My Other Man
Spending a lot of time this Valentine’s Day with my other man — the short one who still sleeps with a sock monkey.
Girl is at a sleepover, and I thought Boy would be begging me to call one of his friends for a visit, but no. He seems happy to have his mom and dad to himself.
I haven’t yelled at him in 24 hours, which is pretty rare. We didn’t fight even when I told him he was going to miss the end of Godzilla because we needed to leave for church. He hasn’t rolled his eyes at me, hasn’t stomped off in a pout. It gives me hope.
I worry that Boy will soon travel to the dark side of the moon — teenagerhood, and that he and I will stop talking. I know the days are coming when he will no longer bury the piano in Lego Star Wars characters, when he will purge Spider-Man from his room. I know he won’t be my other man forever.
So I’m enjoying these days. I gave him Axe body wash, shampoo and cologne for Valentine’s Day. The smell of choice for 9-year-old boys. Now he asks to take a shower. He wants to smell good. For me.
Posted: February 14th, 2010 under Boy.
Comments & Backsass
Comment from Susan
Time February 15, 2010 at 6:18 pm
I think that raising boys is much harder than raising girls for the first 10 years. However, girls more than make up for it during the second ten years.
Teenage boys can be perfectly charming. Mine treated me as a cute but somewhat dumb creature who needed their protection and wisdom. I played along because, after all, that’s what I did to them for 10 years.
And, by the way, they never quit playing with Star Wars toys. Never. I have sons in their 30’s who still ask for Star Wars toys for Christmas.
Comment from Dolores
Time February 23, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Oh, it made my heart ache to read this. My boy is now 26 and I remember him at that age when he wanted to spend time with me! Susan is right, mine is worried I will give his “prime condition” Star War toys to my grandson (his nephew) who is now 9 and into Star Wars. They have conversations on a different dimension.
Comment from janet
Time February 14, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Tears came to my eyes. There is tenderness that will always be there for you from Boy. There will be a disconnect on a superficial level, but not where it really counts, never ever.