Every so often, something happens that sets me afire all over again about being a good mother to BOYS. 

Honestly, I thought I wanted girls. In fact, I was convinced that ONE was a girl … and when they said “BOY!” at the 20-week ultrasound I was in total shock. For the next 20 weeks I thought to myself,“BOY?! What will I do with a BOY?!” But then I met him, and I understood.

Then I had another one.

Sometimes I feel like these kids are going to be the death of me. They run me ragged. They’re messy and dirty and they wrestle each other (um, scary!) and try to invent new ways to hurt themselves daily.

Sometimes I get tired.

But then something happens and I get inspired again. I went through a lot of crappy experiences with boys in my day, which means I have so much I can teach mine. SO MUCH.

What will I do with these boys? Well, let me tell you. I will teach them to laugh. I will teach them to respect God and women. I will teach them to take care of themselves. I will teach them to iron. I will teach them to write notes to the people they love, just because. I will teach them to think of others.

I will raise them to be confident. I will raise them to believe in what’s right. I will raise them to open doors for others, stand up so someone else can sit down, and ask of the world, “How can I help?” 

I know they aren’t going to turn out anything like what I’m imagining today. But when they are men and no longer boys, I hope I can look at them and truly be proud of what I have done. 

I also hope to not be overbearing.