"Parenting boys is a reminder that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures, there will always be that day when we realize...they've been using our chapstick on the cat's butt."
What a great commentary on life raising boys! I found this gem from an email joke being sent around and completely identified with it as life with my boys is never a dull moment! But, that's the point, isn't it? A constant reminder of what a blessing that's been loaned to us - for such a short time, it seems. Yes, I said 'loaned'. Because if you think about it, we are blessed with these creatures. God has asked us to be good stewards of his greatest creation - a child.
That's what I try to remember on the days when I'm 'deprogramming' my boys from loud, mouthy, smelly creatures into the sweet guys I know are hiding in there somewhere. The days when I feel as if I'm just the referee in sibling rivalry that rivals something akin to the Civil War (except there's nothing civil when these two get into it with each other). The days when I yell out of the bathroom (as I'm cleaning up for the umpteenth time), "Watch it, guys! Let's make it IN the bowl next time, OK?!"
I relish the mornings when they run upstairs to hug me before school and tell me, "I love you, Mom! Have a FUN-tastic day at work!" I savor the evenings when they cuddle up next to me as we read chapters out of their books before bedtime. And I laugh as I think about their funny antics that keep me laughing. Because sooner than I'd like, these two are going to be grown and my memories of little boys will be just that - sweet memories.
Look at your kids, really look at them; hug your kids and hold on tight; and above all else, tell your children that you love them multiple times a day. They're never too old to hear those three precious words, nor are they ever too grown up for hugs and kisses! One day, they'll no longer be like the little boy in the email I quoted above. They'll be grown men with jobs, a family, and hopefully memories of what a great time they had with their Mom; all so they can experience their own children mooning the dog, hitting homeruns at the ballpark, or more importantly, providing the love to their children that we all thrive on so our 'loans' are made good in life.
