Raising Boys.....

Raising boys can be a bit like riding a roller coaster in the midst of a really wild storm!  There are days filled with screaming, yelling, wrestling & making my house sound like it has been overtaken by a heard of wild wildebeest.  But in the midst of the crazies.... there are those sweet moments of hugs & kisses.  You know... the ones that melt your heart & make you feel like you are the luckiest person in the world? 

Recently, I started trying to think of ways to bring balance & order to our dysfunction.  My boys are good boys but with the stress of living in Venezuela mixed with all of the testosterone not to mention all of the transitions that we so often face.... we are due for a little balance.  I realize that I would be kidding myself if I expected a life of complete normality, besides... who defines normal anyway?  I do however know that I have good boys & that they are capable of great things if given the opportunity.

Today, the boys & I made a list of rules.  These rules were not to be oppressive or brow beat them.  They were simply to be reminders of the behaviors that are & are not acceptable.  When we were all said & done, the list cracked me up! I did tweak it a bit to make it more fun for the boys.  I thought it might bring someone a laugh today.  I am not including them all... just the funny ones that apply to us because of our "boy-ness." Hope you enjoy.

1.  We will remember that we are not living in a barn & that food & trash have an appropriate place. (That place would not be in the middle of the floor, on my furniture, in the toilet, or underneath anything!)

2.  Hanging on the refrigerator door as it is swinging wide open is not an appropriate way to find food.

3.  The use of screaming at an altitude that can be heard by astronauts in outer space is not acceptable.

4.  Though we like Star Wars & one day hope to be Jedi warriors... making noises like Chewbacca & and loud space aliens is not acceptable.

5.  We will remember proper bathroom behavior at all times.  This includes hitting the hole, wiping up dribbles, flushing the toilet, washing hands, not flinging water on the floor, & making sure trash & toilet paper are either in the toilet or trash can.  Violators will be prosecuted!


6.  Beds are for sleeping & resting.  They are not to be dissected & destroyed.


7.  Behaviors such as biting, spitting, kicking, hitting, & pinching are only suitable when defending ones self from bullies.  They are not acceptable in our home.


8.  The removal of anyone's' pants (especially in front of others) is NEVER okay!


9.  Be good to your Dad & try not to aggravate him.  He is a pretty good ole' fellow!


10.  The use of water for anything more than baths & hand washing is not acceptable without permission.


11.  Even though we would love to have a trampoline & are very excited that our cousins got one for Christmas... Mom's furniture & our beds are not trampolines.  We will have to wait for our visit home to satisfy our jumping desires.


12.  Slamming doors is only acceptable when a windstorm blows through & reeks havock on the house.  Other than that... they should stay open!  Do you seriously want to go to a hospital here because of a finger that was slammed in the door????  That's what I thought!