Keepin it real

So it dawned on me recently that I have been doing very little talking lately and if I do talk it is about my little guy.

I guess there is a reason for that.

As we charter these unknown waters of “tweenville” with our oldest son, I am finding myself having to re-think all that is parenting as I know it.

So let this be a warning to those of you out there with little boys, this is you in a few years. Missy I am thinking of you.

Anyway, while I cruise through this new land I am finding it somewhat frustrating in ways, the fact that he spends less and less time with us, walking up to my computer and seeing IM’s from girls, and the clothes- well that’s a whole ‘nother story. He is only 11 and a half. I certainly wasn’t this cool at that age.

But other parts are kinda fun and a lot of it is funny. It is fun watching him work his way through the world and figure out who he is. His likes and dislikes, glimpses of teenage attitude (that I shoot down as quick as I can). And moments of tenderness- for his dad, for his dog, for me….

And then the funny- Last night I pick him up (along with two friends) from lacrosse practice. As I am driving them home they launch into a discussion about how their coach sounds like the guy that does the viagra commercials on tv (note to self- never let coach know I have a blog).

So I am thinking Huh? I didn’t hear the coach talk but I HAVE heard the viagra commercials. What I was trying to figure out is when HE heard it. Austin watches very little tv. He is more into computers and video games. But on they go with their talk of viagra. Cracking themselves up. I just drive and listen. Until they get into the part about the 4 hours. You know the part.

One of Austin’s friends asks me what happens if it lasts more than 4 hours?

“well they say to go to the hospital, don’t they?”

so he says, “yeah but what do they do? Cut it off?”

At this point I just can’t keep it together. “no, they don’t cut it off. My guess is that they give you some weanie deflating medicine.”

Lot’s of laughs from the backseat.

After I get home I call my friend (mom of the two boys in the car) and we laugh and laugh about raising kids. About how we are glad we have each other to get through these sticky subjects, how quickly things change, and about how the risks of viagra ARE really funny-
and then she says, “it takes a village” and I just nod.
So glad I am not walking this road alone.