In a shocking turn of events, my firstborn son turned twelve on Monday. Twelve! No longer a little boy, not quite a teenager.
(I can't call him my oldest son, since Ezra and Boaz are older, so in this post I am calling him first born, simply because he is the one who introduced me to mothering boys).
I'm one of moms who loves boys...even if I don't go to Boy Scouts with them or play Nerf gun battles, I just love the way God designed boys. I don't always understand them (just as I don't understand frilly girls) but I love 'em.
This year Judah wanted to invite a group of Scouts from his patrol over. They build a fire in our fire pit and roasted hot dogs.
They pitched a tent in our back forty (okay, four, but it seems like forty to adventurous boys) and slept. All alone. This made be slightly nervous, but I couldn't put my finger on what I was worried about. The chances that someone would come down our rural road, walk right past our house, stumble upon this tent and realize there were boys sleeping in it alone was so unlikely it was ridiculous. And sure, the boys were "alone" but their were seven of them, I'm sure they could have taken down anyone with ill intent. And while bears and cougars have been spotted occasionally in our area, it is also highly improbable that one would attack the boys in their tent. I suppose it's just that after so many years of watching and "protecting" your children it seems so
odd to say goodnight and head in the other direction.
Anyway, they all survived, and dare I say, thrived from their night "alone".
In the morning Keziah and Boaz made pancakes for the crew. They boys were great playing together, staging battles, doing boy things (that I probably don't want to know about). They only came in the house for water and bathroom breaks. That's my kind of birthday party.
Happy Birthday Judah!
I'm with you and the boys - crazy about my six! I'm surprised they went inside to use the bathroom!
Posted by: Mairs | July 17, 2009 at 07:11 AM
...inside to use the bathroom? My boy (1 boy among the sea of girls) loves nothing more than breaking loose and "going" in the wild.
Mom isn't too fond of it, though.
Posted by: Tammy | July 17, 2009 at 08:16 AM
Happy Birthday Judah!! Have a great day and even nicer weekend. Praise God for young men. xo Aunty
Posted by: Cool Canadian aka TARA | July 17, 2009 at 08:32 AM
Uh... I'm glad there were no intruders with ill intent or cougars! Ben had a great time. Thank you so much and Happy Birthday Judah!
Posted by: Syndi | July 17, 2009 at 08:38 AM
Reminds me of when I went camping with my friends at that age. Although we usually camped in a site along the coast over 50 miles from home! I don't think it was 'different times' back then though, it's just the media has filled us with fear and hysteria now. I don't think it's any less/more dangerous now that it was 20-30 years ago.
If I type anymore, I may as well just start my own blog, so I'll finish by wishing Judah a very happy birthday!
Posted by: TonyM | July 17, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Understand the unkown fear thing- my kids first camp in the yard was on the patio with the back door kept open just in case! (They survived, I've mellowed...)Sounds like a very happy birthday was passed!
Posted by: Kari | July 17, 2009 at 01:15 PM
Earler this spring my 9 yr old wanted to go camping. It was below freezing at night, so mean mom would not let him camp outside. I did have them set up the dome tent in the living room, where all 3 middle boys slept for the night, with leaky air mattresses and sleeping bag.
Posted by: Dorothy | July 18, 2009 at 10:21 AM