Why hello there! Sorry it's been a while since I've posted. I was battling a nasty cold, and well… Okay, no excuses! Suffice it to say, I'm baaaAAAAaaack! ;) This post actually has a serious note to it. Turn away now if you can't handle me being serious. J
Happy Valentine's Day to those of you who celebrate this holiday. For a long time, while we were dating, the guy who would become my husband avoided acknowledging February 14. As romantic as he usually was, he considered Valentine's Day a retail scam rather than a day to celebrate love. It took a few years, but now I actually agree with him. As he once told me, "I don't love you more on Valentine's Day. I try to show you every day how much I love you." (Seriously, isn't he the BEST?!) Anyway, he spoils me every day so we choose not to get each other gifts for Valentine's Day. (However, dinner out without the kids is a MUST!) ;)
As a family, we have been very blessed. Therefore, this year I decided to celebrate Valentine's Day by trying to teach my children how to show love for others less fortunate. After one particularly whiny night of listening to my children tell me what they "want, want, wanted" I made them watch the news with me. It was a few days after the earthquake in Haiti and I pointed out all the children who did not have food, clean water, a roof over their heads or parents/relatives to take care of them. Cruel measures – I know, but sometimes even kids need a reality check.
My older sons and I volunteered and helped package meals – soy product, dried vegetables, chicken flavoring and rice – that will provide nutrition to the children who survived the earthquake in Haiti. As a mom I couldn't be more proud by how enthusiastic they were in helping. I know they have good hearts.
When my oldest son was 5 and in pre-school his teacher pulled me aside after school one day. This is the child that had recently been diagnosed with ADHD and I would get daily notices of how many times he had been reprimanded. Therefore, I was dreading what she had to say. She actually had tears in her eyes, so I thought it was really bad.
What the teacher told me was this, "I just wanted to tell you something that John did today that was extraordinary. I wished I would've had a video camera. One of our teachers has a 13-year-old daughter who is blind. Their school didn't have class today so she was helping her mother out. At recess John saw her sitting aside and asked if she wanted to go down the slide. She explained that she was blind and had never gone down a slide. He kept telling her that he'd help her and convinced her to go down the slide. I watched and he was very encouraging, held her hand and cheered her all the way up the steps and down the slide. I can't tell you how much fun she had with him!" Anyway, I try to remember that story when he drives me insane all the other times. J
My middle son is the jokester of the family. He also has a heart of gold. This is the story I always remember when he is driving me insane... I had just had our youngest baby, and Eric -- our middle son -- was not quite 3-years-old. I was thinking aloud and jokingly asked Eric if we should have another baby. I was shocked when he burst into tears and was inconsolable. I finally got him to tell me what was wrong. In between hiccups he said, "No, I like our baby! I don't want to get a different one!" Anyway, it was awfully cute at the time.
I know my boys are hyper and wild and destructive. However, because of some of the things I see in them – even though they are few and far between – I am almost certain that they will grow up to be good men. It is my hope that I am doing my best to help them become those good men. J
My boys with one of the full boxes we packaged.
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