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At some point in the last few months, my baby son crossed an invisible line to to become a little boy. It may have been when he took to two legs and began, literally, toddling. It may have been when he began to exhibit some degree of understanding – when “Where are the fish, Boy Z?” was met with a finger pointing at the obvious fish tank (and most likely accompanied by a thought bubble reading “They’re right there you asshole. What, are you blind?”). It may have been when he started to make recognizable words that he associates with certain objects (thus far: Mama, Papa, ball, more, duck). It may have been when he started raging through the house like a tiny tornado leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
But whenever it happened, the fact is that Boy Z has most definitely become a boy. He throws, he climbs, he hits things with a cricket bat, he kicks a soccer ball around the place. He’s entirely lacking in fear, sense or a grasp of consequences and thus, at an early age, is prepared for life as a male of the species. I’ve been noticing the transition for the last few months, but yesterday it really hit home that I’ve got a male of the species, with all the masculine madness that comes along with a Y chromosome, on my hands.
We go to a music class on Boy Z and Papa Party Day and he’s not really settled in to the class. I was discussing with the teacher whether or not I wanted to sign up for another term. I’m just not sure if Boy Z is really enjoying it. The teacher’s response, in part:
We all know that he is a boy, so he’s not likely to be a sit-down-and-wait-for-the-next-thing child (as will some of the girls probably be). As he is also a walker, he’s off to investigate everything, which is totally understandable.
In other words, it’s OK that your kid spends the whole class wandering around banging things on the door, knocking books off the table, hurling various instruments at other kids and trying to jam his fingers into the power point – he’s a boy.
After music class, we took a trip up to Cleland Wildlife Park; it’s kind of a big petting zoo in which you can feed a lot of native wildlife – kangaroos, wallabies, emus and so forth. We’ve been up once before, when Boy Z was still Baby Z, and he was kind of underwhelmed. This time, however, he was all over the place. Feeding various animals is one of his favorite activities and he was in heaven. For a while. But, as is apparently characteristic for little boys, he lost interest after a while and decided that he wanted a different kind of interaction. He picked up a big stick (ask Arizaphale about boys and sticks) and went hunting for a kangaroo with which to ‘play’. Fortunately for Boy Z, the kangaroos at Cleland apparently have enough experience with little boys to clear out when one comes toddling over with a club.
Later, Boy Z went bravely unarmed after a sitting emu. For those of you not familiar with emus, there’s a big difference between a sitting emu and a standing emu – about six feet to be exact. Boy Z got a dramatic lesson in emu anatomy as he rushed to within striking distance of the emu before the bird haughtily rose to its full height. I wish I could have seen the boy’s face before he ran, screaming, back to the protective arms of his Papa. I mean he’s a boy, but he’s still a little boy.
It is no secret that when Boy Z was born I was hoping for a girl – girls love their Dads, you know. Yes, I am exaxctly that shallow. But from the moment Boy Z first flashed his willy to the world I’ve never been disappointed. The more time I spend with my son, the happier I am that he’s a boy. There are an infinite number of experiences that I am uniquely placed to share with him. And you know what? Right now he loves his Dad as much as any girl would.
In short – boys rule, girls drool.
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Uh, the whole flashing his willy to the world and not being disappointed is a bit weird.
Haha I hope he gets to read this post when he’s, like, 18. Hahaha. He is sooo cute though I can’t believe he’s got that big already. Not fair. Wish I was still growing (in height not girth). Give him a pram and see what he does.
“your kid spends the whole class wandering around banging things on the door, knocking books off the table, hurling various instruments at other kids and trying to jam his fingers into the power point – he’s a boy.”
Unfortunately some of the kids I teach seem to share the same philosophy and embrace it in very literal terms!
This can be charming at Z’s age. Not so much at the age of 11 or 12. And it definitely wears a bit thin when you have about 25 of them all trying to do this in the same small classroom at the same time!
Boys are stupid.
Oops, forgot to say that my last comment was a direct response to your ‘boys rule, girls drool’ remark. Not to be taken out of context and destined to follow me around for the rest of my teaching career!
beautiful photos. my babies were both boys too though my gay son occasionally went through a stage of wearing dresses and make up that made me wonder if I’d suddenly gotten a daughter……
The mental image of Boy Z and the emu of doom is just too much. Also, I think Boy Z and my good friend Tam’s little bruiser son would get along SPLENDIDLY. Have to say, though, some little girls are distracted mobile terrors, too
When they’re young, you want a girl. They’re delicate and demure. Boys are rambunctious and destructive. As they move into their teens, you want a boy. Tween’ girls are emotionally volatile. Either way, you’re going to pay. I’m glad I had two daughters for the same shallow reason you cite above.
Not all girls are into sitting still and waiting. Your music class description could’ve been about Pi at that age!
I used to be one of those feminists who blamed the differences in the genders on cultural expectations. Now that I have kids myself, I know better.
