The only downside to International Boys’ Day was that we didn’t celebrate this beautiful day with other boys. Maybe that’s something we should plan for next year. Anyway, my husband did the groceries (as usual), and the boys cleaned our garden furniture set and set the table. They prepared dinner, barbecued, made some fries, and a great salad full of veggies. They did all this with their dad, while I was mostly in the background.
We had a nice and deep conversation about Boys’ Day during dinner. International Boys’ Day isn’t about gifts. This day is about our boys enjoying their childhood and us, as caretakers, guiding them well into adulthood. Although it wasn’t planned, we also talked about how boys should treat girls and how men should treat women. Generally, women don’t possess the same physical strength as men, but that doesn’t mean they are less. Not at all; women possess other forms of strength. We need each other; diverse teams make the best teams. Let us all benefit from that.
So, we touched on the topic of how we should treat girls and women, and it’s something we can explore further in the coming years. Why? Because it’s an important lesson to talk about how we treat others. While it’s easier to talk with people who look like you, we want to teach our boys to respect (and love) everyone around them. While ‘love’ is a broad term, truly caring for someone involves understanding their needs. Knowing their needs requires communication. And, we can’t only communicate in a way that is less challenging for us.
After dinner and the long conversation, it was time for the game I made especially for them. Ha, talking about communication! Let me tell you something. I made this walkie-talkie game for them. One of the boys was out of sight and gave instructions to find the keys that were hidden in and around the house. The other one was searching and collecting the keys. (They also switched roles, by the way). With these keys, they could unravel a code that they needed to unlock the treasure. So, it was like a treasure hunt combined with an escape room.
They loved it; it was a blast. Their dad also helped them and joined the younger one. While they were busy with the game, I took the opportunity to do some housework. I couldn’t stop laughing because the boys missed some clues as the walkie-talkie seemed to eat some of their words. I could hear half-sentences that didn’t always make sense. You could also hear and see their frustration sometimes. “What are you saying?” Or… “what are you doing? Where are you looking now? Why are you so silent? Did you find something already?” Communication – clear communication – is key!
Eventually, they cracked the code. It was really fun. I didn’t do much on the day itself, but the game took some preparation. One of the treasures, for me the most important one, was a proverb. As parents, you want to pass down the values that are most important to you. This is the time. Boys’ Day made me realize something else too. I was about to print some decorations for Boys’ Day and then I stopped. I asked the boys if they’d like me to hang some decorations, flags I made in Canva. They both weren’t really excited; it didn’t matter to them at all. So, I didn’t do it. Communication might seem like extra work, but it will eventually save you time and effort if done properly.