Thursday, May 20, 2010

Sugar and Spice, Meet Snakes, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Over the last few days, I've been reading a couple of books, Why Gender Matters by Dr. Leonard Sax and How Do You Tuck in a Superhero by Rachel Balducci. Both have got me thinking about boys and girls and the changes that having a little boy will bring into my life. I have only one sister and so living with a little boy is still something of a mystery. Today I had an experience at the park that may be a glimpse of our future.

Monica is just learning to go up and down stairs without scooting on her bum so we were practicing this on a flight of stairs on the play structure. As Monica gingerly went down the stairs, a four year old boy went streaking passed. He stopped at the top and looked at her, fascinated. (keep in mind that I've never met or seen this boy in my life.)

Little Boy: I didn't know she could walk!

Me: Yup. She can walk. Sometimes she even runs.

LB: Wow. Run?

Me: Yes. Sometimes she goes so fast I have to run after her!

LB (totally intrigued): Run after her right now!

Me (Looking at Monica standing stark still at the bottom of the stairs): I don't think she wants to run right now. So, I don't have the chase her.

LB (considering this thoughtfully): She could race.

Me: I don't think she knows how to race. Maybe she'll run a race when she gets older.

LB: I bet I could win.

Me: I bet you could too. You can definitely run faster than her.

LB: I could win a race!

Me: You could race around the playground right now to see how fast you are.

LB: Yeah! (scurrying down the stairs) I'm missile fast!

Boy takes off and careens around the playground, Family Circus style. Returns to the stairs, breathless.

Me: Wow! That was missile fast.

LB: Oh yeah!
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Boydom, here we come.

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