It’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt
Sometimes, it’s easy to forget, while wiping peanut butter off their chins, reading Mike Mulligan one more time, watching them transform into yet another superhero, that what I am really doing is raising men.
Of course, I know this on a practical level; still, how rare it is that I see them carrying the great responsibilities of feeding a family on their shoulders, managing the pain of their own aging bodies, or caring for a wife in the throes of PMS. Discovering the dreams that lie dormant in their hearts will inevitable lead them to obstacles, unforeseeable setbacks, and grief.
It has been said that the true character of a person is defined not by his problems; but by how he handles a crisis after the tears are cried.
Sometimes, caught in the throes of cooking, cleaning and caring, I forget that their life ahead will be a circle of joy followed by sorrow; of struggle followed by achievement. Never again will their lives be as simple as carefree as they are today.
In this last picture here, I see this tiny realization entering his heart, just by the way his arms and shoulders are slightly dropped, and his feet have slowed down. He’s no longer flying through the air, like Peter Pan, the way he was before. The bunny he wants to have and hold so dearly is running away; out of his life. He’s puzzled, because he can’t understand why the bunny doesn’t realize how much he will be loved in his arms.
When Mothers talk about the sorrow of watching their children grow, it is this we are referring to; the pain of realizing that as their child’s heart opens, the chances of it breaking increase exponentially.
21 Comments
louann
You wrote it beautifully. But deep down, we all know that one day we will have to let them go and watch them deal with reality – happy or sad, painful or joyous.
amy
beautiful post woman! I loved it! loved it… you made me cry. xo
Dragonfly
Lovely. Every once in awhile it flashes through my mind that my tiny boy might someday have a child of his own and my heart stops. But it also swells, to know that I am trying to raise a child to be a good person..and a good father.
Kirsetin
So eloquent, Susie. I see those moments more and more as my boys get older, and even though I know that it’s only right that I do, sometimes I long for them to still be a toddler on my lap.
Susan Helene Gottfried
Man, you touched me. I try not to think of my kids in those terms, but you’re so very right.
Kathryn
It is really overwhelming when you see it in that light, isn’t it?
Very touching post.
Meredith
Ahhh – you got it perfectly. I can’t stand even the thought of my daughter getting her feelings hurt, but it will happen, many times. When I think of all the hard moments lying ahead of her, I can actually feel my heart swell.
Tanya
Beautiful. Beautiful words and such beautiful shots of two boys enjoying life 🙂
Maggie
This is so beautiful – susie you are so talented!
Heather
Yes, that’s it exactly.
Henitsirk
Recently I watched my son be teased by two other boys. It killed me inside, but I knew I had to calmly advise him on how to handle it next time, and give him a big hug.
phyllis
sweet and beautiful. thanks.
texasblu
I so relate to these feelings. I get them all the time watching my sons… the twins have started TALKING…. gasp. And with no more babies coming into my life, it is soooo hard!!!!
Geggie
Wow, lovely!
I commend the mothers who raise strong, wise and caring men!
Kelly O
Oh, Susie, nicely done. Here’s to our little men.
Cori
Okay, note to self do not come to Susie blog when suffering from PMS unless of course you need a good cry. Thanks Susie. 🙂
Robin
What a beautiful post (and what gorgeous and incredibly GREEN grass – we don’t see grass like that here, that’s for sure!). I wonder if it’s an end of the year thing, I too was dwelling on my son’s growing up, though I didn’t look past the immediate stage.
Jenny R
I love your blog.
You will and are raising great men.
Painted Maypole
beautiful post
(when I was a counselor at a camp in college our unofficial – and KIDDING of course- motto was “it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Then it’s just fun.”)
Gift of Green
Amen.
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