Of all the roles I play: wife, daughter, teacher, counselor, neighbor, sister and friend; the one I cherish most is simply "mom." In my recent new role as school counselor, I find myself interacting with so many young parents seeking solutions, support and structure. The best I can do is offer sincerity. I counsel them from the gut. From the 22 years that I have spent raising my children, two of which are sons, I have learned so much.
Their childhood was my blissdom. They were "mommy's boys," and loved me like no other. They learned a ton from their father, who has given them the best example of what a husband and father should be, BUT it was me that they snuggled with. It was me that dried their tears. It was me that helped them put the finishing touches on their school projects, decorate their rooms, shop for whatever it was they were wanting at bargain prices. It was me that danced around the house and surrendered with them to complete ridiculous bouts of silliness.
I was their girl and they were my boys! Sigh. Fast forward 22 years later. They are now men. They are making their own way in this world. And a grown up world it is. They are both experiencing life lessons of serious magnitude at this time as they journey through college, careers and relationships. Just like me, they make some wise and unwise choices. This is not easy to watch. It is true---the bigger the kid, the bigger the problems. It used to be so simple to help them fix their problems. A missing Star Wars Lego. A broken lacrosse head. A crush on a girl that wasn't reciprocated. Life is grown up now and I cannot fix things all of the time for them and that is hard. I know they are moving on, growing up and out, but at times I want to go back. I miss the sloppy kisses, sticky fingers, them falling asleep on my lap, a flower picked from the field, and the daily hugs...most of all the hugs. But I am proud of the men they have become. They take responsibility, they show initiative, they are kind to others, they are funny, they are smart and they are MINE. My favorite book to read to them when they were little was Robert Munsch's sappy but sweet,
I'll Love you for Always. In the book the mother holds her newborn baby boy and sings:
Then it shows her as an older lady sneaking into her grown son's room and holding him as a man and singing the same song. My boys used to laugh themselves silly at that part. Well can I tell you? That song has never sounded sweeter to me than it does right now! My love for these men of mine is enduring.
