Soon-to-be-mothers can think they know what motherhood will be like, but as soon as the kids arrive, it’s a completely different story. There is a handful of unmistakable struggles that all moms of boys experience throughout raising these youngsters.
1. You’ve become immersed in the craziness and impatience of young boys.
Let’s face it—there’s nothing quite like raising boys to test the limits of your physical capacities. Heck, moms of boys know that raising children pushes the envelope of mental and emotional capacities too. Taking your boys anywhere in public can feel more like organizing an entire circus than simply engaging in some quality family time.
2. You take your mistakes far too personally.
As a mom, there’s an irrevocable desire within you to see your boys succeed. When something goes wrong, it becomes easy to take this personally. Remember that your boys are still learning about life right alongside you!
3. You’re flabbergasted at the amount of food consumed within the home.
Out of every woe that moms of boys share, this is likely the most common. The costs for one month’s groceries seem to astound you more and more every month. Where does all of that food go, anyway? It’s like they have invisible hamster pouches.
4. You get frustrated anytime someone says, “Aren’t you glad you have boys?”
Your exasperation is founded on two emotions whenever someone has the nerve to utter this question. First, of course you’re happy to be the mother of boys! They’re your own children and you wouldn’t trade them for anyone else. Second, it’s as though the question implies that boys are somehow more valuable than girls. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with girls, but since you have boys, you’re focused on being the best mom possible for your boys.
5. You get home almost every day to see them playing video games instead of doing homework.
Glowing screens and shoot-em-up sound effects seem to emanate from every corner of your house, and you wonder if you’ll ever get a minute of peace and quiet.
6. You’ve given up trying to keep bathroom time “private.”
Any time you need to run to the restroom, you’ve become accustomed to listening for the pitter-patter of small feet and the inevitable questions for mommy that will ensue. At times you catch yourself in the middle of this thought process, wondering how it ever became normal. You wonder if your own boys would appreciate “bathroom questions,” and then realize that they probably do. Speaking of privacy—
7. Being awoken by your boys jumping on the bed is hardly a surprise anymore.
A few years ago when your boys were still infants, you thought you only had to swear off quality sleep for the first year or two. Little did you know that sleep disruptions would remain normal. You’d give anything now for a week’s worth of quality sleep!
8. You’ve redefined what “safety” means for your boys.
Harking back to their toddler years again, you developed ever-watchful eyes to notice if even the tiniest bruise showed up on their bodies. Now, seeing how your boys jump, leap, climb and crawl over everything in sight, “safety” has suddenly become less of a constant worry. Dramatic as your boys may be, you’ve learned that a small cut on their thumb doesn’t warrant a trip to the ER.
9. You’ve found that boys are just as messy as girls.
Any time you’re having a conversation with a friend who has daughters, it’s become commonplace to hear, “Oh, aren’t you happy boys aren’t as messy as girls?” You throw your head back in a huge belly laugh, responding that no, boys are just as messy as girls, if not more so. Moms of boys everywhere have witnessed firsthand how a clean home one day can look like a train wreck in the jungle the next morning.
10. You’ve been astonished with the clothing demands of boys.
Just a few years ago, you thought raising boys would mean less to spend on clothing. Three boys and dozens of blue jeans and t-shirts later, you’re wiser for this silly assumption.
11. You’re perturbed when people say, “At least boys love their mommies!”
Yes, at the end of the day, of course the boys love their mommy. But is it any different for girls? Why do people think girls have less of a heart than boys?
12. You grew used to invasions of privacy ages ago.
You’re tired out from the constant demands your children place on you. It seems like there’s less and less personal time, and you’ve accepted the fact that any attempts for true privacy have to be scheduled and crafted with precision.
13. You’re anxious about who your boys will be in the future.
You’ve probably heard time and again how boys don’t seem to call or visit home as often as girls. You have faith that your boys will be different!
14. You get unnecessary flack for them.
It doesn’t take being out in public too long for a daring passerby to utter something that is less than considerate about having boys. It’s as though they literally have nothing better to say.
15. You’ve run yourself ragged trying to motivate your young boys in life.
As you watch your boys approach adolescence, you can sometimes feel hopeless when thinking about how to get them motivated. For many years on end, it can look like your boys want nothing more than to dive into video games and go crazy outside.
Next time something on this list happens to you, rather than moping about it, use this list as a reminder that moms of boys everywhere are going through the same experiences you are.
