I am now – despite cries of disagreement from seemingly the rest of the world – the mother of three boys.

According to just about everyone else in the world, despite the gorgeousness and “goodness” of my new addition, I must be somewhat disappointed. Surely I was desperate for a girl? And how am I going to cope with yet another boy?!

I literally had a neighbour recently stop me in the street, ask if I had had a girl, then wave her hand, state “Nevermind” and walk away without even asking to take a look at a week old baby, let alone any details!

You see, the thing is, I grew up around boys. My dad cared for us, mostly, during the day and I had two brothers. I married into a family dominated by boys (six of them, including my husband). I’ve always had better relationships with males. They’re less complicated. Although they are more bouncy.

Growing up, I didn’t have a particularly good relationship with my mother. In all honestly, the possibility of having a girl frightened the bejeezus out of me. Then I wouldn’t know how to cope.

Sadly, I see so many Mother’s of Boys (and, for the most part, a girl or two in tow as well) struggling with the concept of “boy”. Friends of mine rushing their testosterone bundles off to paediatricians and child psychologists due to their boisterousness, their obsessions with machinery and their need to run, bounce, climb and yell. Loudly!

Women pulling their hair out about their boys not sitting still, getting up to mischief and not enjoying a day out shoe shopping.

Its something I’ve not dealt with myself. Perhaps its my exposure to the male species over most of my lifespan that I can view this behaviour, shake my head and say “bloody idiot”, whilst accepting and loving my boys unconditionally. Perhaps it’s the relationship I had with my mother.

Perhaps its just that Barbie Pink makes me physically ill after prolonged periods.

Who knows?

Chris Owen, a fellow mother of three boys, although hers are much more growed up than mine (and Mummy Mentor to me, although she doesn’t know it yet ) wrote about Boys Will Be Boys – And So What? on the blog, Joyful Jubilant Learning.

She offers a number of valuable lessons in this post, but the bit that struck a cord for me was this:

Rearing sons has taught me to always be prepared to be surprised.  In other words – I can’t be in control.  (Not a concept that a control-freak mother likes to consider!)

What I have discovered is that loving them without expectations, and just the way they are, is the only way to set them free and stay sane at the same time.

It’s a philosophy I have lived with with my boys, including my husband pre-kids (but that’s a different story). I think its a great piece of advise and one all Mothers of Boys would do well to take on board.

My life – as chaotic and mayhemish as it is at times - is, at the same time, relaxed and filled with fun. I embrace the fact that boys need chaos, they need to run, jump and climb.

I embrace that they sometimes need their Mummy, that Mummy Cuddles can fix a lot of hurts, and they’re no less a ‘man’ for asking for one. This has given them confidence and security.

Accepting this is who they are and just ‘what they do” has given me peace. In more ways than one. Peace, despite the noise levels boys need to function at.

They are, after all, not referred to as Bouncing Baby Boys for nothing.