Of mice and meat heads
The hubby and I were one of those couples who couldn’t wait to find out the sex of our baby. I remember the moment we laid eyes on our little boy — and his privates. There he was in black and white, grainy glory — giving us the finger.
My first thought was “What in the WORLD am I going to do with a boy?” Its not that I didn’t like boys. They just sort of scared me because I didn’t understand the them.
Now that I have a little boy, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Its been an educational and entertaining journey to say the least. But then again, I still don’t understand the boys that are older than Seth — especially the ones that range from 8 to 12-ish. I call that ”the meat head stage”. Why is it fun to beat the crap out of each other? Why is it hysterically funny to fart in someone’s face? Just. don’t. get.
A few days ago, three neighbor boys (in this age range) were hurling aluminum bats at each other. They weren’t running away from the bats, they were trying to CATCH them. For fun! (These are sweet kids with great parents, by the way.)
Last week Seth’s play date Nick was telling us about his big brother’s best friend “Scooter”. And how Scooter once knocked Nick down and peed in his face. At the time I assumed Scooter was a dog. But nope. Scooter is a person. (Don’t know anything about Scooter. But my guess as to Scooter’s future? Involves at least two trips to jail and if he’s lucky, a stint in some ”g0lden sh0wer” type porn. )
I know my sweet, albeit squirrelly, little boy will have us visiting urgent care facilities in a few years due to his own meat head antics. It seems to be some rite of passage. But thinking about it makes my palms sweat. Who knew the temptation to wrap a kid in 32 layers of bubble wrap could be so strong?
P.S. Just reviewed a cool new kids toy thanks to Parent Bloggers Network. For my review, click here.
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By flutter, May 20, 2008 @ 6:19 pm
Boys. Gotta tell ya, the meat head stage doesn’t really wear off….
By Heather, May 20, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
I’m waiting for our first stiches, broken bone, trip to the emergency room, etc. with dread and knowledge that I won’t be able to avoid any of it.
By Cheryl, May 20, 2008 @ 8:10 pm
You’ve got to be kidding me. Peed in his face? Are we raising barbarians? I’m with you on the bubble wrap.
By Sugared Harpy, May 20, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
Um, maybe bump that up to at least 13…
Mine is definitely still in the meat head stage.
By Zookeeper, May 20, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
Luckily we parents grow and learn along with our kids. When my oldest daughter was small I had a hard time imagining being a mom to an older child. She’s currently 10 and it’s not nearly as difficult as I would have thought. Now I am dreading the teen years. I can only hope that they turn out to be easier than I expect as well. [Crossing fingers]
By Susan, May 20, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
I commiserate with you on your feelings about that age group. Although, my feelings extend even further - to about 17. I cannot stand kids that age! I know it’s not all, but generally, it seems like kids that age have no respect whatsoever for anyone, it’s the me, me, me, attitude. Every time G and I pass by a group of them hanging out in the road doing stupid stuff, I beg and plead to her not go there. Then again, I won’t be one of those parents that allow her to hang out on the streets after dark. I’m going to cross my fingers that your sweet little Seth doesn’t become one of those “meat heads” and continues to make you proud to be his mom.
By Suebob, May 20, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
One of my guy friends told me about the bike jumping game that he and his friends played. You had to go off a jump and see how far you could fly. The winner was the one who flew the farthest. And the loser? The person who went AFTER the person who flew the farthest and crashed badly, thus ending the game with broken bones etc. They did not THINK about that until it happened…BOYS!
By Traceytreasure, May 21, 2008 @ 1:03 am
Oooooh, I hear you! Girls can be just as bad though! Keep your little Seth as close to you as possible. It scares me to watch kids at “play” these days. I do not remember “play” being so rough. I can send you some bubble wrap for him if you’d like!
By Alissa, May 21, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
Little boys. Love ‘em! My two are such daredevils that the inevitable visit to the emergency room is just a matter of time. I was SO happy to get boys. I identify much more with the rough and tumble boy things than I do with the pink lacy girl things
By Claire DeLune, May 21, 2008 @ 7:09 pm
My DH is always complaining about the estrogen overload at my house and I have to point out that we don’t make nearly as many visits to the emergency room as our neighbors who have the same number of kids. I’m sure that there are upsides to raising males of the species, but I can deal with emotional roller coaster rides better than I can handle urinating competitions and roughhousing so extreme that it results in multiple fractures.
By VirtualSprite, May 21, 2008 @ 8:07 pm
Oh, man. I so know what you mean. We are very fortunate to have a 13-year-old and a 4-year-old. Which means the 4-year-old is getting meathead lessons early from his brother. Whoo hooo!
By becky, May 21, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
yeah i honestly dont get it either. i dont know what i’ll do if we have a boy. i’ll be so lost. kinda like how matt is now lol
By Daisy, May 21, 2008 @ 9:06 pm
I’m sorry to break it to you, but the Fart Fascination doesn’t go away. Darnit.
By mp, May 21, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
When I met J and he had a little boy..I thought. OMG a little boy. They don’t play dolls or read stories.. Now..I can’t even imagine a little girl.
By Nap Warden, May 21, 2008 @ 10:13 pm
Oh no…I have one of these!
By workout mommy, May 22, 2008 @ 2:18 am
I totally understand what you are saying, especially with the bubble wrap. I remember as a kid watching the movie “Boy in a bubble” and now I want to build one for my own kids!
By Carrie, May 22, 2008 @ 3:04 am
I can’t read this from under the wine bottles - the empty ones.
What can I say? I have 2 boys (9 and 11), I’m in the thick of it.
By ~JJ!, May 22, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
Yeah. Boys scare me.
I like my girl.
But I did want a boy before I knew she was a girl.
By Jakki, May 22, 2008 @ 7:59 pm
LOL…We didnt want to know what we were having with either of my sons but with my last one, the technician doing the ultrasound, bless his dimwitted soul asked if we wanted to know what we were having, and before we could answer said ‘i think that’s a woody’. ummm gee. thanks. Does malpractice cover me slapping you upside your head?? Anywho, boys can come up with so much stuff that eventually, after 14 years, I just have to laugh at them.
By Amber, May 22, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
Ugh. And Aaaaack!! I frequently see these tween or teen-age punks and ask my husband, “My sweet Bode isn’t going to be like that is he?”
And his answer is always in the affirmative. Sigh….