Skip to main content

For the Love of Kids

I love the contrasting sides of our children.  It's one of my favorite things that I didn't know I was going to love.  I think it's fair to say that when we have kids, we all know we will love the squishy babies, hearing kids laugh, seeing holidays through their eyes, and dressing them in the cute little outfits (I'm told boys don't wear outfits, but it's my blog).

I didn't know how much I'd love seeing my loud, dirt loving, gun fanatic, wrestling maniac five-year-old turn into the sweetest and most gentle big brother while holding his baby sister.  He sits and quietly tells her stories about his fishing and hunting conquests unaware of anyone else in the room, and my heart absolutely melts.

Then we have my slightly crusty, flannel loving, mismatching three-year-old that will choose a princess dress from the costume closet because although he likes sand and rocks and sticks and filth, he also likes and appreciates things that are beautiful.

I love when our boys are tough as nails, but I also welcome their morning cuddles; that they will force themselves to eat jalapenos with their dad, but will also drink warm milk while I drink my coffee; that they will do whatever it takes to win, but will also give sweet encouragement to someone just learning a new game or skill (although, let me tell you, they have no mercy for the weak in UNO.  I'm still licking my wounds and considering how I can stack the deck in future rounds.  How does a three-year-old already know card strategy?! Not good!).

I love these contrasting sides so much, but wasn't wholly aware until earlier this week when my friend's little boy scooped up a dead mouse with his right hand and handed his mom a bouquet of flowers with his left...

That pretty much sums up our boys and makes my heart happy...and my stomach a little weak.

Cheers and don't forget to wash your hands!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Little Bit Dicey

 This might be a little controversial.  I try to steer clear of such topics in this space, but it needs to be said.  Take it as you will, but know that it comes from a place of love, concern, and respect.  Here it is: there is a right  way to cut an onion. Now, I'm not saying this to try and get anyone's dander up.  I'm just saying it's a subject that needs to be addressed in kitchens across America.  There may be more than one right way to skin a cat (I can't say I've tested that), but the same does not hold true for onions.  Please, you can teach an old dog new tricks - learn how to properly cut an onion.  It will save you time, frustration, onion tears, and possibly a finger.     Now, since I'm still sitting here on blogspot like it's 2003, I'm not going to post any how-to videos, but I'll do the next best thing.  I'll paste a link right here .    Check it out.  Practice it.  Make it a habit.  T...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Tame a Toddler (and other myths in parenting)

I used to think I had started to hone my parenting skills.  Fischer was a much more mellow toddler than Sawyer, and I credited Ross and myself having the experience of one child under our belts.  It turns out, I was wrong.  Fischer was just a more mellow toddler .  That, or we have substantially regressed in our skills since having the twins.  It could be that. They are terrorists.   Nobody and nothing is off limits.   Our walls are covered in crayon and pencil.  Our new kitchen table has been branded with marker.  There is crayon on the windows.  My cupboards and drawers are empty.  My counter tops are full. They have figured out how to climb up on the table, and how to climb onto the windowsill and over the back of the couch, how to climb out of their cribs, and how to climb out of their clothes!       Our boys did not do these things.   I wasn't prepared.   I thought we had a plan...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Tales They Will Tell

Every season has it's enjoyment, but I feel like we really ramp up the "memory making" in the summer months.  Maybe it's because we have Ross home and more time for doing things out of the ordinary.  We have a more flexible schedule and more freedom to do "fun" things.  I enjoy thinking about what the kids will remember from these days.  They are still pretty young so it may be just a feeling that stays with them or a vague recollection here and there, but I hope they remember it was a good time of life.    A couple of days ago they boys went with Ross and loaded some fresh roadkill in the trunk of our car.  That's legal now in our state.  They came home thrilled with their find...all three of them.  Sawyer told me, "This is the best day ever, right Mom?!"  Boy, if I had known that's all it took, we could have saved a lot of money.  They got to help skin it.  I'm sure a three-year-old with a skinning knife is p...
2 comments
Read more