What Boys Do

Boys do odd things. I can usually take one look at my girls and know what is going on with them. One glance at Emily and I can tell something is upsetting her, or she's tired, or she's in a silly mood and close to exploding with it.

I have no idea what's going on in Ben's head at any given time.

It's like trying to raise an alien.

When Kerry's here, he gets Ben. He can explain to me why Ben is acting the way he is. Many times, there is not much of an explanation beyond, "That's just what boys do." But at least if Kerry seems unperturbed by it, I know it is part of "normal" boy behavior.

This week, Ben and three of his buddies decided to get buzz cuts. It was partially a dare, and partially an "if you do it, I'll do it" sort of ritual. No one wanted to be the one who didn't do it. To be fair, one boy regularly cuts his hair like this. The other three had more of a challenge in doing this.

Ben literally does not care if his head gets shaved. His attitude is, "It'll grow." I have never once felt that way about my hair. My attitude is, "My hair is not curly/straight/sleek/smooth/blond enough. I must do something about that."


He doesn't love it but it doesn't matter to him. He's not going to wear a hat or hide at home until it grows out. I think he forgot his hair was short by the next day. I once got a bad perm and wore a hat for a week straight and then pulled it up into a bun for three months.

Four newly shorn teen boys in eerily similar dark tee shirts.

Now Emily on the other hand............

......pin curled her hair to see what it would look like curly.


It was a very Shirley Temple-esque look when she first got up.


But after a while it softened into beautiful waves that framed her face and lasted for two days.

Now this I understand.