Lessons in life with small boys: 2

Sometimes they just melt your heart!

A while ago, before BJ was born, the two big ones were sitting side by side on the sofa. JP turned to AJ and said, "I love you AJ". AJ turned back to him and said "Wuv oo too".

Precious!

Ready?

The name tapes are sewn on countless pieces of uniform, the schoolbag is packed, the pencils are labelled, the lunchbox is in the fridge, and one 5 year old boy is ready and raring to go to school. There's only one question remaining...

Am I ready?

Somehow this seems like SUCH a big milestone, this first day at school. Maybe it's because school is such a large part of a child's experience. Maybe it's denial that I could possibly be the parent of a school child. Maybe it goes back to some of the less than positive experiences I had at school. Who knows? All I know is that every step closer to JP's first day at school makes me feel increasingly like crying. A lot.

But then, on the other hand...

JP is SO ready for school. He's bright, sparky, confident, and ready for some new challenges. He loves learning things, and loves to find out more about whatever has captured his interest. I'm so proud of him, for his caring nature, for his self-confidence, for his love of life. And, I guess, that has to have something to do with how we've parented him. We must have done something right along the way. I don't think we're good at acknowledging the things we get right as parents - I know I'm not. But somehow, I know I have done something right.

Does that mean I'm ready to send my baby into a bigger world than he's been part of til now? Heck no! I'll never be ready for that. But I know he's ready. So I have to be...

Lessons in life with small boys: 1

To run 'dooper dooper fast':

1. Stop walking and stand still
2. Adopt comedy cartoon running position
3. Hold said pose for about 5 seconds
4. Take a big breath
5. Run
6. Arrive about the same time as you would have done if you'd just kept walking!

Thankful

Big and Little boy went for a sleepover with the grandparents at the weekend... In the morning, while Baby boy was sleeping, I had a chance to sit reading in complete silence with a coffee and my Kindle. I'm reading a book called Naked Spirituality, all about stripping away the stuff that surrounds much of modern faith experience. Today's chapter was about thankfulness and gratitude. These are my reflections:

I'm sad that I have to return to work tomorrow
 - but I'm so grateful to have a job to go to when so many people don't.
I'll miss my three boys so much
- but I'm so thankful for three beautiful healthy boys, other people haven't been so fortunate.
I'm going to miss the routines I've built up while I've been on maternity leave
- but I've been so fortunate to have this time to devote to lookimg after my boys.

In all, I'm grateful for what I have. Trying now to maintain this aura of calm and thankfulness...

Do Oompa-Loompas burp?

So I was standing upstairs, changing baby boy's bum. Big boy comes wandering into the room, and out of the blue asks the question,

" Mummy, do Oompa-Loompas burp?"


It's a good question. Not one I'd ever really considered in great depth at all, but it's a fair question. One which I might have answered if I'd been able to stop laughing.

To me, it's a perfect example of life with three boys. Funny, unexpected and surprising.

Introductions...

There are five of us in this urban corner of central Scotland. Let me introduce:


Big boy (JP): Has just turned 5, bright, sparky, confident, affectionate and cheeky.
Little boy (AJ): Has just turned 3, very smart, shy, gentle and stubborn.
Baby boy (BJ): 9 months old, loves milk, cuddles and his big brothers.

Me: Mummy, 31, others would describe me as quiet (mostly) and caring (hopefully). I like creating things, whether it be baking, sewing, knitting, crochet or papercraft. I'm a Speech & Language Therapist for my paid job, working with children in the community.

Daddy: 31, creative and very quirky (in a good way!). He has two jobs now - one working for a money advice charity establishing a presence in Scotland, and he's also a freelance photographer. We've been married for 8 years. He's a great dad, and I'm so glad to be sharing this journey with him.