Every day that goes by, I am more amazed and interested in the relationship between boys and their fathers.  I am the oldest of 3 girls, and my father had 3 sisters and a dad who died when he was 13.   My point is, my dad is very “manly”, into sports, gambling, fishing, you name it.  But somehow, he raised three daughters, and I never knew until now that he was missing out on something. 

I LOVE my boys (you might think, you don’t have to say it, we know) but I mean, really, I wouldn’t want it any other way.  But as my 5 year old grows up, each day I realize the he is a mystery to me.  More and more every day.  So his  baby brother I cradle, I cling to, I don’t care when he wants to wear my bracelet or hold my purse.  Soon, he too, will want to be JUST like his Daddy.  Which is a whole different post – I mean, who am I kidding?  A few years from now I have it made!

The point of this post is to tell you about my sweet Ford (the 5 year old).  We feel like our kids are spoiled most of the time, and that we just give too much.  But isn’t this the way now??  Tonight we had some sort of plumbing issue (a drain pipe burst or something?) after baths.  Daddy isn’t home but when we came downstairs we saw water everywhere.  To top it off, while we were on vacation last week our dishwasher decided to completely break down (it is a top of the line Bosch, only 2 years old) so I have water sitting in it unable to drain and a BUNCH of dishes to handwash.  the repair people will be here Thursday.  Figures.  Anyway, I had to put Cole (the baby, as long as I can call him that) to bed so I asked Ford if he wanted to play WII or watch TV and he told me he would rather help me with the dishes.

Astonished is what I felt.  I told him not to worry, I would get it but he said, “no mommy, I want to help”  He dried all of the dishes I had handwashed and helped put them away.  He also put buckets and towels down on the kitchen floor where the ceiling was leaking.  I really did nothing to prompt this.   I was bewildered, and touched.  Then I remembered.  He is his own person, but I am teaching him good.  He does get his thoughtfulness from me, his helpfulness, and wanting to just do the right thing.  From me, his dad, school, church, grandparents, friends and everyone around him.  It isn’t me, it is Ford, good all the way through.  But I had something to do with it and it made me feel proud.  It made me understand why my dad used to look at me out of the blue and say “pumpkin, I am so proud of you”  In my head I asked Why?  But now I know, because I am a part of him – he helped to make me.  And we may feel like we aren’t doing our best, or we could be different, but when your children are in the picture, and they shine – you do have something to do with it, and YOU as the parent should feel proud.

NOW – enough mushiness, buy a shirt, will you?