Boys and their toys
August 20, 2009 by Lisa Beth
Here is a blog which squarely goes under the “ranting” category. I was watching Wyatt play outside at Grandma and Grandpa’s house last weekend, and noticed that everything he touches turns into a gun, sword, or something “for fighting”. Not like this is new to me, he is always wanting to “shoot guns” and play “good guy-bad guy” with me. Mom, you be the bad guy and I be the good guy, ok? I started thinking back to about one year ago….
We were at a childcare center (one that will remain nameless here) that on a few occasions did some things I wasn’t too happy about. (Like the time I brought him in and told them he had a doctor’s appointment at 12:00 because he was limping and we couldn’t figure out what was wrong, so I told them to keep him quiet until I came to pick him up for his appointment. I didn’t want him further damaging his leg if something was wrong. When I arrived to pick him up I was informed they had taken the kids on a walk to the Donut Hole – over a mile away. I drove down the street looking for him and there he was hobbling along….) One day I was called in to the daycare because Wyatt and another little boy had made “guns” out of some toy and were pretend shooting with them. (You know, Phew! Phew! Got you! type play) They were told this was not appropriate and a few minutes later, they resumed their gun play. Then I was called in to school. Are you serious? Is it just me or aren’t little boys supposed to play things like “cops and robbers”? I was a serious tomboy growing up, and I remember joining in on gun play with the little boys across the street. Sure doesn’t mean I’m going to grow up and shoot someone. How far is it going to call a parent in, in the middle of my work day, to tell me that my two-year old was playing guns? I was all what do you want me to do about this? His dad hunts for a living. He will be exposed to guns his whole life. Not sure how to avoid this one people. Chris has been and always will be a huge gun activist. That being said, he is always extremely careful when around firearms and we have talked numerous times about the importance of teaching our children gun safety. Of course, no time in the near future will either of our children be handed a gun of any type, but is it a bit ridiculous for me to expect him not to play guns like all little boys?
Anyway – here is Wyatt playing “guns” with the hose at Grandma and Grandpa’s pool. He never did shoot anyone with his water gun by the way, just the deck, plants and pool.
We were at a childcare center (one that will remain nameless here) that on a few occasions did some things I wasn’t too happy about. (Like the time I brought him in and told them he had a doctor’s appointment at 12:00 because he was limping and we couldn’t figure out what was wrong, so I told them to keep him quiet until I came to pick him up for his appointment. I didn’t want him further damaging his leg if something was wrong. When I arrived to pick him up I was informed they had taken the kids on a walk to the Donut Hole – over a mile away. I drove down the street looking for him and there he was hobbling along….) One day I was called in to the daycare because Wyatt and another little boy had made “guns” out of some toy and were pretend shooting with them. (You know, Phew! Phew! Got you! type play) They were told this was not appropriate and a few minutes later, they resumed their gun play. Then I was called in to school. Are you serious? Is it just me or aren’t little boys supposed to play things like “cops and robbers”? I was a serious tomboy growing up, and I remember joining in on gun play with the little boys across the street. Sure doesn’t mean I’m going to grow up and shoot someone. How far is it going to call a parent in, in the middle of my work day, to tell me that my two-year old was playing guns? I was all what do you want me to do about this? His dad hunts for a living. He will be exposed to guns his whole life. Not sure how to avoid this one people. Chris has been and always will be a huge gun activist. That being said, he is always extremely careful when around firearms and we have talked numerous times about the importance of teaching our children gun safety. Of course, no time in the near future will either of our children be handed a gun of any type, but is it a bit ridiculous for me to expect him not to play guns like all little boys?
Anyway – here is Wyatt playing “guns” with the hose at Grandma and Grandpa’s pool. He never did shoot anyone with his water gun by the way, just the deck, plants and pool.
Holly Bowne on Sun, 23rd Aug 2009 12:15 pm
That is hilarious! I remember when my son was little, we were adamant that he wouldn’t play with guns. He’d never watched anything but Disney and rated G movies. But he would bite his toast into the shape of a gun. He’s create lego creations in the shape of guns. At bedtime, when we’d say a prayer together, I’d ask him if he’d like to add anything, and without fail he would say “And God, can I please, puh-leeeeze have a toy gun to play with!”
Yeesh!
Needless to say, we got the message. Boys will be boys! I truly think it’s inbred or something. And yes, he did eventually have his very own collection of toy guns to play with, much to his delight.