The Boys Club

I have been aware since I was a little girl of the existence of a phenomenon that I have come to call the Boys Club. While this is not a physical, card carrying, dues paying organization, it is very much a living and active organization.

To find proof of this organization, simply observe any two males who are in the proximity of one another. Often, these males are immediately drawn to one another simply due to their gender. They not only bond over the pure fact that they are both male, they revel in proving their manliness to one another through an extremely wide variety of activities that expand and broaden as they grow older, but it doesn't seem to change entirely. The other option is competitive facing off, but that is the stuff of another post.

When Robby was born, Bryan and his brothers would collectively hold Robby while softly (for them) chanting, "Boys! Boys! Boys! Boys!" I thought that this was cute--a playful gesture. Little did I realize that it was actually an iniation process into the club, which I have now learned is something that boys are aware of from birth. I don't think I was quite prepared for this.

I am constantly amazed at how Robby identifies himself so proudly as a boy. If he sees a pair of pink converse shoes, he is quick to point out that he can't wear them because he is a boy. If Juliet tries to play with his toys, he sometimes tells her that she can't, citing that it is because she is a girl (or a baby, or both, but you get the point).

If we can't convince Robby to get dressed in long pants or a long sleeved shirt, despite the need due to the weather, (for some reason, Robby strongly prefers shorts and short sleeved shirts--and short socks come to that) Bryan can simply go put on something similar, and then Robby will want to wear it too. Because they are boys, and those are the clothes that boys wear.

Which leads me to the problem of belts. Because Bryan is so skinny, he needs a belt all the time. But, Robby doesn't have a belt. So, he gets upset because he is not dressed enough like Daddy. So, Daddy ends up going without a belt. Santa, if you are reading this, can you bring Robby a nice belt for Christmas so that his daddy won't run the constant risk of losing his drawers in public?

(both are wearing grey baseball shirts, blue jeans, and black tennis shoes...no belt)