Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day
To be honest, a few years ago I didn’t even know there was such a thing as International Boys’ Day. My boys started complaining: “Mom, there’s Women’s Day, Girls’ Day, but no Boys’ Day. How come?! That’s not fair!” I couldn’t really argue with them. Because girls have been catching up significantly, we’ve kind of forgotten about the boys. And that’s a shame. A real shame, actually. Both boys and girls deserve attention. Well, if there’s one thing I want and can pass on to my boys, it’s that everyone is equal. And that we all have the power to make a difference. “Maybe Boys’ Day doesn’t officially exist, but we can celebrate it every year and organize it ourselves.” No sooner said than done, but actually, I should have done more research back then, because it turned out Boys’ Day does exist! May 16th is celebrated as International Boys’ Day, and we’re joining in at home too. This tradition is still very much developing, but it’s started, and that was my doing, at least.
What’s the goal of International Boys’ Day?
I have my own vision and goals, but if you’re looking for something widely accepted, you should check out the UN or WHO. The aim of Boys’ Day is to let our boys know that they are important and that we see them. They are seen by us, and they are loved. We will do everything we can to ensure they can grow up as healthy boys, who in turn can become strong men. What do I mean by healthy? We can divide health into three pillars: physical, mental, and social. We want the boys to feel comfortable in their bodies, to feel energetic, and of course, not to be sick. If they are sick, we also want to support our boys in this process so they can get better. If they are terminally ill, for example, we want to be there for them with all our strength during this phase of their lives. Mentally, our boys will face challenges, and what we as parents can do is prepare them. What do you do when negative thoughts pop up in your head? What does that say about you as a person? Or what do you say to yourself? What boundaries are important so that you can stay strong and healthy? And you need to see those boundaries in the broadest sense of the word, because it’s essential in every area of our lives. And then we have the social aspect. What relationships do we enter into with others, and how do we nurture them? How can we feel connected to others? Actually, I like the WHO’s definition of health, one I learned during my Health Sciences studies and that has always stuck with me.
What do you do on International Boys’ Day?
Ideally, as a mother, I wouldn’t get involved in this day at all, but I can also be proud of my boys, and that’s why – for them – I’m happy to contribute to this day. If you can’t celebrate Boys’ Day on May 16th, just pick another day during the week or weekend. It’s not about the money you pour into such a day, but about the time you invest in it. It’s great if you have time for multiple activities in a day, but it’s already wonderful if you just acknowledge that you’re taking some time for Boys’ Day: to celebrate that the boys exist, that they are appreciated, and that they are loved. They can be tough, they can be sweet, they can laugh, they can cry, they can dance, they can play football, they can hug or ask for alone time. We are there for our boys.
Below you’ll find some activity ideas (remember: do things that the boys themselves enjoy doing and give them space to explore and learn):
- Take a moment to speak to the boys, affirm them, and encourage them. You can say this out loud and write it in a card or letter that you can read to them or that they can read aloud themselves.
- It’s a special day for the boys, so put up some streamers. You can even make streamers together. Maybe you have other decorations at home, use them!
- Go play soccer (football) today.
- Let the boys cook and set the table: there are definitely easy dishes they can make (possibly under supervision). They can make a vegetable or fruit salad and even do some grilling themselves. They can probably make dessert themselves too: muffins, cupcakes or just different cakes always go down well and are easy to make.
- Have the boys create a mood board of their dreams and wishes. What do they think they’re good at, what could they become later, and what is their ultimate dream? The boys can also mention the talents of others. Ultimately, they should give a presentation where they introduce themselves.
- Maybe the boys enjoy crafting, painting, or sculpting. Encourage the boys’ creativity. Also, pay attention to their musicality.
- Some boys enjoy board games like Monopoly, which is also a fun activity to do together.
- Let the boys build a small fire outside; it’s cozy in the evening, especially with some marshmallows.