the difference between boys and girls
I went on a total cleaning and re-decorating spree the other day. I moved the furniture all around the living room. I switched pictures, rearranged bookshelves, and pretty much had a grand old time making things pretty.
As I got to the end of my project, I decided the table needed some sort of fall decor on it. I hunted through my box of decorating stuff and came up with little ceramic tray in fall colors. I put a couple of mini-pumpkins we'd gotten at the Farmer's Market on the tray, and as a finishing touch, I added pinecones I scrounged from my neighbor's yard. It looked quite cute and autumnal, I thought.
The next morning, Beth woke up and was delighted by my work. "Oh, Mom, it looks so pretty! And look at this little tray! It's beautiful! And it's all filled with things from nature!"
There's nothing like being validated by your 5-year-old.
Then some little friends came over--little boys.
As the kids all sat and colored at the table, the boys eyed my pretty fall display.
"What's that?" the 3-year-old said. He reached out to touch the pinecones. "Oooh--pokey!" he said.
"Don't touch those! They are for looking pretty!" Lucy said.
"But why are they inside?" The 4-year-old wanted to know. "Why are they on the table?"
The 3-year-old was reaching out to touch the pinecones again.
"They are my mama's! Don't touch them because they are for looking pretty!" Lucy said.
"They are decorations! And they are from nature!" Beth said.
"But why are they inside?" The 4-year-old just wasn't comprehending this.
"They are decorations! They are for looking pretty!" my girls yelled, clearly confounded that males could be so thickheaded about things.
I recovered from my giggling in the kitchen at that point and came in to avert the shouting match by distracting them with snacks.
I still don't think the boys ever understood the concept of putting pinecones and pumpkins on the table just to look pretty. It's just not a guy thing. I suppose the sooner my daughters learn that there are some things you just can't explain to men (the beauty of pinecones on a tray, the glory of really cheesy musicals, the fact that the craft store is a really fun place to visit) the better prepared for life they will be.
6 comments:
That is just to funny. Being the ONLY girl in my house things get interesting. I have found that I can't put as many things out this year with #3 walking and still not using his ears (they work he just doesn't like to use them) Trying to explain decor to men and boys is at times a losing battle.
That's hilarious!
Very funny! I am going to have Steve and the rest of the boys read this.
I want to come see this rearranging and decorating! Being the female I am I am very interested in such things and will further validate you I'm sure!
This is really a fabulous post. And such a cute glimpse (in miniature) into the difference between boys and girls. My 2 grown brothers still aren't firm on "de-core." My husband tolerates it. :)
This was great. I wonder if I can train my son to appreciate decorations.... :)
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