it's been awhile since i've put a picture up of my cute big j. there ya go. he's a cool kid, i need to remember that. he teaches me more lessons than any classroom ever could.

example.

last night i'm riding him (again) about forgetting things, losing things, not listening and basically blowing off everything i say. finally he says "why did you even have me if you don't like anything about me?"

i need to remember that words can hurt. in my need to try to organize my oldest very unorganized child, i say things that make him feel unappreciated and, as he would say, "like a loser."

so. i told him he was right, and that despite what it might feel like, the qualities i love about him far outweigh those that drive me nuts. and i began to list them off:

his caring heart
his loyalty to friends
his tenderness toward animals
his love of nature
his respect for God
his gunshow :)
his smile
his ability to be a total gentleman
his amazing brain
his passion for books
his ability to remember facts and details about everything he ever saw or heard
his wicked sense of humor
his slapshot
his imagination
his handsome face


with every statement, he would smile and straighten up a little more. by the end, he was asking "what else do you love about me?" and he would laugh and smile and say "yeah, i am pretty good at that."

for the rest of the night, he was in such a good mood. he woke up this morning and took a piece of paper to school "to write down things i need to remember." he was feeling good about himself. i was feeling good about myself.

man, the lessons. build people up, don't tear them down. i will remember this one forever, i promise. i hope you do, too.