It's a Boys' World

"Insanity" it's the name of the workout DVD set my husband has decided he must tackle.  It is a very strenuous workout that is supposed to make you very fit and muscular.  My husband is very fit already but being the overachiever he is he always thinks there is room for improvement.  As I watched him finish the workout this morning with sweat pouring down his face he commented that this is indeed insanity.  And I said I have my own insanity workout every day and it's called my two toddler boys.  No need for a gym membership for me these days.  My workout is 14 hours straight and if I'm lucky I may have a short break in the afternoon.

My world has become all things boy.  I knew nothing about boys until I had my sons and I am still learning.  I had no idea sticks and rocks were so incredibly fun to play with.  And sit and play in the baby pool, I don't think so, much more fun to dump it and create a mud puddle to play in.  Any noise coming out of either end is extremely funny.  Chasing each other and running laps through the house is the most fun indoor activity.  A 3 year-old boy can talk for 3 days straight about a tree that he saw that fell down.  An 18 month old will consistently poke his pet bunny in the eyes every chance he gets.  Pictures of monsters are drawn on birthday cards.  Playing in the toilet is intriguing.  And the preferred attire is complete nakedness.  Sigh...it's a boys' world. 

Now I agree, that just because they are boys is no excuse for bad behavior.  But I do believe there is a level of physicality early on that is just different with boys.  Like my one friend said of her 2 year-old son, it is like trying to rope a calf just to get a diaper changed.  I have learned to carry my 18 month-old son when he is kicking his legs and throwing a tantrum with his belly on my hip, arms pinned and legs flailing out the back.  You have to learn how to handle little boys and their strength or they quickly over-power you.  

Sunday mornings I look at the little girls at church in their pretty dresses, bows in their hair, fingernails painted and cute sandals on their feet.  Then I look over at my sons who are either shoving donuts in their mouths or trying to run away from me.  And I think, thank you God for the blessings of my sons and thank you for the many things they are teaching me!