Visits to the ED, video games and various sporting events have all been a part of my world. That is being a mom in a boy’s world. When I get together with other moms, we can usually tell who has boys. We will compare the latest war stories, discuss which sports they play or what video game system they want for Christmas. Raising boys is an adventure, and I have learned some things throughout the years. Here are 5 things I learned from being a mom to boys:
1.) Boys are like the energizer bunny.
It is true, as least for me, that boys just keep going. From the moment my three boys woke up in the morning till either their nap time or bed time, they were running and playing. They would play in the tree house, play basketball, shoot their bb guns, chase the dogs, ride on the zip line or be transported to any one of the many sports practices they were involved in. They kept me active. By the end of the day, we were all ready to fall asleep.
2.) You get to know the best ER docs.
One of the things that comes with being a mom (and a nurse) to boys are the visits to the ER. I have taken each of the boys to the ER for various things from minor injuries to life threatening conditions. One of my first visits to the ER was with my son, Ryan, as he was having an anaphylactic reaction to milk. We did not know it was milk at the time, but knew he was allergic to something he had just eaten. He was 6 months old with swollen eyes, lips and throat. It was one of the scariest ER visits, but the doctor and staff were amazing and were able to resolve his reaction quickly.
When Zach was younger, he was running around the house and slipped and fell on a sharp rock. He ended up splitting open the side of his leg and I took him in. He was in shock and white as a ghost. The staff were amazing and the doctor regularly checked in after our initial visit. Since Zach was younger and the repair involved some extensive work, we decided to give Zach some medication to help him relax. Again, the doctor frequently checked in. Zach ended up with multiple deep tissue stitches and 17 staples down his leg. We told people he fought off a ninja.
Drew’s visit to the ER was just a classic boy case. He was wrestling with Zach and fell into the large wooden leg of our chairs and split the back of his head open. Again the staff and doctors were amazing and five staples later we were able to head home.
3.) I am very happy with my 3 boys.
If I could record and save a phrase on my phone, it would be “No, we are not going to try for a girl.” I cannot tell you the number of times I have been asked if I was going to try for a girl. The answer is No. Not having a girl does not disrupt the natural order of life. It is okay and having three boys is pretty amazing.
4.) Boys have a tender spot for their moms.
My boys will walk up and give me a hug for no reason but they love me. They will ask me to rub their shoulders when they are tired, and my younger guys still enjoy the nightly ritual of singing at bedtime. My boys will check on me when I am sick and will quickly come to my aid if I get injured. There is nothing like the love I feel from my boys.
5.) They are watching me.
Sometimes, we may not realize it, but our children are watching what we do. Last year when I decided to make some changes in my health, I began to work out at home. I started buying healthier foods and making better choices. As I continued to workout, my children took notice. When I came home, they knew I would start dinner and then workout while it was cooking. If I worked out with a different program, they asked if it was something new. If I did not work out right away, they kept me accountable by asking if I was working out. They knew my schedule and they would make comments if I changed it. My goal is to be a good example of healthy living to my boys and knowing they are watching me, keeps me focused on that goal.
Having three wonderful boys has truly been an adventure. They make me laugh, make me want to scream and gave me most of my gray hair, and I would not change a minute. I cannot imagine my life without these handsome boys, and I look forward to watching them grow into some truly amazing men.
