Boys Will Be Boys

The phrase “boys will be boys” has been a part of my vernacular for as long as I can remember.

A boy pulling hair in elementary school? Boys will be boys.

A boy snapping a bra strap in middle school? Boys will be boys.

A boy refusing to let a girl play on their team in P.E. in junior high? Boys will be boys.

A boy spreading false rumors about a girl in high school? Boy will be boys.

A boy standing my friend up and posting pictures of a different date? Boys will be boys.

To be honest, I always ignored it. It was the path of least resistance.

Did I like everything they did? No.

Did I believe that everything could be excused by “boys will be boys”? No.

 

Then I had a little boy of my own. And then another. For the first few years, the phrase was blessedly absent. Then I started to hear it now and then. At daycare, when one of them misbehaved. In random comments from random people. It’s become more frequent as they’ve grown into little boys.

I’m putting my foot down.

 

Yes. My boys will be boys.

They will be boys get dirty and play rough. Who will learn how to win and lose in sports. Who can fight with one another one minute and be the best of friends the next.

They will be boys who are compassionate. Who speak up for others (boys and girls). Who value the opinions of every kind of person. Who listen to others. Who understand that no means no and yes means yes.

They will be boys who are respectful. Who give grace to people who may not deserve it. Who defend the vulnerable.

It won’t always be easy guiding them as they continue to grow and have more independence. I know I’m not fully prepared for every situation they will throw at me. And that’s alright. It’s part of the roller coaster of life.

But, I’m their mom.

And I’ll be damned if they grow up with the line “boys will be boys” echoing in their minds as an excuse for bad behavior.

—

◊♦◊The Good Men Project is different from most media companies. We are a “participatory media company”—which means we don’t just have content you read and share and comment on but it means we have multiple ways you can actively be a part of the conversation. As you become a deeper part of the conversation—The Conversation No One Else is Having—you will learn all of the ways we support our Writers’ Community—community FB groups, weekly conference calls, classes in writing, editing platform building and How to Create Social Change.

◊♦◊

Here are more ways to become a part of The Good Men Project community:

Request to join our private Facebook Group for Writers—it’s like our virtual newsroom where you connect with editors and other writers about issues and ideas.

Click here to become a Premium Member of The Good Men Project Community. Have access to these benefits:

1. Get  access to an exclusive “Members Only” Group on Facebook
2. Join our Social Interest Groups—weekly calls about topics of interest in today’s world
3. View the website with no ads
4. Get free access to classes, workshops, and exclusive events
5. Be invited to an exclusive weekly “Call with the Publisher” with other Premium Members
6. Commenting badge.

Are you stuck on what to write? Sign up for our Writing Prompts emails, you’ll get ideas directly from our editors every Monday and Thursday. If you already have a final draft, then click below to send your post through our submission system.

If you are already working with an editor at GMP, please be sure to name that person. If you are not currently working with a GMP editor, one will be assigned to you.

◊♦◊

Are you a first-time contributor to The Good Men Project? Submit here:

◊♦◊

Have you contributed before and have a Submittable account? Use our Quick Submit link here:

◊♦◊

Do you have previously published work that you would like to syndicate on The Good Men Project? Click here:

—

 ID: 391124992