Today I celebrate my greatest achievement on Mothers Day. I’m sure it is apparent how much I adore my three sons. They are all kind, caring, and loving, not to mention handsome, intelligent, successful, and definitely more humble than their mother.
I am especially proud of the fathers my two eldest have become with the help of the wonderful mothers of their children.
Raising Boys to Men on Mothers Day and Beyond
When my boys were growing up, people always commented on how difficult it must be to raise three boys. I wondered about that comment as I never had any daughters to compare the boys to and I always thought it was an unfair exaggeration.
These days one would call the comments sexist and all kinds of other descriptive words popular in our vocabulary today.
I have to admit, I loved every minute of it. Ok, maybe not every single minute, but 99.9% of them.
Disputing the Theory
As a mother of three boys and a grandmother to three grandsons, I dispute the opinion that boys are more difficult to raise. They may be busier physically, with different interests, but not harder or more stressful.
My father, who raised three boys and three girls, always said the girls were harder. His theory was based on the fact that he worried more about the girls until they were married. Perhaps another sexist comment, but the norm and non-offensive back then.
Boys will be Boys
There is something to be said for the saying “boys will be boys.” My experience is that (most) little boys are fascinated with things like bugs, dirt and mud, cars and trucks, dinosaurs, and more. I don’t believe these interests are taught and learned, but more instinctive or innate. Encouraged (as they should be) perhaps, but not taught.
For example, my four-year-old grandson can spend hours flipping over rocks looking for bugs. His big sister and a younger female cousin, not so much. They tend to run from the bugs, as fast as they can.
And, one of the words my youngest grandson, at just one-year-old, can say is vroom, vroom. OK, that’s two words, but I’m sure you get the gist.
Tomboys Raising Boys
Perhaps I find boys easy to handle because I was a tomboy growing up, much to the chagrin of my mother. I preferred playing hockey, football, and other sports with the boys instead of playing dolls with the girls. I don’t recall though, being particularly enamoured with bugs.
You could say I had lots of practice hanging out with the boys, that could be why I have so much patience with my grandsons’ antics and interests.
Conclusions on Mothers Day
In closing, bearing and raising happy and healthy children is something to celebrate. Mother’s Day gives us mothers a special day to do so. Even though mine are all now adults, I still consider them to be my greatest achievements in life, bar none!
Happy Mothers Day to the rest of you celebrating your own achievements!
photo credit: Facebook
