Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Parenting Differences

So I have always known that men and women parent their children differently, but as the boy get older, those differences are becoming more pronounced. When I watch my sweet boys relate to each other, I tend to teach them things like learning to talk to each other without yelling even when they are mad at each other. I teach them how to negotiate taking turns or dividing the blocks so that they both have some. You know, cooperative living skills. Important stuff, right?

This morning, my children were playing football all decked out in their Ohio State Buckeye uniforms complete with helmets as they often do. Many times this game results in tears by the three year old, because lets face it, the five year old can hit harder and anticipate his brother's moves better. And the tears are always from the younger child. This morning I noticed that they had been playing football for quite a while with not a single tear as a result. Not even a frustrated, "Aaron!!!" from the younger. Jerry called them over and said, "Show your mother what I taught you." and then told me, "Watch. I taught them how to charge each other!" What?!!? This does not sound like any of the cooperative skills I have been working on with them! But I watched, wondering if this might have something to do with the sudden lack of tears. I watched my two, precious, young boys charge full speed toward the other! What Jerry had taught Ethan to do was duck at the last minute, when they were about to crash (the part that normally brought him to tears) and take Aaron out by grabbing him around the knees! This caused them to both be able to pull the other down fairly - no more "I'm bigger than you advantage"! Although this is not something I would have thought to teach my boys, it was a great thing for them to know! Suddenly, I am seeing more clearly just how wonderful it is that we were created male and female and how much we need both.

7 comments:

Joanna said...

LOL. That's so funny. When I read "I taught them how to charge..." my jaw hit the floor! WHAT!? But dads see life in a different way than moms do and you're right, it's wonderful the way it works out.

Fortunately for me I don't have this problem. We only do girls here. I should put up a poll for people to guess whether we're having a girl or a boy and I bet 100% of the vote will be for "girl."

Joanna said...

Nice slippers, Aaron!

Unknown said...

I just love that! The other weekend when we went to the Space & Air Museum, Shane quizzed Caleb on parts of an airplane and he knew everything! I was so surprised and proud and thought about how I would never think to teach him that, especially since I didn't even know some of the parts myself. And the boys look super cute in their football uniforms over their PJs :)

Johanna said...

I'd vote girl for sure! I think that you and I have the same issue - only I produce boys, you produce girls. My OB said, and I agree, that he thinks that God gives us just what we need. I must need another boy. We are anxiously awaiting finding out whether you need a boy!

Joanna said...

Hey, the good thing is that they're all about the same age range so we can marry them off. Poor Ella, she's too old.

Tina said...

Wow, they look cute in their little OSU get-ups!
I think that is wonderful when we are really able to see what great things their dads are showing them. (sometimes it is hard to see)

M said...

Well you know, Johanna and Joanna, you could always trade one. lol... just kidding.