How is it that without exposure to guns, bombs, extreme cage-fighting, and other "kill-kill-die" propoganda in our home, my boys still know how to make anything into a weapon? How do they know the noises to make when playing "blast the bad guy" with their toothbrushes? (And why are they better at making these noises than I am?!?!)
I've been so careful (i.e. controlling and sheltering) about access to toys that are traditionally categorized as "aggressive", we do not yet let them watch the blockbuster Spiderman or Pirate movies, and for goodness sake - we make them call water guns "water blasters". So how/why do they do this? There has to be some genetic predisposition for this behavior and their uncanny ability to make the sounds of "violence". On one level, it's amusing. On another, I can't get them to stop. OK - knowing that, I can barely get them to take it down a notch.
I am thankful, however, that it isn't just them. Whew. Talking with other moms I have discovered that almost all boys at this age are experiencing an infatuation with all things burly. As long as I stick to my guns (hmmm, where did that come from?) about what I let them watch, say, and who they play with - I'll let them play like that now and then. They do need to explore.
But they will also always need their limits - and that's when I get my chance to be the best Mommy ever!
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