Boys Facing Bleak Future As Men

The Atlantic magazine ran an enlightening article this past month on the State of the American Male.  It was brimming with stats on how women have become the dominate force based on college graduations, work force populations,  overall genetics and more.  As a woman, I was intrigued and frankly pretty excited about the article.  Then I remembered I have a teenage boy and thought about what the world would like for him as an adult male.

About 5 years ago, I was speaking with a very brilliant friend about the lack of magazine presence available to boys.  Whether you agree with the content or not, girls have American Girl, Cosmo, Teen Beat and the like.  You have the unisex mags like National Geographic and Time, or adult sporting mags but not a whole lot focused on the teem boy.  At the same time, I was reading about the differences in the way boys learn versus girls and how our current education system employs techniques favoring girls mode of learning.  Girls have much higher math and science grades and are graduating from colleges at a higher rate.  Sadly we are still unrepresented in the top paying and most senior roles but that's another story.

Just yesterday the Boys and School E-Newsletter ran an article on hypertension signals for boys.  In a nutshell, normal blood pressures in boys are really warning signs for future hypertension.  So why not make the blood pressure norm lower so that parents can see early warning signs and react?

I don't see much being done to focus on gender differences in teenagers and I am concerned that our boys today will struggle as men.

Goodbye Sugar Daddy, Hello Sugar Mama

You have to read this NY Times article regarding men marrying wealthier women.  Although men don't marry wives, they marry women who become wives.  Sorry.

I have a comment about almost every point in this article. WOW am I worked up today.

Let's start with Paul Fucito's quote "In recent decades, with the rise of well-paid working wives, the economic gains of marriage have been a greater benefit for men.”  The way I see it men always get the greater benefit economic or otherwise.  They get a cook, cleaner, nanny, therapist and now a financial provider.


"In 1970, 4 percent of husbands had wives who made more money; in 2007, 22 percent did."  Bravo that there are women who make more than their husbands.  We are a bright gender with strong skills and intellects.  I think any man who has a problem with it isn't worth marrying anyway.


"College-educated wives are less likely to have a husband who is college-educated "  I find this statistic bothersome.  Why are we marrying men who are less educated than we are?  Is it because college educated men are intimidated?  Is it because we have some sick caretaking issue?  Is it because we are working so hard developing our brain that we have no energy to put into our relationships and therefore settle?


I believe your spouse should help you become the best that you can be.  You are working together not competing against each other.  As women, we have done this for generations.  We have been the support behind our men.   So what happens when our men decide that we can take care of the house, the kids and the finances while they stay home playing video games and fantasty football? It's like some kind of Benjamin Buttons  suffrage; women are free and men want to be bound.


Well not all guys.  Kudos to the real men who are equal partners in the relationship, whether they are the primary bread winner or the stay-at-home dad. 

Anticipation for the day

Today is probably one of my most favorite days of the year and definitely the most work.  For Christmas Eve I have a somewhat traditional dinner for my entire family (in-laws included).

The day starts early say around 6 am with my sister coming over to help.  We have coffee and pick up the Wegman's order.  This year my twin sister is in for the celebration and she will be recruited to help as well.   I save a lobster tail for my son's lunch and we have a noon cocktail or eggnog/rum.  Majority of the month I complain about all that has to be done when in all honesty its this working together that I love and that makes the holidays special to me.

This dinner started out when we moved back to Buffalo.  I had never used my wedding china and crystal plus living away meant I missed birthdays and family celebrations.  I thought how great it would be to bring both sides of the family together on this day.  Nothing but positives:  My mom wouldn't have to cook, we could see both sidea of the family at the same time, I could prove I had skills in the kitchen.  The party was for 11 people and that was 13 years ago.

Today it includes 30 (12 of which are kids) and I serve the following:

Start off course with kir royal, wine and assorted cocktails.  Before dinner starts we will break the opwatek (sp?) and wish each other well for 2010.
Course 1 - Lobster bisque and Mushroom soup
Course 2 - Carmelized pecan salad and homemade wreath bread
Course 3 - Poppyseed sour cream noodles and pierogi
Course 4 - Bacon wrapped scallops and shrimp scampi
Course 5 - Massed potatoes, string beans and prime rib
Course 6 - Cranberries and baked haddock
Course 7 - Honey glazed carrots and ginger lime salmon
Course 8 -  Gingerbread torte, chocolate cake, Christmas cookies and coffee
Finish with an assortment of liquors

After dinner Santa will make an appearance and we will exchange presents.

Although I spend a fair amount of time bitching, I am so blessed and thankful to be able to do this for my family.  We are together and healthy, what more could I ask for?