Why Gender Matters

At the recent Cincinnati Homeschool Convention I attended a workshop entitled "How to Teach Boys and Other Children Who Would Rather Make Forts All Day". It was a fascinating workshop that outlined the basics of the book "Why Gender Matters". It seems that some scientists have found evidence that genetically boys and girls are different. Imagine that! Of course they are different. But, I mean deep down-brains, eyes the way they perceive their world and their hearing of all things! Girls actually hear better than boys. So, as soon as I got home, I put the book on hold at my local library. I just picked it up today and it's been a fascinating read and I suddenly understand Chris a lot more. For example, when I show him two shirts, one Magenta and the other Fuschia, I understand now why he doesn't really notice the subtle differences and indeed will call them both red. According to the research, the male eye perceives much less detail than the female eye. So, when Chris comes home and I chant "Do you notice anything different??!!" I'm really submitting him to some ancient form of torture. He is less likely to notice that I have changed the quilt on the bed to one of our other ratty quilts than he is to notice that "something" is different and I've just put him in that precarious place of having to figure it out-and quickly. I've been on the receiving end of directions that go something like this: Go north for 2 miles and then head south on XYZ Road for 1 mile then turn East... I CANNOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS LIKE THAT! My directions go something like this: Turn left out of the parking lot and go past the McDonalds and the gas station. Then, turn right on the corner with the Citizens Bank. Then, follow that past the Mall and the playground until you come to the school-turn right just past the school.... Now we're talking sense! However, it seems that Chris just may be genetically hardwired to give me directions like that for the rest of my life. Really, it is a fascinating book and I'm only in the third chapter. But, I have a greater appreciation for my dear husband even if I think he should talk like me. It would be so much easier.