A – Z Blogging Challenge, Raising Boys: The Penis Chronicles presents the Letter I for Is Everything a Weapon?

First, I have to admit that I don’t know the general nature regarding how little girls play since I am the mother of boys, and growing up I was something of a tomboy myself. However, if I had to hazard a guess I would imagine it doesn’t (or at least usually doesn’t) involve guns, swords, lightsabers and etcetera.

A question I often find running threw my head is, is everything a weapon? Lego gets built into guns or swords. The boys love visiting a particular friend’s house because they have lots of nerf guns that either make noise or flash lights and they have a number of lightsabers. There is running coupled with the sounds of little voice yelling bang bang. However, this takes me right back to my weapons question. The list isn’t limited to spoons, sticks, brooms, and toothbrushes as weapons; it stretches to just about any object because when the mood strikes anything becomes a weapon of opportunity.

The jury is out on whether this is normal. Somethings you read say yes, some indicate it’s a stage, and some plain out say no. I don’t know. They are playing and having fun. Occasionally it gets a bit out of hand, but that can happen with any activity. They aren’t attacking people in the streets so…

Seriously, is everything a weapon? I find my younger boy is ingenious with his ability to turn random objects into weapons particularly to bop, poke, or find some way to terrorize his older brother. I can watch him from the corner of my eye and see the glimmer of mischief take over his persona as he turns a stuffed animal around and around in his hands casting thoughtful glances from it to his brother. At this point he knows if I’m moving his way that he’s been busted. His little hands and the offending object disappear behind his back. “Not a weapon Mommy,” he says in a voice dripping with mock innocents. Good grief my inside voice mumbles.

That said, there is something to be said for a good controlled lightsaber battled in a dark living room while the lightsabers glow and make noises as they slide through the air.

By Shari Marshall – April 11, 2017