It is a well known fact that I'd rather spend my time hanging out with my guy friends than most girls. There is rarely a day that I am not eating lunch with them, hanging out with them before practice, or talking to them at all. It has been pointed out numerous times that I "hang out with the boys more than girls." As this is how I have always lived my life, I have learned quite a few things.
1. If eye rolling was an Olympic sport, you'd take the gold
Between the occasional -okay, frequent- dumb jokes, ideas, pranks, and opinions on topics they do not know anything about (i.e makeup), boys will do a lot of stuff that just deserves an eye roll. In their defense most of the eye rolls are done with a smile on your face, because even though you found it funny, they still need to know it was a stupid thing to say/do. (see number 6)
2. People will think you're romantically involved with at least one of them
Being friends with a group of guys consists of nothing different than with a group of girls. Just in this past year I've seen Finding Dory, gone out for lunch, went to sporting events, bowled, and spent New Years Eve with my guy friends. It's not an odd thing to see me walking around school with one of them, or that I'm texting or snapchatting a couple of them outside of the group chat. These are all things that I've done with my girl friends too, but just because they are the opposite gender people think something is going on. If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked if me and (fill in the blank) are dating, I'd be set for life.
3. The significant other of at least one of them will not like you/ be jealous
This one goes hand and hand with the last one. What do friends do when they're not together? They text or communicate in some other way. What do some people not like? Their partner talking to other girls. I get it, you're worried your boyfriend has feelings for another person, but believe me when I tell you it is strictly platonic.
4. You'll learn that boys are better at getting you out of bad moods than girls
When you're in a bad mood, your girls will try to talk you out of or through your problem. Maybe they'll bring over froyo and your favorite movie. Nine times out of ten, your boy friends won't do this. In fact, they might not even know you're upset. However, there's been many times where one of my guys has simply cracked a joke or done something stupid that broke me out of my funk. Whether they mean to do it or not, it's highly effective.
5. You'll eventually end up being involved with one of them at some point or another
This one contradicts the last two. Spending so much time together, it's hardly a surprise that some sort of feelings occur. They could be real feelings, but sometimes they may just be imagined. This could go one of two ways: you end up like Chandler and Monica and live happily ever after, or you follow the path of Joey and Rachel and go back to just being friends when you realize it doesn't exactly work.
6. You become the mom of the group
This one goes back to the very first point I made. Guys love to fool around and do borderline reckless things. Sometimes they just aren't thinking and make offensive jokes or comments. Someone needs to remind them of their work or practice schedule, make the plans, and tell them what they need to bring places. One way or the other, they need someone who will keep them in line. Being the closest one to a mother, it falls on the girl of the group.
7. More than once they'll convince you to do something that'll get you in trouble
The behavior of guys is contagious. Being around it so much, their habits and mannerisms grow on you. There's nothing else I could say to explain this, other than give the example that in first grade I got recess taken away after being convinced to put a rock in a boy's sandwich.
8. You don't grow up as a "girly girl"
Being around guys so much, you don't grow up hearing conversations about makeup and the most recent winner of American Idol. Instead, it is a lot of sports and video games talk. Even though I don't follow sports, I've listened enough to know how each sport works and the current events going on in them. For me, it was the best of both worlds. I grew up as a cheerleader, but I know how to play football better than I know how to put on makeup. Growing up around boys made me tough. With the rough housing and joking around, I can get hit in the face with a dodgeball or be the butt of a joke and not even flinch about it.
9. You have sweatshirts and sports apparel galore right at your disposal
Need a sports jersey for a party or spirit day? Don't go to the store, look to your guy friends. Want to show spirit for your school at a game and one of your friends happens to play on the team? Take the opposite jersey. Are you cold but don't have a hoodie on hand? Borrow a sweatshirt! (And then never give it back, because its soft interior and too-big-sleeves make it the best hoodie to lounge around in)
10. There's no drama
Obviously the boys and girls of Jersey Shore are excluded from this one, but for the most part there is no drama when you are friends with guys. They are less likely to jump to conclusions and get mad when there are exactly no reasons to get mad. They do not hold grudges as stubbornly as girls do. There's no talking behind your back either, because they have no problem speaking their mind
Despite all of the dumb antics, I am grateful to have grown up as "the girl who hangs out with all the guys."
