Super Heroes and such...

Isaiah told me after school, "We played Super Heroes at the park today and I was Spiderman. But we didn't use dress up. We just used our imaginations. And Santiago was Superman and Hans was Batman because he was wearing a batman shirt."

Such boys! I love it! It's funny, Isaiah has never watched Spiderman, Batman or Superman, yet he LOVES to play Superheroes. I'm pretty sure most kids his age haven't watched the movies or shows (too mature for their age), but still- they are obsessed with the idea of it! Bad guys and good guys. Weapons and guns and swords, etc. We have none of those toys- but somehow- they still play - using a stick as a sword and their hands as pretend guns! They run around with supernatural energy- making shooting sounds and pretending to fly and scale tall buildings! I didn't know how I felt about this at first- especially the guns. But then again, I am not and never will be a boy! I think it's healthy to some degree. It's just boyness. The rough play, the competition and all... at least he is using his imagination and having fun. I'm afraid if I ban this type of play, he'll just want it more. It's just as much natural as a girl being into dolls (although the former has the potential to be much more violent).

Speaking of girl toys, Lily LOVES them! We don't have a lot of girly things- in fact- we have mostly gender neutral toys- blocks and games, wood trains and play-doh. But I won't lie to you- my heart melted when she fell in love with a babydoll at the store. I couldn't help it. There's just something so... magical about it. So nurturing and motherly. She loves to hug and kiss her dolls. And still she loves to roar like a dinosaur and crash cars! It's kind of unfair, but girls get to do both. Recently she got a happy meal toy- a my little pony with purple hair and a brush. She was so excited! She kept looking at it and trying to brush its hair. She was walking around with the pony in one hand and the brush in the other with a huge grin on her face. I was seriously so happy for me! It's so nostalgic- I loved my little ponies! I couldn't help but play with it too! I know I am in trouble. I love the boy toys too. I just love the toys- I can't help it. They are so cool these days. But the girly stuff- it's a whole 'nother world! I can't wait for barbies! If you're looking for me, I'll be in my room brushing purple unicorn ponies' plastic hair!