Walking about town, frequently I can stop a little boy's ramble mid-stream; I'm talking the 5 - 7 year olds. He sees me walk around a corner and goes from endless babbling about whatever little boys babble about (as little boys sometimes do) to dead-silent, arms hanging at his sides, staring at me and sort of pivoting on his feet as I walk by. Then I hear "Mommy, why was that man wea..."

Asked my wife about that once, and she concluded: "Boys that age are just starting to figure out the whole gender thing. Mom isn't made like they are, they are like Dad, Dad is a man, so they will be a man. And then YOU walk around the corner wearing a skirt and they have to start over with the whole thing!" (She says skirt in a funny/sarcastic/that's-how-the-kid-sees-it kind of way.)

Now when I see little boys I always look at them and smile 'cause I know what's going through their stuggling little heads! I consider that I'm doing them a favor by expanding their universe a little bit...


boB