This past week has been rainy and kind of raw.  Really, this is normal weather for April in Massachusetts, but we've been so spoiled this year, it seemed like torture.  Inside for a week.  With 2, almost-5-year old boys.  Who are loud.  And full of energy.  All the time. 

What is up with that?  And when did it happen?  And why does it drive me so crazy all of a sudden?

I mean, I have had 3 2 little boys living with me for 4 and 1/2 years now, certainly this wasn't the first week they've been loud and crazy and full of pent up energy during a rainy week, right? 

Finally there was a break in the rain, and out we went.  I didn't care that there was laundry that needed to be done.  I didn't care that there were dishes that needed to be washed.  And I didn't care that I was a Mom who needed to shower.  Because trying to do those things while the boys were running around like they were on crystal meth was not fun, or productive.  So out we went.

Then our neighbors came home.  My boys ADORE their boys (who are 1 year older and 3 years older than mine).  If they could crawl up the older boy's ass and live there forever, they would (and oddly enough, I think they've tried).  So Neighbor Mom asked if we were up for company, which, hell yes, we were. Adult interaction, while my kids crawled up inside someone's ass and out of mine, sounded like heaven.

We both lamented about our week indoors.  We bonded over our lack of patience.  We chalked it up to the Supermoon.  Yah, yah, that's what it's been, the Supermoon.  The Supermoon has made our kids act like  6 week old puppies.  And it was the Supermoon that zapped our patience. 

And as our boys ran around playing, I started talking about the change I've seen in mine, how they seem more hyper, more physical, louder and more destructive lately.  As I begin telling her this, one son runs over one of the new toys we brought home from a yard sale with his quad, crushing it.  "Oh well, throw it in the recycling.  And please be careful, you need to take care of your things."

She assured me that her boys went through the same thing.  Then they open and immediately break another new toy from our morning of yard saling.  "OK.  Throw that away too.  See what happens when you don't take care of your toys?" 

As I was saying.....

Almost over night, they seemed louder.  Now, toys seem to be smashed to smithereens break more easily.  They get dirtier.  Their play changed, from trucks and cars to war and alien attacker.  Everything they touch is a weapon.  Everything in their hand is now hit against the couch, their bed, a nearby bush or tree.  They are wrestling and jumping on each other, which they find absolutely HILARIOUS, until it isn't...until someone gets hurt, or "decides" they are hurt, then it's waterworks. 

"WATCH OUT FOR THAT......too late.  Go put that in the trash too.  Now all of your new toys are broken and in the trash.  If you don't take care of your things, you won't have them anymore.  You got new toys today and now they are all gone."

"We'll just go get more tomorrow, Mumma." 

Annnnd, they're back.  They're 4 again.  Not the old "soldiers" or "alien attackers" they pretend to be, but the 4 year olds who are still learning to take care of their things ... learning that there are consequences to their actions.  See, they're still in there.  My little boys.  I haven't lost them to their older selves, the big boys who will break everything I own, and want to give away all of their stuffed animals because they're too old now.  My babies are still there.

But I am sure as hell not just going to "go get more tomorrow".  You broke 'em,baby.  They're gone.  Live and learn, "big boys".

And I know these changes weren't really overnight.  And while I don't LOVEhearing them talk about war or fighting or attacking anything, part of me knows that boys will be boys.  Right now, they are on their quads, with the half broken toy guns, that I bought at a yard sale yesterday.  One son hasn't let go of his since he first spotted it there. He slept with it last night. And I have really been struggling with them having toy guns. They love playing with the ones the neighbors have, but I haven't really wanted them to have their own yet.  I knew it was inevitable, but I was definitely holding off as long as possible.

Now don't go getting all judgy.  I know I can control what toys my kids play with, but I don't want to be that mom who writes 'no weapons please' on their kids' birthday invitations (lame!), or asks other Mom's if there will be toy guns around, pre playdate (so lame!).  Do those parents really think that their kid isn't on the playground with the rest of the kids, playing guns or swords with a stick he picked up off the ground? 

I am of the opinion that it's parenting (and genetics) that create serial killers, not a toy gun and an imagination. (Yes, I'm talking to YOU, Mrs. Bundy and Mrs. Manson!)  Those kids, whose Mom is calling around to the other Moms worrying about toy guns, are the ones who are going to get made fun of and picked on by the other kids at school.  Those are the kids who are going to go find real  guns one day and shoot up the school because they were bullied.  So ask away Anti Gun Mom, ask away.

I'm sure Manson's Mom was a hot mess.

I do try to listen and watch what they are doing with their weapons, trying to nip anything too violent in the bud.  I don't let them point their weapons at anyone or any cars going by our yard, and I don't hear them saying they are going to "kill" anything or anyone.  For now, it's pretty harmless .... it's all about chasing aliens and playing army.  There no gutting E.T. or beheading Taliban members.

So for now, while I get used to my big boys, and their bigger boy voices, games and weapons, we will be spending as much time outside as possible.  It all seems a little bit smaller outside. 

Oh wait, I just heard one son say, "I don't want to play deer hunter anymore." 

Phew!  Maybe it was a phase.

Crap.  "He just said, I'm going on my motorcycle to hunt a moose."

Great.

At least the sun is finally out.

Don't forget, you can vote every day!  Just one click on the box and you're done!  Thank you!!