I spend plenty of time on this blog joking (and sometimes not so much) about the challenges and woes of raising my two "strong willed" boys so I thought I'd take this little opportunity to respond to Mama Kat's writing prompt this week and list ten things I love about being their mom...
1. The unexpected acts of kindness/affection. Devin doesn't do this quite as much anymore now that he is too cool for middle school and all, though sometimes he will allow me to hug him without resistance (occasionally even hugs back) and told me, "Thanks, Mom" when I bought him those new jeans the other day. Dracen has gone through stages but lately he's taken to opening his arms really wide for hugs, just out of the blue, and sat beside me and held my hand for a little while on the couch last night. Melts my heart every single time.
2. Their triumphs. I can say this honestly and from the bottom of my heart... Seeing one of my boys do good/achieve a goal, whether it be hitting a home run in baseball or finally grasping a complicated math problem does something for my soul that my own successes have never quite touched. There is no better feeling in this world than seeing them happy and proud of their own accomplishments.
3. They keep me young. At heart, anyway. How else would I know that saying something is "beast" or "sick" is like saying something was "totally awesome" in the 80s? Actually, I think I probably still use the word "awesome" a little too much but I have dropped the "totally". But if not for them keeping me up to date on the latest lingo, I'd probably have had someone tell me that 1986 called and wants its words back by now!
4. The things they say. Because it's true about them saying the darndest things. When they were younger, it was the cute little way they said things... I will never forget Devin (all of nine months old) saying, "Whoisdat" over and over until we finally realized he was saying, "Who is that?" when he was around someone he didn't know. Or how Dracen used to get up every single morning and say, "I awnt cancake!" Translation: "I want pancakes!"
They know how to pronounce all their words correctly these days of course but they still sometimes floor me or leave me in hysterics with some of the random things they say.
5. They make me want to leave the world a better place. I know that may sound cliche or cheesy but it's the truth and I don't know how else to put it. I didn't give half as much thought to the impact my actions have on others or to the world in general before becoming a mother. Their future depends so much on the shape we leave the world in.
6. Seeing myself in them. Devin has my eyes, my hair, my mouth and my quiet nature (for the most part) while Dracen (who mostly resembles his late father, Darin) has my arms with the extra crease at the fold just as he shares my deep love and compassion for animals.
7. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy... Devin is 12 and Dracen is 8 so I realize that these days are numbered in my house but the fun I've had with these guys as an adult is almost as magical as it was when I was a kid myself.
8. The humor. I like to think I've always had a pretty good sense of humor but I don't know how anyone can be a mother (or a father) without possessing a great one! It's true that sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying and they have definitely helped me see that.
9. The way they can turn a piece of construction paper into one of the most cherished treasures on the planet. I don't think this one needs any explanation.
10. The bond I feel toward other mothers. I always knew my mother loved me and understood the importance of having one but not until I became one myself did I fully grasp and understand the depths of the unconditional love one feels for her children. I'm simply a different...better person and I love being a member of the motherhood club.
Today would have been the perfect day for sleeping in...It's dark, foggy, rainy and the forecast is calling for widespread rain with a side dish of rain. And possibly thunder. But since I could not sleep in I'm consuming coffee at record speed.
Speaking of coffee, I took the boys to the mall yesterday after school. What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment who does not learn lessons easily. Kidding. Sorta. They were actually pretty well-behaved this time so I agreed to buying them treats at the coffee shop. Apparently, they'd had this caramel frappe with whipped cream before when they went to the mall with Dave.
But there was no way, no how, on God's beautiful green earth that I was about to give either of them (especially Dracen) anything containing regular coffee at five o'clock on a school night. Okay, ever...never! The mere thought makes me shutter. Dracen was cool with that but for some reason Devin concluded that a frappe made with decaf would not suit his needs or his taste buds which made absolutely no difference to me since I'm a mama, not a people pleaser.
So Dracen got his decaf frappe while Devin chimed in at the last second (once he realized that I was not going to break) that he'd settle for a peach smoothie. Then it was on to the pretzel shop next door where Dracen tried to convince me that he'd eat a regular size cup of pretzel bites with extra nacho cheese. I had no idea what a pretzel bite even was and much less that they were sold in cups. The girl working the counter quickly educated me by telling me that a regular size was two whole pretzels and she couldn't even eat that.
He settled, once again, for a small which he did not finish. Nor did he finish his caramel, decaf frappe. Three quarters of that ended up being mine on the way home. I didn't even know I liked cold coffee but I sucked it down so fast I got a double dose of brain and throat freeze all at once. Devin saw me holding my throat and sticking my tongue out so he jerked his earphones out and told me to quick, push on the roof of my mouth with my thumb!