Oh Z is getting big. I too would have loved to see his expression upon seeing the full-sized emu staring him down. Isabella is just a month or two younger than Z. She’s pretty rambunctious for a girl but unlike my oldest boy, she can sit for an hour and read books to the cat(she’s not actually reading yet just turning the pages and babbling).
I don’t know if you guys have it in you to have another but girls are great too. I have a favorite child at any moment, but it’s toggled between all three of my kids at any given time. Of course the baby’s all about mom right now so that’s cool. My four year old was the fav more recently because she was uber sweet and kind, but my 8 year old son just learned to make me coffee so that’s pretty cool.
The neat thing about +1 is you get to watch them interact together which is priceless.
AWWWW.
This was so sweet. I love the bit the the (totally scary) emu…
Um, that would be the bit WITH the emu…
Perfect.
Boys are wrecking balls, no doubt about it. The funny thing is, second sons are usually way worse than first borns. At least that’s been my experience. The first borns I know are usually mild mannered and intellectual. Sort of a trap, luring you into thinking you’re a wonderful parent, until you have the second one. Then you realize just how much luck has to do with things.
We have been tossing around the idea of a third, but the thought of another Grant in our house… I’m not sure we’d survive.
I laughed out loud at the thought of Z and the emu! I wish I could see a picture!
I suspect boys love their daddies, too. Especially when their daddies are like you.
How cute. If you had been able to capture on film Z’s reaction to the humongous emu, you’d be the best photographer ever.
every day I’m amazed that my baby isn’t a baby.
Returning the stalking favor. Thanks to Lora for teaching me. Love your site and have added you to my reader!
P.S. We live 15 minutes south of Austin and my husband was talking about the Black Angels just the other day! he’s quite the fan, too.
Sinead – You picked a wierdo, so that makes you a wierdo as well.
SSG – Must not use cheap girth joke. Must not use cheap girth joke.
Agnes – Yeah, I’m totally not looking forward to Z at 12 or 13. Yikes. Oh, and girls have cooties.
Nurse – Yeah, Boy Z every now and again gets obsessed with a baby doll, which is odd.
Veloci – I’ve seen some of those girls, they can be worse than boys.
TUB – Probably true, teenage girls are mystifying to me. But I don’t know that teenage boys are much better.
NIchole – I’m just reporting what the teacher said. I’m sure that girls can be terrorists as well.
Prefers – As a geneticist, I’m pretty confident in saying that most of the differences between the sexes are in your DNA. Sure, some of it is cultural – but I think most of it’s programmed. Like little boys and sticks.
Chris – I’m still hoping for a girl – let’s just leave it there. I’m sure Dr. O’C doesn’t want the intimate details of our sex life out on the internets.
Pare – They are scary, actually. Especially at this place, they get right up in your face.
Mongola – Thanks.
JK – Wait – the first is supposed to be mild mannered and intellectual? We’re in trouble.
Gypsy – Aw, thanks.
Courtney – For once, I chose making sure the boy didn’t get his ass kicked by a giant bird rather than taking photos. Disappointing, I know.
Lora – Where does the time go?
I had a second child in the hopes that it would be a boy (it was) and I could conduct my own experiments about influences on gendered behaviour and biological norms in comparison with my daughter. That wasn’t the only reason I had children though. Teaching them to get you stuff is pretty cool too.
We had kids to do the housework.
Look Chris! A penguin!
oops. I mean “Dad”
I’ve got your penguin right here, big boy.
Ha! Our girl did drool a lot when she was a baby. The infant boy doesn’t drool at all. The girl is more adoring, however.
Too bad Z didn’t get that kangaroo. You could have alleviated any homesickness by cooking up some kangaroo meat burritos, just like in Taco Bells across the U.S.
Muskrat – Thanks for affirming my rule/drool paradigm.
Jamie – Kangaroo meat is far too expensive stateside for use at Taco Hell. I’m pretty sure they use a blend of goat, dog and street urchin. Carnitas are people! They’re people!
i suppose at least you know he is normal ..i mean you got enough experience from my kids ………unfortunately i think he is more like oliver than luke.
aish
You had kids to do housework????? What weird parallel universe are you living in? And can I join you?
Lovely post. That’s one for himself to read in time.
Aish – We definitely got Ollie. And screwed.
Ariza – Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Xbox – He may not like me talking about his willy. Which he’s recently discovered and can’t keep his hands off of whenever he’s nappy-less.
Ugh… why oh why didn’t you have the camera ready when the emu stood up?
Sarah (wife) said something to me just yesterday about the fact that boys seem to have no fears at all when they’re at a young age. She seemed pretty worried about this, while I swelled up with pride. *shrug*
Oh, girls do SO NOT DROOL.
I’m always shaken when they cross that invisible threshold from baby to kid.
Man, he looks so much like you in that first photo.
I still have mental scars from emus chasing down this young Z at similar wildlife parks in NT and QLD.
Great post. I don’t know how I feel about differences between boys and girls. I guess I’ll know when I have one. Right now though i feel like i’d want to have a girl. Don’t know why.