Tomorrow (Monday) I'll be 35 and I know I can't be as smart as my grandmother was at that age. It seems like it has all gone by so fast and my kids are getting so big.
My oldest son, Jared, is almost 13 and seems like an adult already. He's such a helper and I don't know what I could do without him. He certainly helped a lot with Thanksgiving dinner! I have been so busy lately, between working a full time job and trying to take classes, that I don't have as much time as I'd like to spend at home with my boys. The other day, after I had drug myself home after a day of work and class afterward, he asked me if I would make him some soup. He had gotten out the can, the can-opener, the pot, two bowls and two spoons..... I realized he didn't just want me to make him something to eat and I know he wasn't being lazy because he saved me time by getting everything ready. He wanted me to take care of him and he wanted me to eat with him. He does so much to help out voluntarily that I tend to forget he needs to know that I will still do something for him.... even if he could do it himself. He has been so helpful in taking care of his brother and I knew he deserved recognition for that. I bought him a cell phone last Christmas and he has been using it wisely. He spends more minutes taking to me than anyone else and I'll never cut that line. It's so nice to hear him tell me about his day at school but mostly he just wants me to talk to him.
My youngest son, Riley, has been challenging his teachers again. He has to be their biggest challenge! This fussy boy can't sit still and everything hurts his feelings or hurts his ears or is scratchy on his skin. He doesn't like crowded rooms filled with noisy kids and is constantly getting in trouble for trying to get out of such a situation. He wants to be first in line or the last in line and is always clowning around. He's always so emotional and will tell you exactly how you hurt his feelings. I've been reading a lot of parenting books lately and I hope I'll find something to help me figure this boy out. When he's at home he is so sweet. He wants to go for a walk at -24 degrees to look at the moon and what phase it's in or to check out something else in the sky. He can sit at the piano and pick out a tune he heard in school (although he says he doesn't want to take lessons)....A TV commercial comes on playing a jazzy tune and he's say "come on mom, dance with me." He draws like Picasso and sings like an angel. It seems to me that no one sees what I do in this boy. I really think he's going to grow up to be someone special. I wish people wouldn't feel like they need to mold him into their idea of an average kid. The average kid would probably be sitting inside at -24 degrees, not exploring the landscape and commenting on how the snow glitters like white gold when the moon is out.
Riley will be Riley.....and I've got my hands full.
I guess I've accomplished more than I thought in my life. These boys really are something to be proud of. I just feel like I've lost so much time. I should be more educated and should have experienced more. There is so much to see and do. There are people in their 20's that are in positions over my head. I know it's because I had my kids when most where in college. I know I don't regret having my boys when I did and being home with them when they are little but I wish I could get there I want to without feeling like I can't have time for them now.
Well, I'll just keep plugging along and hopefully I'll have a lot more to talk about before I am 40!
