Boys and Girls and What I Know For Sure (this Week)

Men are from Venus, Women are from Mars.  Remember that book?  Well I never read it, but I get it.  In so many ways men and women are very different.  And you know what?  It starts very young.

I broke up a million fights this week between my own boys and between my boys and the neighbor boys.  "What are you doing?," I screamed (remember I am not a calm mother).  "Get off each other!  Stop fighting!," I screamed louder.

Every time, the boys turned and looked at me dumbfounded.  With a "what are you talking about lady? we're having fun here" look.  How is pushing each other, wrestling with each other, piling on top of each other, pulling back your friends' arms behind their heads or finding "pressure points" fun?

I. Do. Not. Get. It.

Boys are different.  In a lot of ways they are great, I 'm not bashing boys.  I have three wonderful ones for god's sake.  But I still don't get all the wrestling.

The other day, I had nine boys in my backyard acting crazy.
Inside, I had three girls and a baby baking brownies with me.

  
Taking turns measuring and stirring.  Singing and dancing while they stirred.  Pretending they were famous chefs.  Pretending they were making brownies for the royal family in the castle and they had to be extra tasty. Imagining all kinds of scenarios.  Breaking out into a dance to a clean version of a Rhianna song every now and then.  This, I get. Totally.

The boys?  They were "fighting" over who got to wear the bucket on their head and was taken down in a wrestlmania championship.  Mmm-kay.

I will never understand boy play, this I know for sure.

Here's what else I know for sure (this week):

• Thirty-one products are pretty and pretty cool.  You can't go to your kids' baseball game or the pool these days without seeing at least a handful of moms with a thirty-one bag. You know why?  Because they are practical and fashionable. 

And it happens to be my first giveaway!!!!


You could win not just one gift from thirty one, but two.  I am giving away a thermal tote and a cinch sac in the adorable Flutter pattern.

All you have to do is, leave a comment here, like the Facebook page, or leave a comment on the Facebook page and you will be entered to win.  This is the perfect back to school prize.  And if you are interested in hosting a party (so you can get more free items, discounted items and hang with your friends)click here. 
 (Click here for more information on Thirty-One.)

• Speaking of back to school, I love this Old Navy commercial. At first I was like, "oh no, poor Jason Priestley," but then I was like "oh yay, Brandon and Andrea."  Funny for us old original 90210 fans, who I guess are all parents and Old Navy's target market.

• I am having a blast with MomPulse.  Here's the latest video if you missed it.

• I need a new song.  A song that becomes my back-to-school, get-my-groove-on anthem.  I'm taking suggestions.  In the meantime, I heard this song on the radio in the minivan the other day and I couldn't contain myself.  I loved it in 1996-ish and I  LOVE it now.  C'mon 'N Ride It. I dare you NOT to dance.

• Deer scare the f*#k out of me.  This week I went on  a tranquil bike ride with my kids on a peaceful trail.  It was wonderful.  We parked our bikes and explored a little and then I saw it, I mean them.  

The deer. Staring me down.  I know I sound crazy, but once I saw this video about animals attacking humans and I never forgot it. Ever.

• Social media is where it's at. Click here to follow along on Twitter.  Click here to like the Facebook page.  Oh and wait, check me out on Pinterest too.

What do you know for sure (this week)?  Please share in the comments or on the Facebook page.  Remember, each comment is an entry into the Thirty-One giveaway.  And plus, I want to know what you know.

Word of The Week: A**hole

Lucy came over to me and asked if I knew that if I held my tongue and said "apple" it sounded like a bad word.  Gasp! What?  An oldie, but a goodie I guess if it's survived all these years. This scenario played out at my friend Steph's house last week, but a little different.  Her son came up to her and said "Did you know if you hold your tongue and say apple..." he started to explain.  "I can beat ya, asshole," she said boldly.  I love her.


At dinner the other night, one of the kids told a story about a kid that got sent to the office for calling another kid "asshole."  I just sighed with relief that it wasn't my kid.


Now what I am about to say might make a few people uncomfortable.   Here it goes...


My two-year-old can be a real a#*hole.  There it is.  Sorry but it's true. (It feels better not typing the whole thing out when in regards to the baby however.)

Awwwww, he's so cute.  

He may be cute, but a tad bit violent too.

Poor baby really doesn't stand a chance.  I mean he is just trying to make a name for himself in this family.  And sure I might be exaggerating a little with the name calling, but you see he likes to throw things--cars, toys, food and fits.  Last weekend he threw a book at Lucy.  She didn't duck in time and the book caught her in the eye.  

One scratched cornea and eye patch later, my husband and I agreed, the baby Wade can be an asshole.  (My husband will deny agreeing to that however.)


Here's a reminder of what he is dealing with and maybe a little insight into why he's a bit rough.

I Don't Get It

My kids beat the crap out of each other and I don't get it.  
Is this normal?

Usually it is just the three boys and the toughest, roughest and meanest of them all might just be the baby (he's two).  

I thought they were snuggling on the couch until I got closer and saw that the baby had JT in a choke hold. Niiiiice.

My kids are tough and street smart, but I promise that's not JT's cigarette butt on the ground.  C'mon, they are mean kids, but they are good kids.

My daughter Lucy usually stays above the fray and it doesn't faze her.  She will literally step over the pile of boys on the floor and go about her business.  But every once in a while, when they go too far, a sickening thud can be heard when she punches one of the boys in the back.  They usually leave her alone after that, for a while anyway.


My husband assures me this is normal and this is what he and his three brothers did growing up.  But I just don't get it.  


The boys constantly have to hit, nudge, push and shove each other.  "Cut it out!" I scream fearful they will go too far.  "Get off your brother, god damn it!" 


And from the bottom of the pile I hear, "No, mom it's okay."  What the hell?


I know boys are rough and need this physical play, right?  I do feel good about their toughness.  I am not worried about my kids being bullied and so far they don't seem to take their aggression out on anyone but their brothers, and occasionally their sister.  And it really isn't that mean.  Sure there's the occasional cheap shot, but they love each other.  And they love beating each other up.


My husband tells stories about how his older brothers used to pay his twin brother and him quarters to fight. And they all turned out alright and aren't violent people.


While we were visiting my father and his wife for the holidays, my kids were at it again.  They upped their game and were wrestling in the hot tub like maniacs.  "You have tough kids," my dad told me as we both decided it was better not to watch.


All I could say was "Thank you."

But I still don't get it.