What are little boys made of?

What are little boys made of?

Frogs and snails
And puppy-dogs' tails,

That's what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice
And all that's nice,

That's what little girls are made of.

Now I know what this rhyme was talking about. Over the past week, we have had the pleasure of meeting an almost 4 year old girl and an almost 4 year old boy. It was the first time that I really observed other children that are the same age as Aaron.

We met the girl first. She came over to our house when her grandparents came to visit my parents. She was dressed in a pink dress, had a pink handbag and was wearing her "wedding" shoes. When she met Aaron and we told them to go play, the held hands as the walked off. They started with drawing, something Aaron loves. But, he was too excited about having somebody his own age to play with that he kept running off to suggest other games. Like a puppy, he suggested hide and seek, running, legos and all sorts of other games simultaneously. The girl just looked at him and shook her head. She moved on to slow and meticulous coloring after awhile and Aaron could do nothing to convince her to join him in his multiple games. She was so unbelievably calm in comparison to Aaron's off-the-walls antics.

A couple of days later, I went to visit a friend and there was a 4 year old boy visiting her home at the same time. First, the two boys were reluctant to be introduced. Then, they dragged their feet about getting to know each other. But when I mentioned the word dinosaur, the other boy suddenly roared a Jurassic Park caliber roar. And Aaron promptly responded with a roar louder than the boys. And then it was the boy's turn again to out do Aaron's efforts. This went on, and on, and on. They were right in each others faces, no more than 4cms apart. They were quickly friends after that, running around like dinosaurs. After that it was hide and seek. And then more running, roaring and jumping.

It was crazy to watch but somehow, I took pleasure in seeing another testosterone charged little guy running around, playing his heart out with Aaron. I'm not alone dealing with a high energy (but fully normal) little boy. Noise aside, they were very entertaining and the high energy levels were refreshing and even recharged me. (Strange because when I watch Aaron alone, those same energy levels seem to sap me of all my energy.)

So back to that rhyme, boys and girls are definitely completely different. I might occasionally be envious of the calm and prettiness that someone with a daughter might enjoy but after seeing another little boy, I have come to appreciate little boys a little more. Even if they're made of frogs, snails and puppy dog tails.