Swift As The Coursing River

Before I begin: Irony Pinot Noir Monterey 2006--not so good.
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I am the mother of a son. I am the mother of a boy-child. I am the mother of a future man.

Yeesh. This is hard. I don't know how to be a man, so how do I teach him to be a man?

Okay, so, his father has some of that responsbility. But that's for him to figure out in his own way. I've got to figure out how I do it as his mother. And I have to figure it out fast. Its becoming critical. Up until this age, I don't think it required much material difference than loving and nurturing a girl. Sure, I'd be playing Barbies alot more than Storm Trooper attack, but the parenting probably isn't much different. But the paths are diverging and I'm slamming into trees.

He's amazing. He is so smart, charming, clever, and creative. He's intuitive. And he's a natural leader. I just worry that he'll be the leader of a band of surfing bank robbers rather than an CEO. How do I channel those things? How do I nuture them in the right way?

He called a kid at school "stupid" today. And so tonight he has to write "I will not call my friends names" 5 times.I'm struggling with it because 1) the kid is stupid, and 2) the whole thing is so mamby pamby. This is a kid who constantly hits and verbally abuses Connor (I've seen it live and in action) and I'm not clear on what punishment he gets. Its just that Connor hardly ever lashes out--no hitting, no pushing--but he clearly snapped today. Apparently he was doing a floor puzzle with his friend Nathan and he was being a bit too "leader-y" (read: bossy--and I don't know where he gets that) and the other kid came and got Nathan and told him to come play with him instead. To which Connor said "Sam, you are so stupid!" So, I have the great joy of doing all this miserable writing with him tonight and acting all concerned. Ugh. Seems pretty normal 6 year old name calling to me. And this other kid is such a nasty brat that I really, really want to tell Connor to just kick his little ass. But, I can't. Refer to my earlier concern of bank robber vs. CEO. I'm also making him write an apology note to Sam--but it is violating every cell of my body. I am trying to rise above.

At any rate, there's been lots of whining and crying around here tonite. And all the way home in the car. And I'm tired. And I'm kind of sick of whiny people. So, its all piling up. And what do I do? The woman who want's to raise a good man? A strong man? A manly man? SHOW TUNES! That's what I do. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? He's crying at the desk in the kitchen, body folded over and limp, and I finally snap and break into "Make A Man Out of You" from Mulan. He covers his ears and yells "MOM. STOP" but I carry on regardless and sing it like my life depends on it. He was not pleased.

Okay, not very effective. But the message is on-point, at least. And it made me feel better.