Boys and Their Weapons

So I think Sanjay has become the three year old little boy that I never wanted Priya playing with or being influenced by when she was three. At the time, having only a little girl who was so gentle, compassionate and caring, I didn't realize that boys are innately different. In my naivety, I blamed all the bad behavior I'd seen from other little toddler boys on their upbringing... not realizing that boys are just born this way. No matter how much we as parents try to steer them clear of violence, they still seem to find it in such unlikely places.

Anything that Sanjay comes in contact with can be made into some type of weapon... usually something with firing power. He has a set of Lincoln Logs... you remember the little wooden logs with cutouts that you can so creatively use to build houses and fences? Rather than cute little log homes, Sanjay prefers to build jets with them, then he walks around the house piloting them and shooting everything in sight. The sound effects he makes for guns and engines are so realistic. It reminds me of my childhood days playing with the neighborhood boys who made gun sounds that well outdid what my sisters and I could produce. I remember specifically feeling inferior in this realm as a young girl.

Anyway, enough of my memories... and on to the new ones. As Sanjay was flying around the bedroom this morning I jotted down the proud descriptions he gave of the jet he built.

"These are the wings, ok? On top is the shooting bomb thing. The power is on the side on the wings. The power is right there, Mom. This is the shootings. Shootings come out of here. I have to hold it tight because maybe some bombs might fall out and not shoot. Oopsie, one power fall'd off."