boys are so stupid and wild, why, this is not what I want for my kids. I want both of them portrayed as capable, smart and responsible. People say “lighten up” in this comments but don’t realise thy perpetuate the idea that is ok for boys to behave bad because they “are boys”, so why not girls, could it be because a lot of parentd still raise their little girls as princesses?. I knoe moms who don’t let their girls play in mud!. But if is the boy, that’s ok … cause boys are smelly and dirty right?.
Trust me, it only gets worse when they become adults!!
Girls aren’t smarter, they just do better in the structured environment of the auditory centered classroom. Unfortunately, boys are treated as defective girls because they don’t act like your “girl mom” friends. Instead, boys take more chances, they learn by doing, and the parts of their brains that recognize danger doesn’t fully develop until their mid twenties. (Your husband was fairly close.) In the end, there are biological gender differences ( and I say this as the parent of a transgendered offspring) between boys and girls. But we spend so much time trying to make our boys into little girls, that we forget to let them be boys, and that being a boy is not only alright, it’s cool.
Ummm pple have both boys & girls how do they look & act. This is a crappy article.
Wow this is disgusting. Sexism isn’t humourous especially when you’re directly affected by it every day of your life. You people are sick perpetuating this shit
My girls must be boys in disguise
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I was raised in a family of boys, by my father, because my mother passed early. I married a man, and had two boys. I was somewhat prepared for the life, but one is never prepared when it is your boy that is doing the dumb crazy stuff. When they were preschoolers and wouldn’t do what I told them to, I wondered, “Would these boys end up in a jump suit wearing flip flops for the rest of their lives?”
Boys are rarely afraid of their mothers, and so only behave when they feel they have to. I was fortunate enough to have a husband and father in the home to provide some structure and sanity to the equation. Otherwise who knows where my boys would be today?
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Mom of 6 boys and one girl.
My boys are physically more draining but my one and only daughter is much more emotional draining
This is without fail the biggest load of crap I’ve read in my life. You honestly think you’re cooler and work harder because you have boys? I have both genders, houseful of girls and a houseful of boys is no different and if you honestly think mum’s of girls are living a life a commercial you’re either stupid or delusional.
As a mom or four girls, I hate it when they are stereotyped, and it turns out I hate being stereotyped too. I’m very bad at crafts and my kids haven’t brushed their hair in days and my walls are full of holes. I’m definitely the one yelling in the parking lot. You know we don’t pick the gender of our kids, right? There’s a fun-loving way to talk about the struggles of raising your particular boys without pitting us against each other. When you speak in generals, you insult everyone. Talk about your own experiences, and everyone laughs.