This was an outtake. Perhaps not worthing of making into 8x10s for the grandparents, but completely begging to be shared.
This picture embodies the adventure of having two boys with two completely different personalities. One smiling sweetly, as asked. The other, doing his best T-Rex impersonation.
Luke's teachers eagerly ask when Tommy will be joining them. I smile and tell them they'll see him in a year and a half, but I also quietly assure them that Tommy is not Luke. Where Luke is calm and even-keeled, Tommy is loud and makes bold decisions. With Luke, the terrible twos were nothing. Tommy breaks and tests and pushes buttons. One day, I caught him in the refrigerator slowly and methodically dropping eggs on the floor. When I asked him why, he said, Because. Because he wanted to see what would happen, of course.
The beauty of this is that although I love them each the same, I love them differently. Luke often seems wise beyond his years, so much that sometimes when he acts just like a five year old should act, I get frustrated at him for not being more mature. Luke likes to play house and pretend. Tommy's favorite game is Monster, which involves running around the house and roaring.
Two boys have brought so much to my life. Noise. Laughing over bodily functions (really, bathroom humor is so not funny to me). Trucks and trains and bulldozers galore. Tickle fights and wrestling matches. Muddy shoes and dirty fingernails.
Mothering two boys is kind of big and scary. I want them to grow up and treat all women the way they'd want their mother to be treated. I want them to understand that the world is there for the taking, but that they cannot take simply because it is there. Mostly, I just want to honor and keep their different personalities, their different ways of being intact. I can't wait to see where life leads them.
18 comments:
I love this post - the picture captured their personalities perfectly, and so did your writing.
Your boys are so fantastic. I know they will grow up to be fantastic men, and you will be so proud!
Your boys are so great. I love that photo. :)
I feel the same way about my kids. They are so incredibly different, it shocked me. I guess I had prepared myself for mothering them to be similar. Even at just shy of 11 months, my DD is a stark constrast to my DS. I sometimes freak out a bit that I have to figure it all out again. It took me forever to figure out how to handle our energetic boy. I think my DD is going to throw me for some loops. New follower.
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That photo could not be more perfect. Seriously. My boys have similar personalities, and in the same order too... I get this. A LOT. :)
"I want them to understand that the world is there for the taking, but that they cannot take simply because it is there." I LOVE the way you said this! So, so true. I hope I am raising my boys so that they treat women with respect and dignity.
My youngest two are very different also. It makes parenting a challenge but so fun too!
i could have written this, but not this well...amen.
Yes, honoring each personality is one of the best (and sometimes most challenging) parts of this parenting adventure. I love this post - I can hear your voice in the words.
See my two boys are switched Ollie is the quiet reserved one. Where Ian roars into life's unknown. I agree though this is the most terrifying thing I have ever done parenting them.
Love your mother love. Your heart is in those words, it is easy to see. And those boys are just too much.
I love this post- your sweet, calm boy and your dino-roaring boy. All three of my kids are different- Sophie is a sassy 8 yr old going on 13, Sam is charming with a smile that could kill you with its megawattage, and Little Anthony is my snugglebunny that is stubborn as all get out!
Isn't it amazing how two children from the same parents can be SO different? I knew it between me and my sister...but it never really "clicked" until I had two of my own kids and they're both SO different in so many ways and it was just like...wow. I think parenting two totally different personalities really makes it sink in.
Loved the picture, by the way. :) Two handsome little boys!
That is a GREAT photo. :)
Steph
beautifully said.
Tommy is getting So big, like SO big. Wasn't he just birthed on the stairs, like yesterday?
they are cute!
this photo is great. None of my kids are the same. And it is funny because my "challenging" kid is currently in a state of being the "easiest" kid. It all moves in stages. And comparing is just not worth it. They are all great all on their own. And they are all crazy all on their own ;) No matter the differences, your boys are lucky to have some one that loves them just they way they are.
It always amazes me how two (or four, in my case) children who came from a single body can be so inexplicably different from one another. It's a wondrous gift.
PS. Cute jammies.
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