My plan was to write about books today, but those two rascals I hear sleeping in the other room just wouldn't let it be. They love reading enough to at least make a connection between boys and books, and reading is one of the few activities that will get them to sit still. Books are valuable, boys are more so.
And even if you don't have children, you know some boy who makes you smile - or grind your teeth. The dirt, the wrestling, the sprinting, the yelling, the questions ("Why dad?")! The phrase, "Boys will be boys" may anger me, but I know why it exists. If our boys don't get outside every day - I can't explain how thankful I am for spring - they're different creatures. B may be for boys, but boys are for the outdoors.
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| Messy? No, just boyish |
I was driving home the other day and I realized I didn't want to raise nice boys; I want those two ruffians to be good, and sometimes goodness has to be stern, maybe even mean at times. And don't get me wrong, I want them to be loving too. Nice has come to mean pushover in my mind. I guess I want them to keep that wild streak, and yet be good and loving.
Do you remember that line from Mr. Beaver in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe? The children are asking about Aslan and one of them asks something like, "Is he safe?" Mr. Beaver answers, "Of course he's not safe! But he's good."
Yes! Wild but good. ...well, we've got the wild part down to a science!
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Read more about my theme this April in my intro to the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Or visit the home page here.
9 comments:
1. I am not sure you have a choice about boys being wild, at least in the short term
2. I am so glad to read this post! I see a lot of acquaintances raising kids with a focus only on being polite, and not causing scenes, with little or no emphasis on what kind of person this will create. I love your distinction between being good and being nice.
Yes, that saying comes from good sense - boys will be boys. It's good and healthy for them to tussle outside.
Denise
As a mother of two energetic boys I wholeheartedly concur! I loved your post for obvious reasons! Thanks for the reminder as I sit here in my office with my littlest wild thing poking at me every few seconds. I went from annoyed to grateful in the space of time it took to read your post.
*~MAJK~*
Safireblade.com
A to Z Challenge
as long as 'boys will be boys' doesn't excuse everything:)
Boys certainly are wild! Great A-Z post!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
I know exactly what you mean. I have 1 boy and I guess the hubby would make it 2. And, boys are always boys:)
I have been in the "kid" field for over 20 years [as a nanny and a teacher] and although I agree with the boy thing, I have come across the exception to the rule, on more than one occasion. I have a male student who is the opposite of wild, whines more than any pre-teen girl I work with and is just itching for someone to tell him to "grow a pair"... you just never know
Seems like everyone is doing books. Glad you didn't. Wild isn't necessarily bad. I'm reminded of the very counter-cultural disposition of John the Baptist. He dressed like a wild man and said wild things. He preached the gospel and stood up even when he could have shrugged back. And he died a wild death because of his wildness. He's a decent example of being wild, but Jesus is even more wild. Because Jesus IS God and man. And He'll cook you breakfast. How wild is that?
Yeah Alex, I certainly agree.
I'm grateful to you all for stopping by, and your comments are great too!
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