The Unexpected Blessings of Being a Boy Mom

Being a boy mom can be a rewarding, joyous, and sometimes surprising experience. It is a journey filled with laughter, energy, messiness, and, of course, a perpetual cycle of laundry!  

Being a mom to boys is a very special experience. Learning from them and seeing the world through their eyes, can open up our eyes to the joys of life from the male perspective.

The Unexpected Blessings of Being a Boy Mom

I never in a million years thought I would be a mom to three sons. I thought for sure, there would be a girl or two mixed in. I have three boys, and throughout all three pregnancies, we didn’t find out their genders. After having two boys, I was sure our third would be a girl. Now I would never have it any other way. I cannot imagine life without these three! 

My boys are 8, 10 and 12. They are still little, but getting big. Here are some things I have learned through the years of raising three boys, who are each unique and special in their own way. 

1. Unconditional Love 

Boys have a deep love for their mothers. They may not show it or express themselves in the same way as girls, but the affection and love is there. 

As my boys are getting older, affection is expressed in simpler ways and little actions, such as a smile, a small hug or a head on the shoulder while sitting next to each other. If I am lucky, I get a tight hug and a “You’re the best, Man” or a “Bruh” now, but I will take it and count it as love.  🙂

2. Adventure and Energy 

My boys are full of energy and curiosity about the world around them, bringing an adventurous spirit to our house. They have this enthusiasm for life, exploring the world and making things exciting. 

From making forts, wrestling, playing superhero dress up, or digging in dirt, it feels like they never sit still! This makes our household energetic and exciting all the time. 

As a mom of boys, I am always being called to play. Whether it is dressing up with them, building forts, and playing hide and seek or tag when they were little, to now as we enter the older elementary years where I am forced to get shot at in net as a hockey goalie, to a person to play catch with, shoot hoops or ride scooters around the neighborhood. There is always some sort of ball around and a game is always quick to start.  

Their enthusiasm for exploring the world can be contagious, making everyday life more exciting and active (and also sometimes tiring!!). 

3. Endless Appetites

As the boys are getting older, I find myself thinking about meals and food more and more. Boys are known for their bottomless stomachs, transforming mealtime into what feels like a marathon. 

Someone is ALWAYS hungry!! Sometimes, when I think a meal has been so filling, and I am just finishing up cleaning the kitchen, one of them will come up to me and say “I’m hungry!”  While cooking and feeding healthy and nutritious meals to three hungry growing boys can be a lot, there is a joy I feel when preparing meals that nourish and fuel their growing bodies.

4. The Joy of Activities

With all their energy and a need to keep moving, being a parent also means we are their personal Uber or taxi drivers. 

As the boys get older, their activity commitments seem to increase. Driving around three boys to a whirlwind of activities—such as soccer games, hockey tournaments, basketball practices, etc—can sometimes be exhausting. But the best part often comes in these small moments of togetherness. My boys often only share one-word answers when I ask them about their day, but when we are in the car I hear stories from their day, laugh about experiences, and talk through challenges. We also get to talk about and learn from wins and losses or experiences in the locker room or field. This is where the learning and bonding happens. 

Activities may keep them busy and help them get tired for bed, but it is where the learning can happen the most. How to be a team player, how to help others, how to listen to others and coaches, how to be kind, respectful, and inclusive.

5. Laundry, Laundry, and More Laundry

Boys can be smelly, and sometimes it feels like there is laundry to do ALL the time. I am constantly finding dirty socks everywhere and forever reminding them to put their clothes in the hamper!  I am sure all mothers, regardless of having boys or girls,  will agree that the giant pile of laundry loads to fold can be exhausting.  

My kids are definitely old enough to help fold and put away laundry, which they do, but sometimes amidst busy weeks, the clothes are left to be folded and we are all grabbing clean clothes from the pile. Clean is better than dirty, right?!

Helping out around the house is expected, whether it’s learning to cook a simple meal, baking, vacuuming the house or dusting. I am aiming to teach these boys to work hard and learn these skills that will help them in the future. 

6. Being Mindful

In the whirlwind of raising boys, it’s easy to get swept up in the chaos and lose sight of the moment. Practicing and cultivating mindfulness can bring a sense of calm and perspective to the parenting journey. It can also be a good way for the boys to be more calm, relaxed, and let go of things that may be bothering them.  

Mindfulness is a way of being present in each moment, noticing what you are experiencing—with compassion and without judgment. You can read more about the Benefits of Mindfulness here.  

My oldest, who is 12, enjoys practicing simple meditations or just breathing, while practicing Legs up the Wall.  My 10-year-old loves me reading a Guided Imagery with him before bed. My 8-year-old still struggles to sit still and understand the benefits of breathwork and being mindful, so I am working on getting him to practice simple Belly Breathing with me for just a couple of minutes at a time.  

As a busy working mother, sometimes grabbing small moments to breathe is all I can get. If you’re like me and you only have a moment or two, you can try these one-minute meditations.

The Days are Long, but the Years are Short

I had no idea what I was getting into when I gave birth to three boys! But amidst the chaos and mess, I have learned to embrace being a boy mom.  

You know the shirts with the saying “My favorite player calls me Mom”? That’s me. I love to cheer them on, watch them play, drive them around, and feed their hungry bellies. 

The days are long, but the years are short. It’s all passing by much too fast and I want to hold time and their little toes in my hands. But I know that by building a strong, loving relationship with these three, I can make memories with them for many years to come.

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What has surprised you about being a boy mom? What parts were in line with your expectations? Let us know in the comments!