I never thought it would be my just turned seven year old's actions that would have me pondering that question of boxers or briefs, how do boys and men decide?
For the past couple weeks we've been having underwear and sock emergencies in the morning because there is not enough that fit or can be found aka they are still in the laundry. Apparently his sock and underwear are suddenly too small, stretched, worn out or in the case of socks don't match anything. It basically seems to happen overnight. One day you're good and the next week you're not.
I am perfectly ok with Eli wearing a blue and gray sock. I mean if he doesn't mind, either do I. But, when it comes to underwear that's another story because it slows us down when he puts on and takes them off two to four times because they aren't "comfy" are too "tight" or "are giving me a wed-gee MOM" which all means he can't and won't get dressed.
Then the conversation turns to - "hurry up and get dressed or you will miss the bus!!!" repeated multiple times with each time one pitch louder.
So last week I decided to take Eli to the store for summer socks, aka peds and underwear.
The socks were easy, peds because he mostly has a sock aversion, with multiple pairs in the same color as over time we somehow loose a significant number of them in the wash, at friends, in the car, etc.
Then I went to the underwear section and was told I'm grown up now I don't want pictures on my underwear. What, no Pokemon or spider man on your butt? I was taken back. When did my child shift from cartoon character underwear to big boy underwear? I mean we've always had a few solid color stretchy briefs in both brief and boxer style but the preferred was sponge bob, Pokemon, etc.
Then I found the "army" underwear with individual ones in green, blue or gray camouflage. Those are ok but I want the boxer kind. Oh, ok, I found the stretchy boxers and thought ok, let's go.
Then he said I also want the boxers.
But I just put boxers in the cart.
No mom, not THOSE kind, the real kind of boxers.
Like Austin (his favorite 12 year old cousin) wears to bed? Sure, let's get a pack, and do you want white t-shirts to wear to bed with them or will you wear your regular t-shirts? (I figured I'd play the whole thing up and I thought it was cute that he wanted to be like his big cousin.)
I can wear my own t-shirts. I don't want them for bed, I want them for real. (which translates into every day wear)
For real? Are you sure they'll be comfortable?
So we put back all but one 3 page of the camouflage stretch boxers because I won't let these go and am thinking and anticipating, right you'll wear them one day and then we're going to need to come back.
He picks out two - three packs of the plaid cloth boxers, I toss in my pack and we head to the cashier.
Of course I usually wash almost every thing before wearing, but I'm anticipating that these will be returned so I put all three packages with the current ill-fitting underwear and wonder when I will have time to go back to the store.
Immediately I hear, where are my new underwear? I tell him and he's off to the bedroom to change. Eli comes out in a red and blue plaid boxers and his t-shirt. No shorts for him because he's got to admire his under garment.
We hang out the rest of the evening and I keep smiling to myself.
As he heads off to bed he peels off his shirt and socks and is now only in his newly acquired boxers. Do you think you'll be cold? I ask. Want a clean t-shirt?
No mom, this is HOW you are SUPPOSE to sleep with them.
Oh?!
And did I mention we is sleeping on top of his bed with some blankets. His sheets were changed and he didn't want to mess his bed because it's so nice and smooth.
Eli heads off to dream land and I am not sure if I'm totally amused or just raising a some what eccentric kid. Any way, each day he's worn a new pair of his cotton plaid boxers. He's already learned how to pull them down in his jeans so he doesn't get a wed-gee which was a problem the first day at school, but he prefers to wear shorts cause it "feels better".
He's also been prancing around the house in his boxers only. I keep reminding him to put a top on, mostly because it's been in the high 50's and 60's because there is no summer in Seattle this year so it's cold.
I didn't realize it's been six days, but it was because this morning post bath night he had on yesterdays boxers - and I asked how come he didn't change.
Cause no more are in my bin was the simple, matter of fact reply. I tell him to go downstairs to the clean laundry pile which I know most of us have and he comes up with a big smile.
So what I'm left with is still trying to figure out the boxer versus briefs thing - and briefly contemplate are all grown men influenced by their mom's underwear choice as a young kid which they just continued, seeing their dad and wanting to be just like them or by a favorite cousin or friend they think are cool. Maybe I need to do a survey.
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