Did y'all know this trick? I had no clue. But somehow, it worked.
I also learned that those brightly colored Vans really do look a whole better with jeans. That was the whole reason we took this little trip. Devin announced that he finally wanted to get him some jeans. I don't think he's worn a pair in over a year. And I was all about anything that would get him out of those shorts/jogging pants and black socks.
He came home from one of his little mall trips with Dave several weeks back with a bright orange pair of Vans that he wore precisely twice but would never give me a good reason as to why he wasn't wearing them. Or even admit that he wasn't wearing them. Each time I questioned him, he'd say, "I do wear them!" with that tone that suggests I'm completely clueless and out of touch with my surroundings.
To my surprise, he actually found two pairs of jeans he liked enough to commit to, along with a...get this!...long sleeved shirt! I don't think that boy has worn a long sleeved shirt in three years. Thank you, Jesus! And American Eagle.
Dracen was beginning to feel like he wasn't getting the attention he well-deserved and that although he had a brightly colored pair of turquoise Converse on his feet, he too needed some of those Vans so we got him a bright red pair. I did not see the appeal myself but who am I to stand in the way of a young boy and his expression of self? I once wore neon green legwarmers with a hot pink neon sweatshirt, a matching Scrunchie and stirrup pants so I could not, in good conscience, criticize his choice of footwear.
But I was taken aback at the Gap when he walked out of the fitting room where he'd paired some jeans with his newly acquired kicks. I now understood what Devin meant five minutes earlier when he told me he would now be able to wear his Vans more since he had some jeans because this was a good look.
Even Devin, who never dishes out compliments and especially not to his brother, said, "You look sick!" And to those of who may not be familiar with the lingo, that is a compliment of the highest order. He went on to say, "That's the best he's ever looked!"
I may not ever get those shoes off his feet.
The wieners had checkups Wednesday and I'm thinking I may need to look into some canine health insurance because that bill was so fat I had a hard time lifting it off the counter. And both the little plaque builders need teeth cleanings again which we scheduled for next Wednesday and which will probably set me back another small fortune. Brisco Darling has put on another pound since last year which may not sound like much to me or you but it's a pretty big deal when you're only eight inches tall.
I blamed it on his fondness for dumpster diving. I came home one day last week to find that he had gotten the cabinet open and somehow managed to pull the trash can from the very back where I'd shoved it and although he did not succeed at getting it all the way out, he got it tilted enough so that he could shred the bag with his plaque builders and get his fill on garbage...again!
And since the dog doc did ask, I also told on Mr. Darling for occasionally doing his business in certain places throughout our residence although he is allowed to go out in the big backyard, fenced in just for him, anytime his little wiener heart desires and while I do believe he is the main culprit I also have my suspicions that his female sidekick may be involved in this unacceptable behavior from time to time as well.
The vet tech., who has had Dachshunds in her life before, was shaking her head like she understood and felt my pain completely. Anyone who's had any experience with a wiener dog is fully aware of the stubbornness each and every one of them possesses.
But the doc is convinced that the ol' bell trick on the door will rehabilitate them in no time flat. He suggested I hang a bell near the door they go out and ring it each time we open it for them. They will supposedly be ringing that bell themselves within a few days in order to notify us that they need to take care of some business. He has clearly never lived with a Dachshund.
But hey, I'll willing to try anything once. Okay, that's not true at all. I could make a pretty lengthy list of things I never plan to try but this? I will try. The wieners, however, may be another story entirely.
And speaking of another story... I am still getting along just fine as a vegetarian though I did buy the boys cheeseburgers at Cookout the other day. I won't force anyone into becoming a vegetarian but I am convinced that I can learn to cook some kick arse meatless dishes that will not leave them shouting, "Where's the beef?". I have recipes and I'm not afraid to use them.
I used one of them to make some pretty tasty black bean burgers last night. Dracen came over to see them in the frying pan and said, "I thought you weren't eating that!" He totally thought it was meat so score one for the vegetarians. After I told him what it was he said, "But that's meat." Huh? "Beans are pork", he proclaimed.
"What are they teaching you kids in school these days? Beans are NOT pork! They grow outside in a garden."
"Ohhh yeah! That's right", he said, shaking his head. Somehow I'm guessing this little confusion was brought about by good ol' pork and beans though that thought didn't enter my mind until just this second.
Anyway, those porkless, meatless, bean burgers will go down as a vegetarian success story because while the boys did say that they weren't their favorite, they did like them okay. And coming from those two? That is huge.
Score two!
And somehow I have the feeling that making a tasty, meatless burger is going to prove to be a whole lot easier than training a couple of wiener dogs to ring a bell...
I'm just sayin'.
Happy Friday, Y'all!
