I'm not sure if you can tell from this small picture, but every animal is placed "just so." There are groupings, and some small animals are tucked in with other, smaller animals for comfort and company, I suppose. There is liberal use of tissues-for-blankets, and other makeshift comfy things. It's pretty cute, even if there is no room at all for her to sleep on the bed!
So, when the boys saw what she had done, they had to do it, too. What can I say, they're boys... they just don't get it.
Here's DS1's:
And here is DS2's:
It's true that neither boy has as many animals as their sister does, in fact if you combined both their collections, it still wouldn't rival hers. But they don't love theirs the way she loves hers. She is their mom, and she takes pretty good care of her brood, especially considering how big it is. I don't think it would ever occur to the boys to tuck their animals into bed at night, but this is a ritual that she has been indulging in for at least a year now. (It's cute, except when it's tedious.)
Since both DH and I tuck them in every night, it's not as if DD has been socialized into thinking that "tucking in" is what girls (moms) do; DH has shown her that it's every bit as much a Dad's job, too. In fact, just about the only thing that DH doesn't do around here is cook dinner, and that's just because he likes my cooking better. Oh, I guess I do most of the laundry, too -- but everything else: cleaning, shopping, child care, homework help, etc -- DH is right there with me, or not with me if I'm off doing something else. He is the "complete parent," and way more sane than I am! So, it can be done... but I digress.
No, this isn't a socialization thing, it's innate. Girls nurture. Boys? Not so much. Of course there will always be exceptions, and it's not as if girls have to nurture, or it's bad if boys do -- far from it. I just think those old stereotypes have a basis in fact, and we oughtn't be surprised when the cultural shorthand gets it right.
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