11 December 2009

Smile For The Camera - The Gift, Something Old and Something New

The 19th Edition of Smile For The Camera - GIFTS


Although I am very young in this photo, I can clearly remember my thoughts when I found this shiny new red tricycle under the Christmas - Go Daddy Go! No stopping me now.





I have resisted writing about my sons and posting photos of them. Mostly to protect their privacy. But by far the greatest gift I have ever received was from my three stooges, er. . I mean sons.
I don't know about you, but my boys did not come with instructions or operator manuals. So yeah, it took me a few years to find a way to get them to adulthood alive. Through trial and error - ok alot of errors, I decided that less was more and raised my boys by trying to teach them the "Three C's" -
1. Common Sense
2. Courtesy
3. Compassion


My Eldest Son - Jacob


Of course most of the time I felt that whatever I said to them went in one ear and out the other. But I persevered and continued to tell them over and over phrases like:

"No, the kitty does not like to take his nap in the freezer"

"Please untie your brother from the ceiling fan"

"I do not care what your father told you I am the boss"


Ten or fifteen years go by, the boys have moved out and are on their own (except if you have a son named Kristopher then he has moved back in and your days of vacuuming naked are over).

My Middle Son - David


Er. . where was I? Oh yeah, so there I am minding my own business and my oldest says to me - "Remember Mom when you used to tell me over and over again that a way to capture a girl's heart was to remember to put the toilet seat down. Always. "

"Why, yes Jacob, I do remember telling you something along those lines. " And then . . . my son says those three little words that every mother longs to hear from her child -

"YOU WERE RIGHT"

Whoo Hoo!!!! This is a two-fer - I was right AND his brain retained that information from years ago and was able to apply it in a real life situation! David and Kristopher had epiphanies this year as well and shared them with me. Basically the same thing - I was right and that their brains were able to use what I taught them over the years and apply to their life now.

My Youngest Son - Kristopher

That is the great and most wondrous gift I have ever received .



7 comments:

  1. Thank you for this story, Sherri. I hope I will hear the same admission from my son someday! (and those are a great set of rules)

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  2. Ah, you have your priorities straight. And the quotes are absolutely priceless.

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  3. Sheri, You have not changed a bit!

    LOL, I used to also tell my son the "instructions or operator manuals" bit. I used the military version. The USAF uses technical orders for instructions or operator manuals which also may include an interim service manual and may include an illustrated parts breakdown. So I told my son, he did not come with a TO.

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  4. Priceless, Sheri ... totally groovy Mamma Mia. Am forwarding to a fellow suffragette with 3 grown sons. Am contemplating how raising 3 girly daughters could be as triumphant, LOL.

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  5. It is a gratifying moment when they say something that tells you they remember what you taught. I love your post. I have six children. They are all grown and we have fun remembering too.
    Appreciate your post. It tugged at my heart and made me laugh.

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  6. Ah, there is hope. I just have to wait another 14 or 15 years. Hopefully, I (or he) will still be alive by then. :-)

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  7. Thanks for the "Smiles!"

    Bill ;-)

    http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/
    Author of "13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories"

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