Challenging the Notion that a Woman Cannot Raise a Boy to Become a Man

In light of Mother's Day, and us showing our love and appreciation for the women who made us what we are today. I'd like to challenge the long held belief that women are incapable of effectively raising boys to become men. An idea that has manifests itself in the form of popular youth culture via music, television, and the big screen. Time and time again this narrative is played out, and I wonder if we've unfairly bought into it.

Wanna know what I think? Well, it's a foolish idea in my opinion which raises many questions. And to be honest this very idea supports the Moynihan Report of 1965, which suggests, particularly for the black community: "At the heart of the deterioration of the fabric of Negro society is the deterioration of the Negro family," and that "The white family has achieved a high degree of stability and is maintaining that stability."

I mean, what is it exactly that women are incapable of teaching young boys, that a man is better skilled, or suited to do? Is this yet another one of those firmly held beliefs shaped by the obvious gender bias in our largely patriarchal society? I mean, what exactly is it to "be a man", and why is that women are supposedly incapable of teaching young boys to grow up to be just that?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

It's almost Mother's Day and...

It hit me the other day that Mother's Day was right around the corner. Holidays like those always sneak up on me. So I was thinking about what type of gift to get for my mother. My mother lives in Brooklyn New York, and I'm here in Memphis TN. damn another world with less White people. So, we don't get to see each other face to face as often as I would like. I thought about maybe a surprise visit to New York, but I don't think I can afford such a short trip.

It was then that I got to thinking about all the previous Mother's Day gifts; even going all the way back to those ugly little cards we used to make in grade school. Those cards were so raggedy looking but your mother never ever let it show. She was happy, and you felt good and never gave any thought to whether your card was good enough. Ah yes, the simple life. I've given my mother many gifts over the years. So as I'm thinking about it, I'm stuck on what to give her. I mean what do you give your mom when you've pretty much given her everything, right?

That's when it hit me; maybe I should get her a sex toy. I mean hey, that's something I've never done. I don't know if she would use it or even know what it is should she to open something like that in the mail. Do you think that would be inappropriate? What? It’s not like she’s never had sex before. I don't know about you but I could remember being like 7yrs old and sneaking and reading her porn magazines; or did they belong to my dad? Either way, they had a sex draw full of stuff. No joke, for a long time I thought condoms were balloons and me and my little brother would have water balloon fights with them.

My mom and my dad has been divorced for well over 20yrs and she has never had another boyfriend other than Jesus. That said, there are times I wonder about her and how does she do it. Do you think that would be wrong? Do you think you could ever buy your mother a vibrator, dildo or any other sex toy as a gift? How do you think she would react if you did? Do you think she would use it? What if one of your kids gave you a sex toy as a present, how do you deal with that?