Mother of Boys

I have to admit when I was a little girl I loved doing hair and painting nails and dresses that spin and shoes that make noise and all things pretty and pink...this was basically Greek to my tom boy sports loving mom.  My parents signed me up for soccer, basketball, t-ball, soft ball, swimming etc...not to force me to fit in to my athletic family but to broaden my horizons and I loved it because I liked hanging out with my friends.  My dad likes to tell me the story about my first soccer experience.  Apparently they rotated positions so that each kid could try everything.  My dad was so excited when it was my turn to play goal, until he looked over and saw me leaning against the goal post daydream and spinning my hair around my finger.  What I remember from that first experience was being disappointed in the yellow uniforms because yellow just isn't pretty...but shopping for new shoes and a pretty braided purple sweatband was a ton of fun!  My parents were never disappointed in my lack of athleticism and I think until they saw me preform I'm sure they thought that anyone could run, throw, make a basket etc...if they practiced enough.  And I'm certain they didn't realize that some people are OK with not winning (WHAT???).

So why did this girl grow up knowing that she was meant to be a boy mom?  I have no idea.  As a babysitter I always enjoyed my families with boys who built forts and played hard.  As a teacher I bonded with the boys that most teachers were happy not to have in their class.  Being a boy mom is not about knowing how to play sports or being good at them.  It's about appreciating their wild nature and teaching them to channel it for good.  Zack may be too crazy to go to library story time, and I may never get to see a princess movie, and I may always need to chase, and I'm sure there will always be balls behind furniture, for a while my clothing will have to be "durable" and easy to wash blood and mud out of, our birthday parties will be about trucks, robots, superheros and trains...oh the trains...what is it about trains anyway????  Ever since I found out Hunter would be a boy, I blacked out all things girl...dolls, shoes, dresses, bows, etc...now I get almost as excited about a brand new ball as my big boy.
Being a boy mom puts you in a club.  I have found several facebook groups and follow several blogs  all about being a mother of boys.  It's great to know that I am not alone with the crazy things that go on in our house.  My goal for my boys is for them to be strong, but sweet, successful in whatever they choose to do, gentlemen, have their priorities straight, hard working, kind, giving and beyond that I expect them to be happy (yes that is an expectation).  I don't want to turn them into something they aren't, I don't want to make them into calm children (at least Zack...we are still wondering what Hunter will be like) but I do want them to be respectful and follow directions.  As a teacher I prioritized a great personality over a kid that always did exactly what they were supposed to...and I feel the same way about my own children.  I really enjoy Zack even when he thinks we are playing chase in Target before Christmas while 8 months pregnant...I love that he loves life so much that there is no place that I can make into a time out, he is too happy...I love that he loves his brother and wears his heart on his sleeve...I love that Hunter expects my full attention all the time...I love that he discovers something new each day...I love that he gets so annoyed when he gets stuck on his belly but turns over anyway...I love that he is certainly giving me a run for my money and just when I think I can't take it anymore he gives me his little side smile, which makes me smile which makes him laugh.
My boys are still little but I am so looking forward to watching them grow.