My Post-Christmas Thoughts on: Toys for Boys and Division of Labor

I homeschool with my son. That isn’t to say we are at home all day. He regularly attends classes and activities based on his interests: dance, theater, music, movies, basketball, baseball, and soccer. Even with all that gorgeous stimulation my son still asks to attend school. Monster High school, that is. If you’re not acquainted with the institution—my son would say, “It’s spooky girls and fun!” If you asked me, I would say, “It’s spooky, anatomically-challenged girls who wear not-enough-clothing.”

My 10 year-old son is a devoted watcher of Monster High on Netflix. The program focuses on the antics of the students and faculty at the school including challenges like: how can Frankie Stein, (a simple girl created in her father’s laboratory), get monsters and humans to celebrate Halloween together? I do applaud the attempts at inclusion.

This Christmas, my son asked for a Monster High playhouse and three dolls. Specifically, Frankie Stein, Draculaura, and Clawdeen Wolf. He also asked for tickets to Hamilton and a new Hulk. Pop-Pop and Nana complied with one of the requests, sending him the playhouse for Christmas. The playhouse was a generous gift. Meaning, it cost a pretty penny. I can only imagine what tuition is to attend. My husband and I contributed the dolls to the effort.

From 10:00pm to 12:00pm Christmas Eve I watched reruns of The Office while beside me, my husband assembled the Monster High playhouse. I tried to engage him in conversation but he said, “Kari, for this to work, we can’t talk.” Did my husband and I discuss who was better suited to assemble the dollhouse? We didn’t.

Christmas morning, after the initial excitement of discovering the dollhouse, our son quickly set down to play. The dolls seemed to love everything he suggested because they clapped and laughed a lot. They oohed and aahed over their swanky school/dormitory surroundings. As they say, a good time was had by all.

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Oh, on my thoughts regarding toys for boys? I would say, there are boys and there are toys. Regarding division of labor? My husband is better suited to things that are labeled H-8.

As for Hamilton, our son had to settle for the book (he has the soundtrack), and I reminded him he has three Hulks.

Expect a post on Barbie’s Dream House and The Avengers in the future.

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Photo credit: Getty Images