Would you gentlemen humor me

[ChiOCat]

Trying to raise three boys is, ummmmm, challenging. Something in that Y chromosome.

Would you care to share with me (and probably Rebecca) what one thing you wish your mother would have just understood or accepted about your "boyishness."

[Grizlaw]

Trying to raise three boys is, ummmmm, challenging. Something in that Y chromosome.

Would you care to share with me (and probably Rebecca) what one thing you wish your mother would have just understood or accepted about your "boyishness."

I think the best thing you could do for them is the following:

When the inevitable day comes when they come to you and say, "Mommy, I think I'm a Griz fan," just go with it -- don't try to corrupt them.

[GOKATS]

Trying to raise three boys is, ummmmm, challenging. Something in that Y chromosome.

Would you care to share with me (and probably Rebecca) what one thing you wish your mother would have just understood or accepted about your "boyishness."

Toilet seats are meant to be left in the upright position, except when being used by either sex for a sitting required activity.

[briannell]

heather - yeah need help too But the one thing i've learned since ben was just a little over two - it's all about the wee wee it's the favorite toy, the best thing next to a blanket, and well it's just "cool mommy"

pee in the kitchen, pee in the yard and don't forget to whip it out and pee all over the trees on the family property

oh and don't forget to show it off every chance you get just to make your mom blush and say "put that thing away!!!!" that always makes ben chuckle - woo woo

other than that I give up on trying to understand men. I just don't have the mental capacity to understand the various layers to them, so i'm happy just to be a good overlooker and pray to God I survive this experience

[CelticCat]

Let them tackle each other into the thorn bushes.

Let them play gladiator.

Worse thing a mom can do is be overprotective. Young boys need to get injured, dammit.

[Bleedinbluengold]

Best book ever on boys:




Just because we're dissing each other doesn't mean we don't like each other. Like a wolf pack, boys need to figure out who their leaders and followers are. Moms should avoid intervening with the natural selection process. Heck, the hierarchy changes week to week anyway almost.

We all want our kids to be popular, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. What we've tried to instill in our boys is ascertiveness, respect, and being conscientious........and beat the Griz!

[briannell]

sorry fellas I still say from what I've learned it's all about the wee wee

he's going on 7 and I just hope i can last up until 18

when he goes to school i'll pray, and if i haven't had a break down by that point I figure I'm good to go

[catsrback76]

Remember this, boys DON'T process things emotionally-- initially. It's far more linear. Fun-do it, why? do it, interesting? touch it-- never seen it before? eat it etc etc.
We're not as malicious as girls, we don't think that much.

[mslacat]

Trying to raise three boys is, ummmmm, challenging. Something in that Y chromosome.

Would you care to share with me (and probably Rebecca) what one thing you wish your mother would have just understood or accepted about your "boyishness."

I grew up for the most part by single mother. My father left when I was young to "find himself" in Los Angelis, my Mom remarried later on but that husband used my older sister as a punching bag while my mother was out of the country. When my mom returned she broke his nose and divorced his ass. Listen there were things that maybe my mom could have understood better, and saved us both troubles and or confusion , shaving, male biology things that I had wished I could have learned easier, but she had never been a Guy and unfortunately at 72 (currently) my dad has never grown up, but don't worry about it. The mere fact you are asking this question tells me a lot about you. My Mother found a way to get me through it and I am quite sure you will do just fine... My advise, be true to yourself, be strong, be respectful and most of all love your boys, the small stuff will simply fall into place – not say there will not be bumps along the way. If you can do this, it will mean a lot more to them then you trying to understand why every man looks at breasts first and face second.

........BTW the answer to the last question/point is: Men (13-100 years old it does not matter.) we are all pigs!!

[ChiOCat]

Trying to raise three boys is, ummmmm, challenging. Something in that Y chromosome.

Would you care to share with me (and probably Rebecca) what one thing you wish your mother would have just understood or accepted about your "boyishness."

Toilet seats are meant to be left in the upright position, except when being used by either sex for a sitting required activity.

Sorry, I won't go that far. It is my house, after all. At least the little boys have their own bathroom.

[kmax]

Trying to raise three boys is, ummmmm, challenging. Something in that Y chromosome.

Would you care to share with me (and probably Rebecca) what one thing you wish your mother would have just understood or accepted about your "boyishness."

I could ask the same question in reverse to the few ladies here as a Dad dealing with a houseful of women! They are only 2 & 5 and already just like their Mom! Lord help me in 12 years or so when they are both teenagers!

:headstobobwardstostockuponshotgunshells:

[ChiOCat]

Trying to raise three boys is, ummmmm, challenging. Something in that Y chromosome.

Would you care to share with me (and probably Rebecca) what one thing you wish your mother would have just understood or accepted about your "boyishness."

I could ask the same question in reverse to the few ladies here as a Dad dealing with a houseful of women! They are only 2 & 5 and already just like their Mom! Lord help me in 12 years or so when they are both teenagers!

:headstobobwardstostockuponshotgunshells:

Yeah, I think you have it worse! I can't believe I have been given three of these wild animals, but I do think teen years with them will be less hormonal!!!

[Stevicat]

I have two teen age daughters (God help me!) and a pre teen son. What I have learned is pretty simple and should be easy to figure out. Girls will be girls and boys will be boys. So let them.

Regarding boys. Let them do the boy things. They will play rough and aggressive and do things moms won't understand. They will be cowboys, soldiers, firemen, smokejumpers, cops & robbers, etc. When at a playground they'll swing higher then you want, jump from the top of the slide, hang from the monkey bars, and take chances that will drive you crazy. It's just the way we are wired.

catsrback76 and celticat are right on with thier suggestions.

They also need to be taught to be gentlemen. While it is OK to be a rough and tumble boy, it is also OK and important to have manners, be respectful and be polite. Teach them that real men are gentlemen.

[WalkOn79]

My mom raised 6 of us and no girls, and we all seemed to turn out okay. All of us graduated from THE Montana State University, so that's gotta tell you something. Some things that stuck with me from my youth that I've tried to copy:

1) Make your house THE PLACE to be for your boys and their friends. You'll learn a ton just watching them interact. Any activity with a ball will do, and you don't have to organize. Just provide the cookies.
2) Stay out of the fights (unless there's blood or something broken) They'll make up as quick as they blew up, thats just boys.
3) Teach them to respect the opposite sex, but don't interfere when they do start to notice the girls. (It's embarrassing enough) You're not going to like some of their choices when dating, but don't criticize. Trust me on this one, if you have a good relationship they will talk to you before dad when they have girl problems, because they don't understand your kind either.
4) They will do stupid things and tell outrageous lies to cover it up. You'll laugh about it later, I promise.
5) This is a generalization, but you need to keep after them about school more so than girls. This is the one area to be ascertive as a parent. Keeping them involved in activities (band or sports) helps as they get older. Poor Grades = No Play, which is highly motivating to teenage boys.

I know I'll think of more, but you should feel blessed. In my experience with one of each, the boy is much lower maintenance so far, at least emotionally.