Boys Will Be Boys

This week I have twice been a victim of this title axiom crossing the line into criminal mischief. Honestly it could be girls as well because I have not caught the perpetrators. It could even be aliens or devilish spirits, but who else would egg your car other than mischievous teenage boys.

We live on a circle at the end of a dead end road. It is not a cul-de-sac but a circular drive lined with houses on either side. Since we have the imposing diamond shape No Outlet sign at the last intersection entering our neighborhood we don't have much traffic through our little slice of suburbia. Our drive way is at a 45 degree angle and our garage only holds one car. Add all that up to equal Daddy parks on the road.

This has never been a big deal. There is no traffic. My truck is 9 years old so it has reached that ripe old age when you put a vehicle out to pasture. The old gray Chevy is at home on the uncovered pavement.

That was until these hoodlums started ambushing the neighborhood with a couple of cartons of grade A's each night. It is a ritual that many young boys seem to fall into. For some reason property destruction is part of the passage into manhood. There are eggings, mail box destruction, and even outright theft of property.

I guess boys think this shows their fearless rejection of societies rules. Maybe it makes them look tough and cool because the scoff in the face of the consequences. I don't really know what psychological theory describes this behavior.

I do know that a certain amount of mischief is expected when raising boys. I myself was mischievous once upon a time, but I hope I can teach Braden the difference between a fun prank and destruction of property. I think the best way for kids to learn a respect for other people's property is for them to work for some of their own things. Braden will have a summer job as soon as it's appropriate. Then he can earn his own money. He can use his own money to buy something that he really wants. Then he will know the value of money. He will know the value of hard work. He will feel the pride that comes from earning something yourself.

Kids that know those things are far less likely to throw eggs at other peoples vehicles. Kids that learn these lessons at an early age are better adjusted to life as an adult. Don't get me wrong, I am not going to sell Braden into slave labor in South America. I have no intention of shortening his childhood. Even when he gets his first job he will be doing so only in the summer. He can have the other nine months to be an out of work kid.

Braden can have fun, and he certainly will get into trouble. No one is perfect, but being taught the right values certainly helps. Hopefully with the right parenting our response to Braden's pranks will only be reciting the old favorite. Boys will be boys.