Being a Mama of a Boy

I love having a boy.  Please don't misunderstand.  I love having a girl too, but today I'm just going to talk about some of the things that make me love being a mama to a boy.  And some of the things that terrify me about having a boy.

I love how inventive my boy is.  Granted, he may just be a normal boy and I'm probably just a normal girl whose brain doesn't work like his, but I love the things he comes up with to do.  How does his brain think of these things???  I love that he's a different kind of fun than what I'm used to.  I love the adventure he is.  I also love that my boy loves to snuggle with his mama and that he's my affectionate, lovie-dovie soul.

Having a boy keeps me on my toes.  There is a fine line to walk in allowing him to just be a boy and do all the boy things that send fear racing through every fiber of a mama's being while also keeping him safe.  I most certainly don't want him to be afraid; especially because I let my fear get the best of me.  There are some scary things that boys do that are just awesome . . . like wearing "scary" shark shirts.  Do you know any girl who would LOVE to wear this shirt and be "scary" in it?  I can certainly handle this kind of scary!  I think it's pretty awesome, in fact.  This is part of what I love about having a boy!

This, however, sends a little chill down my spine and makes me examine that fine line I try to walk.  His mind works something like this . . . "I hear guys blowing leaves outside my window and I REALLY want to watch them.  I certainly couldn't do that standing flat on the ground though.  That would be too dull.  I think I'll stand on top of my truck!"  I just happened upon this scene.  I decided to let him continue without saying anything and I walk away only to hear a loud thud as soon as I'm in the kitchen.  I run frantically to his room only to find him laughing hysterically because he had jumped off the top.  I eventually started breathing again.

A few days later, I walk into his room during quiet time and find this scene.  Upon further questioning, he apparently does this a lot during quiet time.  I told him I was taking a picture because this was the last time he was allowed up there.  My heart had all it could handle that day!  (This is a five drawer chest, by the way.  He climbed up on the top using his bed rail and brute strength.)  My non-risk-taking-boy has left the building!

So, as I'm working my way through the joys and challenges of being a mama to a boy who is getting bolder, braver and riskier by the minute, reality settles in when he trips on his baby and lands into an air purifier head first. There was nothing risky about what he was doing; nothing even a little bit wild. He was running to get something from his daddy's night stand and ended up with a nice sized gash right above his eye that should have had stitches. Yes, he should have had stitches, but the doctor at the urgent care clinic who treated him decided he couldn't really be bothered by my 2 year old who was screaming, kicking and crying as blood was pouring into his eye. Because of course, this would have to happen at 8:30 on a Sunday morning (the 20th) when our regular doctor wasn't available!  The steri strips worked fine until Ian pulled them off a couple of days later.  Dr. White reapplied them and fortunately, they have done well even though he says Ian will probably have a good little scar.  And, speaking of differences between boys and girls . . . when Dr. White was saying this about the scar, I was standing in the corner trying to remain calm as my blood was boiling over the first doctors cowardly behavior.  I'm brought back to reality as I hear Dr. White, Vernon and Ian all cheering, high fiving and talking about how awesome it will be to have a scar.  "The girls are totally going to love your scar!  And, your buddies will think you're AWESOME!"  OH, BROTHER!!!  Thankfully, his cut is looking great now and it may not leave too bad of a scar after all.  (Mama is REAL happy about that!)

 

So, we have survived our first trip to the ER after falling off the couch and now we have survived our first major cut. I'm sure there are some mama's who can't believe all of this has happened before he turned 3 years old, but I'm also sure there are some mama's who can't believe it took us this long to receive our "initiation".  I go back and forth on where I stand on that myself!  Either way, it's a bittersweet thing to me.  I hate that my baby got hurt.  I hate that this won't be the last time he'll get hurt.  Since that last statement is true and this is one of the MANY scary moments in his life, I'm thankful to have SURVIVED and to have this knowledge as I wade through the many exciting moments of my life with a boy.  For all of my many friends (and it is MANY) who only have boys, bless you!  I need to learn how you've grown nerves of steel!  Oh, and should this ever happen to my daughter, here's a fair warning for any doctor who tries to pull the same stunt regarding the stitches . . . I will hunt you down for leaving a scar on her face!!!  :)  Hmm.  I guess that may be a good indication that I'm going to have WAY more adjusting to do when my Livvy Girl lets her adventurous spirit shine!  Heaven help me!