They Will Be Them

” ‘Maybe there is a beast….maybe it’s only us.’ ”   |   William Golding, Lord of the Flies 

“Wild thing, you make my heart sing”   |   The Troggs

Our cultural response to males behaving badly is “boys will be boys”. I often witness my sons’ affection for aggressive play with undertones of power, violence, and sex.  I’m also struck by their raw tenderness and their fascination with nature.

As a mother, I struggle with this behavioral dichotomy.  I frequently find myself pondering essential parental questions regarding nature versus nurture, and these images document my conflicted concern over and adoration of their wild spirit.

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