Beyond Bringing Up Boys

When Zachary’s slender hand grasps yours You lay aside your evening chores, Embarking out upon a pillowed sea. The books reclining on your knees (Yours motherhood; his history), Two spirits blend, his head leans on your arm. He doesn’t have to say, “I love you, Mom.” Seth’s plaintive cry splits pre-dawn’s calm Needing, it seems, your loving balm. His message, to the point: “Take me to Mom.” Setting the steaming mug aside You let him burrow deep, and hide, Enveloped in the solace of your warmth. He doesn’t have to say, “I love you, Mom.” Sam, snuggled in the upper bunk The drink of sleep not fully drunk Has no idea you’re already up. The mixing bowl, the flour and spice He’ll see, and lisp, “O Paradithe” And wrap two sturdy arms around your waist. He doesn’t have to say, “I love you, Mom.” Your husband rises every day And views – miraculous display – How shirts, once hampered, now hangers adorn. Somehow his bride has taught the boys, Delivered meals and picked up toys Each task accomp...

Zachary’s thoughts kept drifting off toward the lake this morning during math. I knew he was excited about the middle school boy’s fishing trip this afternoon. Shortly after eleven, he ran to the garage to get his gear and I packed a lunch for him. He wanted me to pack the other boys a lunch too and come back to the lake in time to eat with everyone afterwards. I packed the other lunches but was dubious as to whether I would lunch at the lake; I had a headache that had lasted all night and was mounting in intensity again. As I pulled into the state park just about 5 minutes before noon, I was surprised to see that there were no other parents. I drove to the other side—unsure of exactly where we were to meet—no one was there. Zachary was visibly disappointed and so I, in a moment of weakness, suggested that we just stay and fish. I called David to tell him what I was going to do. “I am so proud of you,” he gushed, knowing full well what I was in for… Because a permit was required an...

October 4th had been reserved on our calendar for several weeks; we were planning to meet our Sunday School class at Stone Mountain Park in the evening for the Laser Show. But since we have annual passes--that we really love--we decided to go up earlier in the day to see the Fall Festivities. Some of our favorites are riding the cable car to the top and down, riding the train, and the 4D theater. There is so much to do, that we try to fit in something different each time we go. And for me, this time instead of buying fudge, I just longed for some! I'm not sure I'll ever do that again! Some fudge and a Pumpkin Spice Latte would have made me so happy. But it wouldn't have lasted long anyway... Having always had a flu shot for the last 8 years (when mommas's not happy, nobody...), I got my annual shot on Friday afternoon, and gave it no thought. By Saturday night during the laser show with Seth, sitting restlessly on my lap, I noticed that my arm was really sore. The...

If you’ve been to the gym to work out, you know that someone very fit in clothes very conforming to their body, will give you a free analysis. They may measure you, weigh you, tell you what percentage of weight that is fat and then tell you how much YOU should lose, then proceed to kill you by “teaching” you how to use the machines and/or free weights. When Joyce told me that according to her measurements and my height I should weigh 95 pounds, I just about croaked. I was only 98 pounds when I got married at age 22 and I have since had three kids. I wanted to grab that little clip board from her and see if there were hidden deductions…kind of like taxes where you "get" more when you have more kids. That was several years ago, while we were still in KY, and despite that fact that I worked out faithfully, my weight seemed pretty stable at 108. But over the last couple of years, I have watched the scales changing. First 110, 112, and before we left for the summer vacation, I wei...

I still have construction dust on my knees, palms and under my fingernails. Several weeks ago, our pastor began announcing that everyone should bring his or her favorite scripture verse written down on a slip of paper for this evening’s service. He intentionally gave no indication why we should do this. Our family was ready. I think Samuel’s first pick was from Exodus but David talked him into something, let’s just say, a bit more practical. Toward the close of the service, our pastor gave the instruction that as a congregation we should leave the gymnasium where we are currently worshipping and move into the new auditorium—just across the parking lot. There we would find permanent markers and that we should write our favorite verses on the concrete floor of our new sanctuary. We moved as a group of 200+ into the new building. Group by group we knelt, young and old, singles and married, and wrote our verses onto the floor. I was moved to such scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:55 O dea...

Homeschool on Thursday was just as I dreamed homeschooling would be! Well, not exactly . I would have envisioned my house being immaculate, the laundry and ironing caught up, the dishwasher purring with dishes used from the warm and nutritious lunch I had just prepared... But none of these was true. I kept looking longingly at the clock. It was a spectacular day; the skies were steel blue and a light breeze blew through our open windows. We still had history and reading to do...and it was only just about lunch time. I knew the boys were antsy too. I could sense it. There was an audible sigh of relief when I declared that we were breaking for lunch. I cooked some of those really nutritious pizza rolls--you know the kind with no preservatives--and for good measure, I threw some carrots sticks on the plate too, so I would still be eligible for the Mother-of-the-Year award. While they ate, I gathered our afternoon assignments and some blankets. As soon as they were finished, I broke th...

Seth has a highly distinctive sense of smell but seems to be only sensitive when it comes to the odors--or perceived odors--of others. Just today, he came to me, laughing so hard he couldn't walk straight because his feet stunk from wearing his leather shoes without socks! I digress even further to preface this story. David has wonderful oral hygiene. He flosses and brushes his teeth at least twice a day. He gets his bi-annual cleanings...you get the picture. So when Seth was getting antsy in church and David asked him to look at his face, David assumed he was being disobedient when Seth turning his face away replied," Please talk into my ear, daddy." David insisted and Seth complied but only after using his New Testament as a shield between his nose and David's mouth. It only made sense the next day when David lifted Seth into his car seat, fastened him, and kissed him on the cheek and Seth said, "Daddy, I don't like your mouth so much, but that...