What do people mean when they say, 'He's all boy'?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's just be clear that regardless of whether your son exhibits stereotypical male behaviors, when you use this phrase, people perceive you as stupid and/or annoying.

Well, some people do -- apparently the ones who do not have stereotypical boys.

Or the ones who can get that even if they do have stereotypical boys, not all boys are like that. Yes, we get it, your child hews to gender stereotypes. Is there not a more nuanced way to describe said child, beyond the inane "he's all boy"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our 9 year old daughter's ballet class, there is one boy -- possibly the only boy in the school. His mother repeats this mantra: "He's a very athletic boy and we just want to make sure he develops all aspects of his capabilities."

I wouldn't want that bruiser in my daughter's ballet class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard this before, but it sounds like something an idiot would say.

You're pretty sheltered there, snowflake.

PP here. And you're the exact kind of idiot who would say it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is among the stupidest of all phrases uttered by parents. The types to say this are the type to call themselves MAMA BEAR and have Pinterest boards with quotes about MOTHERS OF BOYS...

Whooaa- DCUM never ceases to amaze me. You all are so easily offended. When people get offended by a phrase like 'he's all boy' I feel sorry for their daughters. You are a militant parent that is looking for reasons to be offended- and teaching your daughters the same thing.

And pinterest boards. What the heck? Are you a mom of a girl who desperately wanted a boy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our 9 year old daughter's ballet class, there is one boy -- possibly the only boy in the school. His mother repeats this mantra: "He's a very athletic boy and we just want to make sure he develops all aspects of his capabilities."

What's wrong with that? I tried to get my boys to take ballet by using this line of reasoning -- and adding that professional football players take ballet -- but they refused. Good for her for putting her son in ballet. She can say whatever she wants to about it. No doubt she gets tons of flack for it on all sides -- although you will no doubt say that is all in her mind (even though you are here criticizing her....)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is among the stupidest of all phrases uttered by parents. The types to say this are the type to call themselves MAMA BEAR and have Pinterest boards with quotes about MOTHERS OF BOYS...

Whooaa- DCUM never ceases to amaze me. You all are so easily offended. When people get offended by a phrase like 'he's all boy' I feel sorry for their daughters. You are a militant parent that is looking for reasons to be offended- and teaching your daughters the same thing.

And pinterest boards. What the heck? Are you a mom of a girl who desperately wanted a boy?

NP. What I don't get is like...aren't you just a mom of wonderful kids? It's never moms of girls, or both, who act like they need a thing. Why do "moms of boys" need a thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's just be clear that regardless of whether your son exhibits stereotypical male behaviors, when you use this phrase, people perceive you as stupid and/or annoying.

Well, some people do -- apparently the ones who do not have stereotypical boys.

Or the ones who can get that even if they do have stereotypical boys, not all boys are like that. Yes, we get it, your child hews to gender stereotypes. Is there not a more nuanced way to describe said child, beyond the inane "he's all boy"?

Uh, I realize not all boys are like that. What does that have to do with it? It's a term to describe a certain type of boy. Nothing more than that.

[Anonymous]

It means "don't hold me responsible for his obnoxious behavior."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our 9 year old daughter's ballet class, there is one boy -- possibly the only boy in the school. His mother repeats this mantra: "He's a very athletic boy and we just want to make sure he develops all aspects of his capabilities."

What's wrong with that? I tried to get my boys to take ballet by using this line of reasoning -- and adding that professional football players take ballet -- but they refused. Good for her for putting her son in ballet. She can say whatever she wants to about it. No doubt she gets tons of flack for it on all sides -- although you will no doubt say that is all in her mind (even though you are here criticizing her....)

In any halfway decent ballet school, the boy will NOT be permitted to "bruise" the girls--classroom decorum is very important.
He might get away with much sloppier technique, but there should be no danger otherwise.
Also possible that the mom is a little insecure about having her boy in ballet (now THERE'S a topic for a whole other thread...)

[Anonymous]

Maybe the dad said it because he's a good o'boy from the South and that's what is said.

Maybe the dad said it because his son was clearly playing with a GIRL who may or may not have had more althetic prowess than he had.

Who cares. Its a stupid saying and sometimes people just say the first thing that comes into their head, for a lack of anything else to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just...what?

Talking to a neighbor today, he said his son is "all boy" several times. Like, oh he likes to kick that ball...he's all boy! He likes to play in that toy car...he's all boy! He likes to find sticks...HESALLBOY!!!!

The oddest part is, my DD was right there, doing all these things, too. The kids were playing together, doing pretty much the exact same things.

So what do people mean when they say that? Do you fear that a princess costume will overtake your son in a dark ally if you don't utter that phrase every time Little Jimmy plays with Hotwheels?

Ask the person that said it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just...what?

Talking to a neighbor today, he said his son is "all boy" several times. Like, oh he likes to kick that ball...he's all boy! He likes to play in that toy car...he's all boy! He likes to find sticks...HESALLBOY!!!!

The oddest part is, my DD was right there, doing all these things, too. The kids were playing together, doing pretty much the exact same things.

So what do people mean when they say that? Do you fear that a princess costume will overtake your son in a dark ally if you don't utter that phrase every time Little Jimmy plays with Hotwheels?

Ask the person that said it.

LOL

[Anonymous]

It mea that he fits the stereotype of a boy.

But who cares about what people say?

I find it interesting that clearly, some behaviours are not socialized. My son was fascinated with vehicles as soon as he came out of the womb (ok maybe by 6 months) and still is. He likes reading about them, looking at them, building them out of lego. He knows the various models of city buses, trains etc.
By contrast he has never in the slightest been interested in pretending he's a parent, caring for a baby, he's never been interested in creating stories or scenes with characters.

I am sure I have said "he's such a boy" before. I wouldn't say "all boy" because he has a gentle disposition. But this fascination with vehicles which no one has ever modelled, is so interesting to me.

[Anonymous]

Clearly it means different things to different people. I think if you're offended, you're the type of person who's easily offended by dumb crap that really isn't meant to offend. Some might say you're "all woman!"

Just kidding on that last part.

[Anonymous]

I have a hard time believing that someone who is around so many boys has no idea what the saying means. Troll?