You can’t imagine the looks we’ve gotten when I tell people we have five boys.  I think one of the funniest little memories I have of this was going to Costco one day. Dean was just a tiny baby, and I used to hold him in this little baby carrier as he just hated his stroller ($200 for a stroller and the only thing it ever held was shopping bags!).  Anyways, for some reason, EVERYONE wanted to come with us to the store, so we had the entire crew in tow.  Roy was in the front with the flat bed from Costco, I was behind him holding baby Dean, Hayden was next carrying a bag from the bookstore (I think), then we had Addi (holding some clothing bag), followed by Joe with another cart from Costco, and Corey was bring up the rear holding a box full of meat.  An older couple was walking into the store, and the gentleman stopped and counted the boys.

“Look, Honey!  Five boys!” He noted.

“Wow!  Better her than me!” Was his wife’s reply.

I just smiled.  Yep, I’m a lucky lady.

I adore my boys. Truth be told, I feel more out of sorts with my step-daughter and my niece than I do my boys.  And no, not just because I am used to the boys running around the house.  I’m NOT what you would call a girly girl.  And it isn’t that I just don’t get into certain things. I actively dislike many things people associate with women.  Take manicures. Sure they’re great. It’s fun to have someone massage my hands, but I can think of other things to do with that $30 bucks.  I just see it as a waste of money.  Same with makeup.  My beauty routine consists of moisturizer (ALWAYS use this, with SPF!), chapstick (lipstick if I am feeling really frisky), and MAYBE mascara for special occasions.  

Once in awhile I look in the mirror and think MAYBE I need to start wearing a bit of concealer, just to even things out… but then I think… nope, too much work. Even getting a haircut is a chore I would rather delegate, if only I could!

Though I will admit to liking dresses, especially in summer, but only because it let’s me get dressed without thinking.  A dress, some sandals, and I’m done!  No worrying about things matching, does this go with that, blah, blah, blah.  Heels… If I MUST, but I have had the same pair of black pumps for 10 years… still look great though.

I don’t swoon over Brad Pitt, or the Twilight kid… pretty boys do nothing for me.  I prefer action over romance, and horror over action. 

And I think that’s why I feel awkward around my stepdaughter, Emily.  Aside from music, which we both love, we don’t have a lot in common.  Though she is patient with me (another ‘feminine’ trait I completely lack), and she does try new things while she is here.

I am loud. If I have something to say, I say it.  Yes, I try to be kind, and not hurt someone’s feelings on purpose, but I won’t hold my tongue because it MIGHT hurt your feelings.  In my house, I am Queen.  I adore my King and all our princes and our princess, but I rarely cater to anyone.

Growing up, I was an athlete, at a time BEFORE it was cool for girls to get out there and get dirty.  So, I often hung around boys.  It wasn’t that I didn’t like girls. We just didn’t have a lot in common.  The close girlfriends I did have were all like me.  We didn’t discuss the latest issue of Tiger Beat. We discussed which workout was the hardest and whether or not we should lift after school or after swim practice.  I had no interest in picking out my prom dress, mainly because I had practice and just didn’t care.  My mom bought it for me.

Even my wedding dress just wasn’t that big a deal for me.  (OH MY GOSH!  Yes, I really said that!)  I was excited for my wedding, I couldn’t wait to marry Roy and start our lives together, but what I wore was secondary to all of that in my mind.  My mother in law wanted to buy me a dress as a present, so I let her pick it out.  I will say she picked a beautiful dress. Roy loved it! I still love it. It’s amazing, but to me… it’s just a dress.

So, in short, having five boys for me is like my teenage years in the pool.  I was a leader, not because I was one of the only girls at my level, but because I was one of the best swimmers, and I earned my place on the team.  In my house, of course, I earned my spot… I’m the mom. I’m the one that carried and birthed the kids.  But running a household of boys, for me, comes naturally. 

I’ll take five boys over two teenage girls with boy problems any day.  In that situation… I would probably be locked in my room crying, complaining about being an incompetent mother!