I was at the park yesterday with Chris (my husband), William (my 11 year old), and Nick (my 10 year old). Chris coaches the boys' flag football team and the three of them were going over plays. Laid out on the grass was the Mexican blanket I've had since I was in high school. My friend Michelle had bought it for me in Mexico when she did a mission trip there with her church. I don't know why I brought that up. Just another testament to my selfishness....I probably never asked her about her mission but I sure did want that blanket!
Anyway, it was really a beautiful day. I got to lay down and read my book while my guys did very....well.....GUY things! I was watching them in light of my Baby Blues Part II and thinking how different they are than me. How little I really know about men and boys and the way they think or react to circumstances or situations.
Here's some food for thought: I know my children but I don't know my boys.
I have that maternal instinct. I know if they're sick or just struggling with allergies. I know when they're tired. I know if they're acting squirmy because they have to pee and I know when they're tummy sticks out just so they have to poop. They hate it! I am always able to call them out on these things that they would rather ignore or deny.
*side note: my 11 year old is reading as I type. He just laughed at the last paragraph and said, "that's true!"
What I don't know is how boys deal with girls or other boys for that matter. Testosterone is not the hormone I have a whole lot of experience with. I realized at that moment, that it's ok. I guess I was able to put one of the hands I was trying to smother them with to my side and let things happen naturally. Relinquishing control is also not something I have a whole lot of experience with! The control hormone runs thick in my blood and any slight upset puts me in panic mode. Chaos is the devil, I'm no angel, fight on!
Bottom line: I'm trying, I'm admitting, I'm confessing, I'm honest. I just hope that's enough!
I'm not great at relinquishing control either, Heather. I think watching any kid, girl or boy, go through adolescence is hard. The pre-teen years are just painful, period. Just know that you're doing a great job!!
ReplyDeleteSo true! I don't envy any parent of a tween/teenager nor do I envy the tween/teenager. It's hard on everyone. I just need to relax and look at it with wisdom and for what it is. A phase. A moment. An experience. And soon...a memory.
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