Boys will be boys

There was a time when that saying would have made my blood boil with images of violence, objectification of women and fraternity parties. In fact, there was a time that I would have claimed that gender differences are 80% nurture and 20% nature. My opinion on those percentages has completely flip-flopped.

As I watched (with a cup of tea and a magazine) from the safety of our family room couch today, Brian and the two older boys proved that boys really will be boys. They were playing a game of what amounted to "evil doctor." They were giving each other shots with HUGE needles represented by light sabers and using saws to cure ills. Certainly not the playing doctor of my youth.

Colin was probably two and a half when he asked me what we keep in the attic. I told him nothing, which is true. His response was "weapons?" Where did he get this idea? Oh yes Colin, I forgot about the weapons cache we have in the attic in case the aliens attack.

Blake said today that the only thing cooler than power rangers is a real gun. What?!

While I really do try to embrace this semi-violent, very physical and intimidating mode of play, it is very difficult for me. This is WAY outside of my comfort zone. No, I am not wishing I had girls who wanted to play dolls and tea party, but evil doctor and power rangers and army can get to be a bit much...

These are the times when I am especially grateful for my husband/co-parent. He is happy to play such wild games seemingly endlessly. Sometimes I feel as though it is my shortcoming that I am not always willing to be saved by firefighters or attacked by aliens. However, it's just not fun for me. It is in fact, uncomfortable for me. Therefore, I am not a very good playmate in such games because I get upset when someone gives me a "sharper shot" (a shot that doesn't just hurt for a second it hurts for a l-o-n-g time). It just seems mean to me.

Then again, I am a girl.