About a Boy

My friend April recently found out she is expecting baby number 3. She currently has 2 daughters and is hoping for a third daughter. She has a lot of apprehension about how her life would change if a boy joined their family. I remember feeling the exact same way. In fact when I found out I was having a boy, these were my first thoughts:

1) Oh my gosh, I am doing all of this work and he is just going to grow up and leave me to serve a church mission for 2 years. That is what boys do... they leave their family!

2) Oh yuck, I am going to have to do the "boy scout" thing... pine wood derby... I think I'm going to be sick.

3) Oh great now I am going to be the "real" mother-in-law... mother-in-law to a son-in-law is way different than a mother-in-law to a daughter-in-law.... worlds tend to collide no matter how "cool" you imagine being.

Now, 4 years later, I am reflecting on how I thought having a boy would be and how it actually is. I have to laugh at my original anxiety because I LOVE having a boy. And, for as hard as he can be, I adore Jonas and can't imagine life without him.


Without a boy, I would miss moments where a lightsaber, a Spiderman backpack, an Indiana Jones rope, and a pair of cowboy boots work together in perfect creative harmony.

I would miss having one less emotionally intense child... the change in chemistry around here is nice. Boys may be "active" but they sure know how to relax and CHILL... anytime, anywhere... just ask my Dad, well and Stew too.

I would miss the world of Buzz Lightyear... to infinity and beyond at every turn.

I would definitely miss the COOL Spiderman underwear... when I see them in the wash among pale pink floral panties, I kind of smile.

I would miss cowboy sheets and cowboy dolls (sorry Barbie, you have nothing on Woody.... there's no comparison, even though you make a great tourguide).

I would miss sweet moves like this... okay, the constant kicking, jumping, and climbing from boys gets tiring, but when you see it paired with red boots, Power Ranger gloves, Indiana Jones hat, and a samurai sword.... well it kind of melts your heart.

I would miss riding Disneyland rides with a hip pirate in lieu of the over-the-top-pink-minnie-mouse-princess-bride-hats that are a bit much... don't you think?
Lookin' good Kristine...

(prego with her first boy...ha!)

Did I mention the climbing thing??? So maybe I would not miss the constant movement but I would miss watching the boy who went from calmly sitting to instantaneously flipping onto his head (you should see him do this on a church pew).

I would definitely miss fixing a boy's hair... because you DON'T fix it... you really never even brush it. You just kind of let it go. There's no fuss with lost hairclips, or frayed hairbows, or broken headbands, or hours of rolling up hair into curlers. Nope. Just wash and go... nice.

I would miss saying "I know your brother has a shovel, but its okay, he's a B O Y, leave him alone."

I would miss how red tights, with a hole in the center, turn into an instant superhero costume... "watch me Mom!"
Ready, Set, GO!

I would miss boys strutting their "stuff"... I used to think this was a disgusting display of manhood, but now it is kind of funny even though I don't get it. Why the pride?

I would miss pairing up two netted princesses with their curls and lace to a boy wearing jeans and carrying a stick... priceless.

I would miss having a Calvin... Jonas really should have been named Calvin because he IS Calvin. Plus, look at boy clothes... easy breezy... jeans and red t-shirts... nothing gets stained and disgusting after one wear. Boys clothes are EASY to care for.

I would miss taking a picture of the boy climbing out of the window instead of scolding my girls with, "get down from there right now!" You know you can't really stop boys from doing this kind of thing, so you just have to relax, sit back, and enjoy the show.

I would miss some fabulous party themes... pirates, bugs, superheros... these are so much fun to plan.

I would miss the fun boy toys. When Shailey found out we were having a boy the first thing she said was, "Yeah, we get all of those cool boy toys, like Hulk gloves!" She has a point.

I would miss how carefree boys are. They don't care about being messy... give them a dirty mud puddle in the middle of the street and they are there. Bye bye diaper and hello fun (now that I think of it, my girls would have done this too).

I would miss the thrill of discovering a neighborhood bulldozer. Jonas was 1 year old the day I took this photo. I remember feeling for the first time, "I am officially the mother of a son."

So April, to you I say I hope you are lucky enough to bare a son. Boys are truly a gift from God and I thank heaven for little boys.