Living with Boys

While growing up, many parents teach their children that boys and girls don't live together unless they're married. It isn't proper. But times are changing and MANY couples won't get married unless they've lived together. As a 23 year old female living in Texas, when someone asks me about my roommates and I mention that I live with 3 boys, I get the most shocked reactions possible. And, I'm not going to lie, I like the shock value. One of my favorite conversations about this was with my cousin who was 4 at the time.

(after picking her up, I said something about roommates and she asked me their names)

Me: Well, I live with Mark, Brandon, and David

Cousin: (thoughtful pause) Those are boys names. You live with boys?

Me: Yes, I went to high school with two of them and we met the other in college.

Cousin: Does your mom know?

Her incredulity that I lived with boys was quite amusing and the fact that she knows it's different I find quite insightful.

Truthfully though, I can't live with girls. While in college, I went through 4 female roommates in the course of 1 1/2 years. So at this point, you're thinking I must be some sort of heinous person to live with. Not the case. I'm still friends with most of my ex-roommates. I just can't stand the pettiness of girls and they are actually way dirtier than boys.

Can it be completely platonic? Absolutely. I've done it for two years now and they are the best roommates ever. Of course we have our little things that annoy each other, but that's normal for roommates and to be expected. We have the best times and have "family fun nights" every now and then that includes dinner, homemade margaritas, and a redbox movie.

So for parents sending their one and only baby girl to college this year, don't be shocked if she calls home to say she wants to live with a few boys next year. Some of her best friends will probably be boys.