Well anyway, one of the things we decided was that our children would NOT play with violent things, such as guns, knives, swords,....not even water guns, hence they may get the wrong impression. One day as I was giving my perfect first son, Noah, a snack of graham crackers, he created something with it. A gun!! "What is that, Noah?", I asked. "It's a gun, Mommy, isn't it great?" I took it as a fluke and went on with our "perfect" life. For breakfast the next morning, Noah showed me his toast eaten into the shape of a gun, and so it went he made them out of EVERYTHING from play-doh to mashed potatoes! It was then that a revelation occurred to me. Guns are built into the DNA of most males and to deny them is futile, because they will make them, build them, or eat their food into the shape of them. God has a sense of humor, because he gave me 5 of these creatures to totally drive this "revelation" home! So, as I sit here in my less than perfect home, with my less than perfect family, in my less than perfect body, I giggle at my boys charging through the house with their nerf guns trying to outrun cabin fever and reminiscing of my old ideals of "perfect parenting". Don even gave Noah his old archery set for Christmas, his parents still had from when he was a teenager. Noah has been asking me about taking archery lessons..I think I'm going to have to look into it. Anyone know of archery lessons anywhere?? The less perfect our life becomes, the happier we are. I remember calling my Mom up one day on the phone when I was in my early 30's and exclaiming..."Mom, I don't know anything at all..absolutely nothing!!" She said, "Ah, that is the beginning of wisdom." Well, I'm almost in my 40's and I feel the same way, but instead of letting it get me down, it excites me, and I love to learn, and I realize that there's an opportunity to learn every time I listen to someone, or read, go to confession, or pray, or listen, go to Mass, or pray, watch my children, or listen.....
St. Augustine says, "This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections."
Debi, I love. love. love. love. love. this post. In so many, many ways. It made my evening. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the truth? I have been so humbled by this holy vocation. Boys...my boys have made weapons out of everything (and no, we don't show them violent movies or even have video games!)Archery lessons? Hmmmmm the ymca or a local high school?
ReplyDeleteMonica, I'm glad my boring little reflection made your evening!! This cold weather is making me stircrazy!!!
ReplyDeleteJosette, thanks for the suggestions,our Y doesn't have classes, but I didn't think about checking with a local high school....hmmm
Oh, and on the archery thing, Aaron said talk to someone who deer hunts (archery, not rifle obviously), they would be your best bet for good tips on archery.
ReplyDeleteThanks Monica!! One of the rec centers has an archery class starting this summer, so I think we'll probably go that route as it's very affordable, only $28. If that doesn't work out, I'll try to find a hunter.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post. I don't have brothers nor a son so its so interesting to hear about the nature of boys :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree, the older I get the less I know. Life can be very humbling indeed!