Boys vs girls

Posted in Alicia's columns
by Alicia Castelli

There are lots of differences between little boys and little girls – something my youngest likes to point out loudly, in public, at the most inopportune times.  One difference I find mildly annoying is how closed-mouthed my two sons can be.

“How was school today?” I ask when I pick them up.  “What did you do?”

“I don’t remember,” my five-year-old son says.  Every day.  Three minutes after he’s been let out of class.

“What do you mean, you don’t remember?  School just let out!”

“I don’t remember!” he insists.

“Did you color something?” I ask, trying desperately to have a conversation with him.

“How did you know!?” he asks, wide-eyed.

“I went to kindergarten when I was little,” I explain.

“Then why do you keep asking me what I do at school if you already know!” he accuses, irritation evident on his small face.  “Can I play on the playground?  Pleeeeeeeeease?”

My eight-year-old son is no better.

“How was school?” I ask as he comes out the door.

“Fine.”

“What did you do all day?”

“Nothing.”

Sigh……I give up and turn them loose on the playground.

“How was your day Keira?” I ask my three-year-old daughter.

“Well, I watched Dora and then I watched Diego with Daddy and he tickled me and played a game and had a snack and then we played Barbies and then Daddy was on the computer and then we had lunch….” and on and on and on.  Our daughter will talk and talk and talk if you just keep asking her questions.  It’s funny to see such a fundamental difference between the genders being played out daily in my own home.  Frustrating, but funny.