Do You Live in a House Full of Boys?

Read the following list and check all that apply to you:

1. You regularly replace vacuum belts thanks to sucking up Legos.


2. You are constantly asking yourself, what is that smell and where is it coming from?


3. You are the only one in your home NOT entertained by bodily functions.


4. You hear one crash or more per day.


5. Lego structures decorate your piano or knicknack shelf.


6. Your child's first play sound mimmicked an explosion.


7. You pass the little girls' section of Target and sigh before heading to the boys' jeans.


8. You've had to explain at least one suspicious-looking injury (i.e. a black eye, an ugly bruise on the back of the leg, or another mark that resembled child abuse) to the pediatrician.

If you checked two or more of the above you must be a mother of boys. Last week I finished reading a fun book for us girls who have the joy of raising boys. Jean Blackmer's Boy-Sterous Living: Celebrating Your Loud and Roudy Life with Sons offers a mother's perspective on being the only female in the house. Using her personal experience, in addition to tips from experts, she covers:

• The importance of laughter


• Why boys need adventure


• How to use video games, iPods, and other electronics wisely


• How to teach boys to express their feelings


• Dealing with the "fear factor" of having and active boy

I found this book extremely relatable and realistic! For example, instead of advocating a ban on video games and computers, she shares how her family incorporates limits and balance, knowing that today's kids live in a technical age and need to know how to use it responsibly. I felt like I was talking to a mom from my son's school, one who has the same concerns and hopes for her sons as I do. Whether you have all boys or just one, you will enjoy this entertaining and informative read.

Boy-Sterous Living is available through Beacon Hill Press and of course Amazon or your favorite Christian bookstore.