Girls' night

Throughout my life, I've found myself in situations where I'm outnumbered by boys.  I grew up with two brothers, dated and married a man with three brothers and only one sister, and I now have two lively sons of my own.  I'm very comfortable in a boys' world -- I enjoy many of their boyish activities and their ways of thinking and acting that are different from what feels intuitive to me as a female -- but I appreciate sometimes, too, the chance to surround myself with girls and to have conversations that are rarely heard in my own home.

The fact that Noah now swims with three girls from his school every week gives me a really nice opportunity for some "girl time" on a regular basis.  The parents of these girls and I take turns carpooling to and from swim practice, so every Tuesday evening I drive home with a vehicle full of giggling girls (plus Noah, who rolls his eyes and half-heartedly complains and tries to stifle a grin as he gets caught in the middle of their scrambling to sit next to him).  That drive home always leaves me smiling and really glad for the chance I've had to get to know these lovely young ladies better.

The girls share little stories and details of their lives with me that remind me of my own experiences growing up.  We talk about the books they're reading (many of which are very different from the ones lining my boys' shelves at home), and one of the girls often shows me what picture she's working on in her sketchbook, which is filled with beautiful drawings of animals and flowers and prettily decorated houses.  They tell me about their shopping trips to the mall with their moms or their friends, and about the boys they may or may not have crushes on.  They sing hilarious little songs, and try to find funny ways to drive Noah crazy.  In their quieter moments, two of the girls tell me how they're excited about having a sleepover with their mom while their dad is away; another girl describes the thoughtful handcrafted gifts she has given to her family members for special occasions, and explains how she made breakfast for her parents one recent Saturday morning (eggs and toast and smoothies) all on her own.

I have wonderful conversations and shared moments in day-to-day life with my two boys, and I suppose that while it's not likely, it's possible (gulp!) that Noah could one day soon make breakfast for his dad and I all on his own, too.  In many ways, though, the girls' words and actions paint a picture of a whole other world than the one I experience daily.  It's really sweet to catch a glimpse of their lives, and I'm happy that each week, these friendly, engaging, and delightful girls make that possible.

Photo credit:  My mom  (Thanks, Mom!)