The Joy Of A Boy

I read an article in People magazine about celebrity moms and the little boys they are raising that made me start thinking about my own little boy.  I love being his mom.  Regardless of how many times we've been up in the night (it was only once last night!) or how horrible he behaves in the store (stop that RIGHT NOW or you won't get to ride the Batmobile) or how many bite marks I have on my shoulder from temper tantrums (the last one just healed up and we haven't had a new one in about a week).

When I found out I was pregnant, I was certain that I was having a boy.  I pulled out my copies of Bringing Up Boys and The Way Of The Wild Heart and started reading.  I read about disciplining a boy and the Beloved Son stage of a boy's life.  I read about the different needs that boys have from their mothers and their fathers and how to see the world through the eyes of a little boy.  The week before my 22 week ultrasound, I was so desperate for a son that I convinced myself that I was having a girl and allowed myself to grieve for the loss of my hopes and dreams.  Imagine my delight when I found out I was indeed carrying a precious little boy!

2.0 is a warm light in my life.  He's like a shaft of sunshine coming through the window on a cloudy morning.  He's brightness and warmth and a call to rise from the comfort of my life before him.  I can't remember what life was like before 2.0 was here.  He's a ball of energy that curls up with me on the couch to watch Wreck It Ralph.  He screams and bites and throws temper fits when he doesn't understand what's going on or why he can't have what he wants right now.  Once it's over, he's a teary eyed cuddlebug that falls asleep on my shoulder after whispering "I sorry Mommy" in my ear.

I'm a better person because of my son.  He pushes me and stretches me and challenges me every single day. I have to remember to be the adult and to keep my cool instead of losing my temper when he has a fit.  I've had to become selfless in a way I never thought possible because what I want doesn't matter but what he needs sure does.  I don't sleep through the night anymore.  There's a little warm body that crawls into my bed and curls up next to me with his blankie clenched in his fist as he falls asleep with my arms around him.

Raising a boy is the greatest joy I've ever had.  I see my husband become a better man as a father.  I watch 2.0 explore the world and I see everything differently because he's seeing it for the first time.  We get dirty and we play with cars and duplos and everything has superhero insignias or a Green Bay Packer logo on it.  2.0 knows who Captain America, Iron Man, Spiderman, Thor, Superman, and Batman are.  He also knows how to count to 10 and knows his letters from A to J.

I would love to have a daughter some day.  I'm thankful that I had a son first.