I’ve been helping in Ethan’s class everyday since the first day of school. He has the same teacher Andrew had in first grade and her and I just love each other. I couldn’t be happier.
Category Archives: Raising Boys
Why can’t they be babies for ever?
I took my boys to their first day of first and fifth grade at 7:30 this morning. The first day of school is always a very emotional one for me. Today was such a mix of emotions. One part of me is excited to finally have the entire day to myself, to do the things I need to do, or just to relax. The other part of me is sad and lonely. I am going to miss them. I already miss their sweet little voices.
A mothers love.
Ethan crawled into bed with me early this morning. He was upset because he had a bad dream. I told him he could lay with me if that would make him feel better.
I haven’t been able to sleep since because I just keep looking at this beautiful little boy who I have been blessed with. He’s my child. My son. And he truly is a little angel.
I love my children more than I knew it was possible to love anyone. There’s a certain fear that comes with loving these little boys this much though.
Fear of losing them. Fear of them getting sick. Fear of them getting hurt.
Andrew developed a rash yesterday. It’s nasty looking and hurts him. I can’t stop worrying about it. I was going to take him to urgent care last night, but he begged me not to, he was too tired. So I got up at least 5 times last night to check on it and make sure he wasn’t getting a fever. I worry about them when they’re sick because my biggest fear is something bad happening to one of them.
When you love someone as much as I love my children, that thought, the thought of losing them, or something bad happening to them, is one I can’t bear. I don’t understand how parents go on after losing a child to a tradgedy or an illness. It has to be the worst kind of pain a human being can experience.
And I pray to God I never have to experience it.
Can I wash your car?
My son just asked me if he could walk to McDonalds with his friends. My answer? Hell no.
He’s 10 and McDonalds is literally right up the street, but it’s a busy street. I just don’t feel comfortable with that yet.
I started thinking about when I was a kid, his age, even younger I believe and how we would walk or ride our bikes all over the city. My friends and I would go door to door with a bucket, sponges, dish soap, towels and ask people if we could wash their car for $1.00. Most of them would let us, and when we had collected enough to buy lunch at McDonalds, or a yogurt at Yogurt-n-more we’d pack up, and take off. My parents never had a problem with us doing that.
I just feel like times are different now. Then I wonder, are they really? Or am I just paranoid? No, I think times are different.
I think it’s sad that my children can’t enjoy some of the same freedoms we did as children because the memories I have from walkin’ the hood to get something to eat at McDonalds, or something to drink at AM PM mini mart are truly priceless.
So are the memories of lemonade stands. I remember my dad built a crappy little wooden stand and we would make lemonade and stand at the top of our street begging cars passing by to buy a cup for 10 cents. Usually the only one who would stop was the mailman, but that didn’t stop us. We’d sit there for hours and every car was a possible sale, it was exciting. I’d jump up and down everytime a car would drive by screaming “want some lemonade????” (Damn, too bad I didn’t develop early, just think of all the perverts people that would have stopped for a nice refreshing uh, cup of lemonade.
I love that I wasn’t afraid to do silly stuff like that as a kid. Those are some of the greatest memories I have of my childhood.
Oh no they didn’t.
Generally speaking, I stay out of the stuff that goes on with the kids in the neighborhood. I want to teach my children how to handle problems and conflicts on their own. I don’t want them to have to run to mommy every time someone does something wrong to them.
However…
If someone is harassing my child or physically harms them, you better BELIEVE I’m going to get involved.
I have always told my kids if someone strikes first, they are allowed to defend themselves and hit back. I was never allowed to defend myself growing up because in the bible it says something about “turning the other cheek” and my parents took that completely literally. I remember asking my dad “So if someone hits me in the face, I’m supposed to turn my face so they can hit me on the other side?” His response? “yes!”
Oh hell no. My kids, any child, should be able to defend themselves when attacked. My children are not aggressive, especially my oldest, Andrew. He takes so much shit from other kids, he is just like me when I was younger. Ethan on the other hand will set you if you mess with him, just like me NOW.
Yesterday Andrew came in all upset and said “Mom, I had to punch Charles in the stomach. I instantly knew something was done to him first because Andrew would only do that in self defense, I know this about my son.
Mooooo
I love listening to my boys talk while they’re eating breakfast.
Today’s discussion is deep.
“Are hot dogs made from cow penis?”
Andrew has come to the conclusion that they are because “hot dogs come from cows and why else would they call them weiners?”
So Ethan says “well, then you like eating cow weiners because you love hot dogs.”
They both start laughing like little girls.
Never a dull moment in this house, I tell ya.
Boobs
We’re all sitting in the family room watching America’s Funniest Home Videos. There was a clip of a little boy taking the bra off of a mannequin. My boys went crazy, they screamed and were laughing so hard they couldn’t breathe.
After they finished laughing, I asked them “why do boys like boobies so much?”
Ethan (HE’S FIVE) says “because they’re just so sexxxxay.”
*laugh*
Andrew: Because they’re so big.
Ethan: Big and juicy.
Andrew: hahahahhaha
Ethan: Oh yeah and don’t forget because they’re so jiggly.
We were laughing so hard, then I farted and they all stopped laughing and told me that I was so gross.
Excuse me, *I’m* gross? you guys are the ones talking about jiggly, juicy boobs.
This is what it’s all about.
Nothing better than waking up to this…
*kiss on the cheek*
“You’re the best mommy in the galaxy, in every planet, in every state, every town, in the whole wide world and you’re the most beautiful girl ever born.”
Sigh…
so you’re telling me the vice president is a penis?
Ethan called Andrew a “dick” today. My husband heard him and called him in the room to discuss this with him. We all sat down and Tony started talking. This is how the conversation went.
Tony: Ethan, do you know what dick means?
*andrew and ethan cracking up laughing*
Tony: this isn’t funny.
*I start laughing*
Tony: ok, y, you’re not helping.
Me: sorry, you’re right.
Tony: Ok, do you know what it means?
Ethan: no?? *laughing*
Andrew: then how come you were laughing when you said it ethan?
Ethan: shutup andrew!
Tony: ok, dick can be a mans name, like the vice presidents name is Dick Cheney.
Andrew: his name is dick! *laughs*
me: *laughs*
Ethan:*laughs*
Tony:*tries not to laugh*
Tony: but, it can also be a bad word, it’s another name for penis, so you just called your brother a penis.
Ethan:*falls to the floor laughing* so people name their babies penis?
Andrew: you called me a penis. *laughs*
Tony: well, dick is a nickname for richard.
Ethan: daddy said dick.
Andrew: *laughs*
me: TONY, GIVE IT UP!!!!! JUST TELL HIM NOT TO SAY DICK ALREADY AND BE DONE WITH IT.
Making me proud on a daily basis
Ethan just walked in and says “Look mom, my watch is waterproof.” Now, to prove this, most kids would walk over to the sink and turn the water on, right? Not my son, nope, he just opened his mouth and spit on the watch.
They are *so* my kids!