Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say this about my older son because he is such a stereotypical a little boy. Love trucks, construction sites, and dirt.

I don't think it is sexist as all. (Coming from an educated, former "tomboy" mom.)

+1000 And I wouldn't waste one minute retracting it, if the OP approached me to discuss it.

DD loves all of those things, as well as bugs, animals, jumping off of things. Is DD "all boy" too?

It is sexist whether you recognize it or not. You are saying that only certain things are "boy" interests. Boys don't all fit into some stereotypical set of behavior. I wear pants. Am I partially boy?

Anonymous wrote:It's meant to annoy people who like to pretend there is no difference between typical boy behavior and typical girl behavior, and/or those who think that because those differences are recognizable, then those who recognize them must therefore shun girls or boys who are atypical. Which is not the case.

I think I love you.

Why, though, are the "all boy" characteristics so negative? Your kid gets called "all boy" when he is behaving like a wild hellion. I know, because sometimes my boy behaved like a wild hellion and was called "all boy." But when he was kind and considerate and brave no one called him all boy. Its crap. For the PP who wondered what to say when a boy is on a rampage and you want to sympathize with the mom...what would you say if it was a girl on a rampage? They do it, too? I'd probably smile and shake my head and say "Kids! They do grow up, though. Would you like some chocolate?"

Anonymous wrote:I say this about my older son because he is such a stereotypical a little boy. Love trucks, construction sites, and dirt.

I don't think it is sexist as all. (Coming from an educated, former "tomboy" mom.)

+1000 And I wouldn't waste one minute retracting it, if the OP approached me to discuss it.

Anonymous wrote:
It's because life is not black and white. There is a scale, with "all boy" being one end and "all girl" being the other. Most people are somewhere shy of the extremes, some are in the middle and less are on the other ends. It's not that hard to understand.

There is? What is on the "all boy" end, and why is that "boy"? What is on the "all girl" end, and why is that "girl"? Who decided these things? I don't remember being asked to serve on the committee.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's usually code for your kid is unruly or hyper or ill-mannered or just all over the place.

This - it means your kid is loud, hyper, or covered in mud/dirt.

It means your BOY is loud AND hyper AND covered in mud/dirt, because boys.

I have had similar questions as the OP -- if this boy is all boy, then other boys are only partially boy? What is the other part? Girl? Giraffe? Spaghetti a la carbonara? But I have never asked anybody who said "he's all boy" these questions.

It's because life is not black and white. There is a scale, with "all boy" being one end and "all girl" being the other. Most people are somewhere shy of the extremes, some are in the middle and less are on the other ends. It's not that hard to understand.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's usually code for your kid is unruly or hyper or ill-mannered or just all over the place.

This - it means your kid is loud, hyper, or covered in mud/dirt.

It means your BOY is loud AND hyper AND covered in mud/dirt, because boys.

I have had similar questions as the OP -- if this boy is all boy, then other boys are only partially boy? What is the other part? Girl? Giraffe? Spaghetti a la carbonara? But I have never asked anybody who said "he's all boy" these questions.

It's meant to annoy people who like to pretend there is no difference between typical boy behavior and typical girl behavior, and/or those who think that because those differences are recognizable, then those who recognize them must therefore shun girls or boys who are atypical. Which is not the case.

Anonymous wrote:It was a rhetorical question. Obviously I know what I means. Just saying it's a really stupid phrase.

Come on, OP. You know very well what it means. This is such a tired, tedious subject. It's not 1972 is it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's usually code for your kid is unruly or hyper or ill-mannered or just all over the place.

This - it means your kid is loud, hyper, or covered in mud/dirt.

Don't worry, the school system will beat or shame it out of him... Save money for therapy.

OP, it is also one of the phrases that annoys me the most.

Anonymous wrote:It's usually code for your kid is unruly or hyper or ill-mannered or just all over the place.

This - it means your kid is loud, hyper, or covered in mud/dirt.

It's just something to say. I might say that to a mom who has a boy that is misbehaving or a runner if the mom looks overwhelmed or embarrassed. I say it to try to make her feel better or comment on what's happening. I didn't think it was judgey but I guess I will stop saying it. What should I say instead to the embarrassed mom whose son is wildly running everywhere and kicking over sand castles?

Anonymous wrote:I have a rough and tumble boy and the phrase doesn't bother me at all. Stop looking for things to get hyped up about.

There are some things that bother you. There are some things that bother the OP. Some of the things that bother you don't bother the OP, and some of the things that bother the OP don't bother you. That is because you are different people.

I have a rough and tumble boy and the phrase doesn't bother me at all. Stop looking for things to get hyped up about.