“It’s just
a boy thing” is a phrase I have often heard over the years. It’s often in reference
to a multitude of parental concerns including injury at play, high activity
level, impulsivity, organizational skills, and more. At the same time I have
vehemently denied that gender is an excuse to justify behavior. I’ve heard the phrase tossed around to
placate frustrated parents and normalize questionable behavior that would be
considered unacceptable in girls.
We’ve went
from active toddler, to active pre-teen, to teen. But things change after
puberty. The voice deepens, renewed interest in girls, too lazy to bathe, dirty
clothes, or lack of hygiene, etc. Everyone warns you about the trials of
tribulations of puberty, but not about they wake up on the other side into
their early teens (14-17). The attitude, (or badtitude as I like to call it) shifts
and poof your beautiful baby boy is now a sloth.
The slow
motion walk form the couch to the kitchen is almost painful to watch. It’s a
paradox to my son’s 6 pack abs and shoulder twice the size of his waist. I
shout “Run, I need you to hurry, run don’t walk.” His speed changes from that
of a snail to a turtle. As a cornerback on his High school football team, he
can not only run, but run fast.
And finally
after commiserating with other Mom’s of boys, about the angst of teenage boys,
I finally get it. It’s a boy thing afterall……
Labels: adjusting, Adoption Humor, father's day, Parenting, Parenting Teens