Stay off the sidewalks!!

Jason had his first behind the wheel driver's training session today. The boy operated a motorized vehicle with other cars on the road. Not on a closed course!! He thought it was hilarious to come home and tell me that it didn't go so well and he hit another car. Of course, he didn't. And his instructor gave him glowing praise. His second session is on Friday. Then it's at least 50 hours with me (10 must be at night) and he'll still need one additional session with the instructor. He should be a licensed driver by March. I most likely will totally stroke out by then.

My oldest and youngest boys. Jason is learning to drive and Sean is learning to read. They are almost 9 years apart and you would think they'd have nothing in common. But I find them playing video games and watching movies together regularly. Jason helps Sean with his homework and gives him his breathing treatments when I'm not home (or busy doing one of a million other things.) Because of the age gap, there's rarely any fighting or competition. The rough housing and wrestling does tend to end with Sean in tears. Jason has a tendency to forget his size and strength. But so far, no broken bones, stitches or steel plates... well, not from the wrestling anyway.

And there's Tad, the middle boy. At 13, he's hitting the teen years hard and fast. On top of the growing like crazy (he's now the same height I am, though I've convinced him I'm still an inch or two taller and I'm sure to wear my tall shoes all the time now! Even in the house!) he's constantly texting friends and pushing boundaries. If I could just convince him that homework is half as interesting as his Xbox360, he'd be a straight A student!! Tad isn't just in the middle chronologically. He's usually smack in the middle of everything. Sean's having a meltdown - what happened Tad? Jason's pissed and slamming doors - what happened Tad? Cali's in her room in tears - what the hell happened Tad?! Somehow, someway, Tad is always somehow involved. Of all my kids, he is the one I've always said is going to give me hell. And he's already starting.

However, for all the problems, fights, holes in the walls, broken windows and massive amounts of testosterone, I wouldn't change a thing. I love my boys. I love watching football with them and taking them camping. I was a total tomboy growing up and so now I get to do all those guy things that my dad and brothers did, while I got left behind with mom. I can bait a hook, go white-water rafting in the snow (oh yes we did!) and while I'm not really big on peeing in the woods, I've done it before and I'm sure I'll do it again!!

So, despite what I usually say, the truth is: boys don't totally suck! In fact, they're sort of awesome!