On Mondays I share my musings on Motherhood or Marriage. Today’s post is about Motherhood.
I remember how anxious and afraid I was when I found out we were having twin boys. I had always dreamed of having children and our infertility struggles seemed to magnify both my desire to become a mother and my determination to be the best mom that I could be.
I worried aloud (frequently) to the Road Warrior how a ‘girly girl’ could raise boys. What about all those nursery rhymes I longed to recite and the crafts I imagined us doing? Could you do those things with boys?
He assured me I could. But quite honestly I had my doubts.
I was fearful, didn’t play sports and wasn’t particularly adventurous. Three traits I was convinced would make me an epic failure as a mother to boys.
When I think back to that time, I have to laugh at myself. In the Ten things I’ve learned after 10 Years of Motherhood, I shared that I now believe anyone can be a Boy Mom. I’m certainly proof of that.
As their Mother I definitely don’t try to become their Dad, but I do try to be open to exploring their interests with them and supporting them in their ‘boyish’ pursuits. Pursuits which have surprisingly now become family pursuits that include their sisters.
Raising Boys has been an exciting adventure and while I still get nervous, I’ve learned that by not always holding them back, I expand my horizons as well.
Their sense of adventure has unleashed my own and taught me a lot about myself in the process.
I’m stronger/tougher than I thought.
and I’m a pretty good shot.
Cheltz says
Love the pictures on this one! I s o me times wonder that I’m not the best girl mom, but with the personalities of the girls I have, I think I’m fine. I think that we end up getting sent genders and personalities that help us grow AND that we can handle :).
Karin says
So true! My boys definitely aren’t as rough house as some but they’ve stretched me and they definitely relate well to their father. Our girls are very girly but think nothing of picking up bugs, taking fish off of hooks or handling reptiles. I think this generation doesn’t have the same gender stereotypes that I grew up with. Our girls also have no interest in shooting rifles (which I now fully enjoy) but they like archery. The girls also enjoy riding horses and the boys have no interest.