Boys are BOYS and girls are GIRLS

Yesterday afternoon Pranav wanted to go out and play with his friend's Chris and Jaylin. After a while he came inside the house with Chris and asked us to play with Nintendo Wii. We told him to ride bicycle rather than games, he was pretty upset and went upstairs to play with his toys. They started playing cars on the stairs, Every minute he keeps reminding me "He's a boy!", I don't know for some reason I feel boy's are pretty rough, When I was a kid, I grew up with my sister, we were quiet and calm though we used to fight and play but we use to have fun together with out crossing our limits. "Don't know, might be I'm over-reacting!"

Anyway, they went out to play with their cars and started riding their bikes, after a while he was gone with his friend to play "Robots" in the ditch. Around 4PM Pranav had gone for more than 2 hrs, as Raj and my in-law were leaving for groceries, they told Pranav to go home and mommy is waiting for him. But, he didn't show up until it was dark outside and until all his friends went to their homes. I was pretty upset at his behavior, initially I thought of punishing him, like not opening the door or spanking him but felt that's not good for him, might be he'll remember only for couple of days and again he might do the same mistake. So, as he came, I opened the door, told him to go to the bathroom to take bath, he took a shower and came to me and asked "Mommy Are you mad at me!". I didn't reply to him for a while and pretended I was busy doing my work, meanwhile Raj and my in-law came from groceries, they had got nuggets and fries for Pranav, I took it and kept it in the kitchen.

It was dinner time, Pragna was bit cranky, so I told them to have dinner and in the mean time I'll put pragna for a nap. Pranav finished his dinner, came and sat beside me. Slowly asked me "Were you scared?", I told him "Yes"! and told him its time to bed. As our daily routine, he asked me "Are you not reading story for me?" sternly I said "No", guess, I was still upset thinking my son didn't inform me before going out to play but didn't know how to tell him that "Today his behavior was bad"!.

Around 10PM , I went to my bedroom and saw him sleeping with his car in my place, tears started rolling from my eyes, went and told Raj I was rude with Pranav today. He said what he always mention's ,"it's the age and that's how boy's behave." He told me not to worry, he'll understand.

I went to my bed as I picked and layed him on his bed, he opened his eyes and said he wants water to drink, Raj got some - and gave it to Pranav, I hugged him and told that's not the way he's suppose to behave. He can have fun without crossing his limits, before going out he needs to inform us where and with whom he's going to play with.

Because we love and care, we are worried about him and told him I was pretty upset with his behavior today and told him to not repeat the same mistake again.

Today morning Pranav was having his breakfast,Raj mentioned him, you need to inform us before going out to play, Pranav asked Raj, Did you do the same thing? Raj calmly said Yes, He did the same mistake when he was a kid of his age but didn't not repeat it again. He used to inform his parents before leaving the house. Immediately Pranav said, "I think I'm just like you Daddy."

Even without thinking, its pretty easy and right to say "boys are different from girls", be at any age. Whether this thought strengthens or weakens with time, "Wait and Watch, is the only answer" because I have a girl kid too, who is yet to cross her first year.

Might be after a while I'll have different experience or thought by raising both, "a boy and a girl" at home.

Believe me; I still do not have answer to "Where should we draw the lines to growing kids, what to be allowed and what not?".

All(Parents) are most welcome to send in your suggestions or comments regarding "the ways to care and handle kids".