Trying to keep my sanity in a house full of manly ball-scratching, burping, farting, and raised toilet seats.
Trying to keep my sanity in a house full of manly ball-scratching, burping, farting, and raised toilet seats. 
Aaron: Felipe, Christian and David are sleeping in the same bed. Is that Gay?
Felipe: No. It’s a brotherhood.
According to UrbanDictionary.com “Bromance”: Describes the complicated love and affection
shared by two straight males.
I’m sure many of you out there can relate when I say that this “bromance” thing is not something that was very common when we were growing up. The closest thing to “bromance” that we might have seen were the butt taps football players gave on the field or in the locker rooms.
As I got into my early twenties though, it started to become a little more evident, particularly between my younger brother and his male buddies. And even today, my macho, infantry husband displays signs of bromance with his buddies….but in all fairness, only when he’s drunk. You know, the “I love you bro” good bye’s with a big hug that makes a sober person looking on feel a bit awkward as they wonder when the heck they are going to stop embracing so tightly.
But to the young Millennial Generation that my children belong to, bromance is not awkward, it’s not strange, it’s not anything but expected. Bromance has come out of the closet ladies and gentlemen and it’s all over the place! Long hugs and I love you’s and ILY2 are shared between my boys and their guy friends that honestly they all leave me wondering if they’re not all just gay (not that it would matter to me if they were).
I make no qualms about asking all of them why they act so gay with each other, because honestly, I just find it strange. So, I’ll poke fun at them and what not, but in the end they always defend their bromance as something normal. And then they’ll proclaim how secure they are in their sexuality and masculinity of which allows them to be so touchy-feely with each other.
Either way, the truth is, I still find it awkward that so much love and affection is being demonstrated among males now
-a-day’s. But, I’m sure eventually, I’ll get used to it. I mean, what’s the big deal right? It’s acceptable for women to do it, so why can’t men?
So the next time I see my boys and their friends hugging for a bit too long, or their arms around each other with their faces a bit too close to one another, or the loving and tender messages they share on Facebook filled with “ILY” and “I miss you man,” I’ll try not to laugh too hard, and simply appreciate the fact that the boys of this generation are in touch with their emotional sides and aren’t embarrassed about it.
In the meantime, I leave you with that infamous scene from Superbad when Seth proclaims his love for Evan…as a friend of course!
Peace Out!
-Natasha Olivera
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My journey into motherhood began when I was 17 years old. Today, I am the mother of two teen boys, 15 and 13, and I am one of the only moms "blogging" about raising teen boys. On this blog, which I like to call a "blogory", I share my candid, poignant, sometimes humorous, but always real, short stories about my stumbles through parenthood as a young mother raising two teen boys while coping with living in a house full of testosterone. My parenting philosophy revolves around honest, no holds barred communication, where no topic is off limits, mixed with an enormous sense of humor. Peace Out! -Natasha Olivera
© 2010-2012 2010 Me, My Guys, & My Stumbles Through Parenthood All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved -- Copyright notice by Blog Copyright
As a woman, closely approaching 30, I saw the exact opposite as you. My father who is an ex-Marine, special forces, manly man as you put it; was always affectionate torwards the men he was close with. This included hugs, kisses on the check and spoken words of affection.
Also, growing up my male friends, who were basically are rough necks, were also affectionate with one another, and I never found it wierd or strange. I think it helps men, and young boys, be better equipt as well rounded individuals if they know how to show and recieve affection.
So to see that the younger generation is now embracing this affection, with their own term “bromance” is amazing!!!
“…but in all fairness, only when he’s drunk…” You know they say the truth comes out when one is under the influence of alcohol. Just something to think about. As for bromances…I think its great for a male to be that confident and secure with their sexuality that they can share a simple hug or exchange a few caring words with another male.
First off, there’s no such thing as an “ex-Marine”.
Ok, now that we cleared that, I grew up with four sisters so touchy feely was normal for me. When I walked into a room it was customary to kiss everyone in the room, all the family that is, regardless of if it was a male or female. To this day people see me kiss my cousins, some older some younger, and kinda look at us weird. I think it’s great that they are able to show each other love and not worry about having to be “manly” and instead just be comfortable with themselves.
I love that boys feel comfortable enough to express their affection for their male friends. Friendship among males is important and I suppose it’s nice to know that you are loved.