Raising a boy

My mom and dad in Utah miss seeing their grandson grow up, pass through stages of development, and do cute things that just can't get caught on camera. However, there have been a few cute moments that were caught, so here they are mom and dad. LOVE and miss you.
Sunday morning. He HAS to stand on the chair in the computer room, at least once a day. HAS to. And throws a fit when you make him get down.


A few from bath time! (there are some hilarious pics, but I would have to edit them carefully)



Standing on the John Deere you gave me!


Spring afternoon feeding the ducks.




Little boys are wired so differently than little girls. Raising a boy seems at odds with raising a girl. I only say this because of what I've observed. I am partial to articles and topics of little boys because right now, I only have a boy. I recently read an article called "Boys Will Be Boys" by Michael Thompson, Ph.D. I'll quote him now and then. He explains the development of little boys, and the misunderstanding we have of them that is leaving them in the dust in our society. They love to explore, hit things, bite things, test their limits, roughhouse, jibber-jabber constantly, jump off anything they can climb on, play in toilet water, make car noises, and day-dream. "Parents often see boys as intentionally defiant and deliberately destructive, but when toddler boys throw things, kick someone, or disobey us, it's because they haven't yet developed the ability to resist their impulses." Science has recently proven what we should've already known. Physical activity is their niche. Not that we just say "that's just a boy for ya" but, understand we can teach them, without hindering them. Our society should not fail our little boys with taking recess out of schools, or punish them for wanting to be physically active. That is how they learn. You give a little boy a book and he doesn't want to read it, he wants to figure out if it flies through the air like an airplane. That's not a "bad" thing. "It used to be all about play and social development" in the classroom, but "now because of the emphasis on state testing in the lower grades, kids are expected to read fluently, write legibly, and listen quietly. Boys lag behind girls in all these areas. They also lack self-control compared with girls the same age, so they're more likely to be singled out for bad behavior. And since there are fewer free-play and recess opportunities today, it's no wonder that boys are being left behind." I understand the rules of classrooms, but we should not punish or make little boys feel bad when exploring their own thought processes. Boys learn at a slower pace than girls. Little boys are being held back because they don't talk "as good" or read "as good" or do math "as good" as....as what? Girls? And? Boys are happiest when they day-dream, play, and manually discover the world. They don't need a book to tell them about these things, they need to see them, experience them for themselves. That doesn't take away our responsibility of teaching them to read, but they will learn best when the two are put together. It's difficult to be a boy in our culture because it demands toughness and athletic prowess. You can see that in your own neighborhoods, right? Within your own social groups, correct? Society is worried about "making a man" out of the boy. "Gender stereotyping makes us more likely to miss the vulnerabilities of boys." A little boy's focus should be "quiet time to engage in fantasy play with his favorite toys. That means turning off the television, and providing a clear space. Play is his natural sanctuary, and you need to protect it." Little boys seem to be hugged less, picked up less, and comforted for shorter times than girls. Boys are falling through the cracks because we don't understand their developmental process. People are tougher on them, but they deserve and need as much love and cuddling, listening and praise as the girls we call "princesses." Our boys should be the princes of their mommy's world! Our future generation. We are raising them. Sometimes I wonder how good of a job I am doing. Am I making him happy, does he know I love him, will he want to be a good person in society and play nice with others? Will he talk with me when he's a teenager about all the crazy things boys go through? Their lives are hard. Will he be ready for school, wherever that is? Will he be a sweet little boy who helps others? Will he love his Heavenly Father? Will he have faith in Jesus Christ? Will he fall through the cracks? I know our kids are and will be pounded with everything society throws at them. Will they be ready? Cheryl C. Lant said that "The children's ultimate defense is a testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ." Little boys can be taught this, and learn this as well as little girls. We can help them gain testimonies without stifling their imaginations and physical play. "Boys have always had trouble paying attention in class. But they don't have a problem focusing for long periods of time on things they love." We can help them love the gospel. We can help them jump the cracks in society. Hug your little boys!!!