I have noticed so many funny stages that kids go through when it comes to GIRLS and BOYS! I was a nanny first for three boys, and that lasted 4 years. I have some fun memories of things the boys said about girls. The oldest, I can't recall ever saying much about the subject, but then he's pretty quite about personal things. (He went from age 7 to 11 during my nanny years). The youngest, who went from age 3 to 7, had a particularly charming period (though very brief) when he was in pre-school or kindergarten, I can't remember which. But there was a little girl in his class that he just couldn't get out of his head, it was so cute!
There was one particular day when it was just me and him, his brothers were still in school, and we went to the park and he kept talking about her. Then I noticed him looking a bit melancholy or something, so I asked him if something was wrong. He just said he was thinking about the girl. So cute! And he was only about 5 years old at the time. Of course, it didn't last. More often he would say things like "I don't like this movie because there's a girl in it." Meaning there was a guy who liked a girl as part of the plot line.
NO, I don't like girls!
And the middle boy - who went from age 5 to 10 during my nanny years - well, he is quite the feisty little spunk. Sometimes he'd ask me questions about girls that left me saying "you'd better ask your mom about that." :) He only within the last year of my time being his nanny, had interest in a girl at school, and of course his older brother would tease him about it and then he would deny it. Of course.
Now, I am a nanny for twin girls, age 4. They have very unique personalities all their own, and while the one seems ready and willing to play with any other kids, the other is adamant, usually, that she only wants to play with her sister or maybe other girls. NOT boys! She has told me in no uncertain terms that she DOES NOT LIKE BOYS.
So - this past December, I took the girls to the library on Lego day. The twins do enjoy building things with Legos, so it's a fun time. They particularly want me to help them build houses or boats and such. Well, with Star Wars Ep. 8 now out in theaters, the suggested theme for this Lego day was to build Star Wars-type planes or ships and such. A boy came in who was very into Star Wars. I think he was about 8 or 9 years old, so when I was sitting with the girls and talking to the kids' librarian about Star Wars, the boy joined right in and the twins sort of clammed up. I think, though they didn't say it, they were thinking "How can you, Miss Tia, be talking to a BOY?"
Well, the one particularly anti-boy twin had to go to the bathroom, so I went with her, while the other kept playing, and when we were heading back to the Lego area we passed by a big gingerbread house display and I asked her if I could take her picture in front of it. She said sure.
So just as I was getting ready to take the picture, here's the boy and he says "Can I be in the picture too?"
Silly me. I say, "Sure, why not?"
And I believe her face says it all.
"Why are you letting a BOY be in MY picture?!?!"
