Tag Archives: boys

Understanding the emotional language of boys

My two boys wrestle. They roll around on the floor, alternating who is pinned to the floor and who is on top. My oldest drags his brother around our home, all the while the little guy is laughing along gleefully. I have seen things escalate to aggressive headbutts and forceful shoves. And, I’ve seen them soften to cuddles, gentle pats and kisses.

emotionboys

My husband and I joke about our boys inability to be away from one another. Whether they are playfully roughhousing, kicking one another in anger, or sleepily snuggling together in our master bed, our boys are almost always engaged in some form of physical contact. Their emotional language is touch.

As a boy mom of more than five years, I have learned a fundamental difference between how young males and young females express themselves. I see this not only in my sons, but in other boys as well. Boys are are physical communicators and us female parents, teachers and caregivers need to respect that. Continue reading

Playground rejection and the importance of consent

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My three-year-old loves playing with other kids, probably because he spends the majority of his time with me and his one-year-old brother, and that isn’t always a recipe for good times. He craves interaction with other children, and would probably live at the park if I let him. He has no problem approaching unfamiliar kids at the playground and eagerly trying to partake in whatever game they are playing. Continue reading

Girls will fight with their Barbies, and boys will cuddle their G.I. Joes

brothers

Growing up as a girl in America, my life was full of Barbies. Though my memory is somewhat foggy, I am confident I had close to a hundred over the course of my childhood. I loved my Barbies. I loved dressing them in the best of late 80s fashion. I loved playing salon with them, at the expense of many a bad haircut. I loved all the typical girly things one can do with a Barbie.

And, I loved play fighting with them.

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Don’t forget our boys

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My son is what most would consider a typical boy. He loves trucks, trains, cars and anything else with wheels. He loves playing in the dirt, stomping on leaves and chasing birds. He loves running, climbing and wrestling. He can be rough, aggressive and sometimes just plain mean. He is a boy, and I love everything about it.
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