Let's Hear It for the Boys!

It used to be that every time we got into the car, my kids would demand the TV on.  But here recently, thankfully, they've been demanding to listen to the radio instead.  And in our household, there's only one radio station, of course!  Merle 96.7

So the other day, we're driving down the road, and "God Made Girls" comes on.  And one of my five year olds, James David, who sings along to just about every song--even if he doesn't know it--is singing along, and so am I.  Not a thought or care in the world.

Until 20 minutes after we got home.

I'm in the kitchen getting dinner ready, and James David asks, "Mom, why did God only make girls?"

This innocent, sincere, troubling question just about broke my heart.

Don't get me wrong here--I'm all about some girl power.  I've had my share of men belittling me because I'm a woman in both my personal and professional lives.  So my heart cheers when songs like "God Made Girls" and "Girl in a Country Song" come out. 

But I'm raising three little boys.  And it got me thinking:  what about the "Boy in a Country Song"? The beer/whiskey drinking, woman chasing, masculine bravado that dominates our culture in nearly every genre?  What about him?

Blake Shelton's "Boys 'Round Here"

Society is so concerned about the depiction and treatment of women that we forget about our boys--yet they're facing just as much of a cultural dilemma.  And ignoring this reality only exacerbates the poor treatment of both genders.

We complain about the insensitive man, but we scold the young boy who cries.  We demonize the aggressive male, yet chide the boy who "hits like a girl."  What do we expect?!?

I can feel my husband glaring at me right now, so let me clarify:  I'm not saying we should raise/treat our boys to act like girls.  Boys are boys, and they are indeed different from girls.

But what I am saying is we should embrace and foster the sensitive, nurturing nature that most certainly IS inherent in boys.

As a female, wife, and mother, I can testify that my husband is never sexier than when he cares for his kids--when he comforts them, plays with them, feeds them, bathes them, teaches them, and snuggles them.  It is the sensitive, nurturing qualities about my husband that I find most attractive, not how much he can drink, how big his muscles are, how tough he is, or how big his truck is.

God made boys, too.  And they're beautiful, caring, and strong.

Our boys need to know that.