The joy of boys

I know that hearing about other people's children isn't the most fascinating subject in the world. But today son 1 has been so utterly lovely that I have to share.

He's not been the easiest child - non-stop crying baby, worst tantrums ever toddler, shy and lacking confidence pre-schooler, and petulant early schooler.

But he's soon going to turn 6. Six is my lucky number and it appears that it coincides with him blossoming into the world's loveliest child. All of this week he's been sensible, kind, loving, independent and mostly a joy to be around.

Today, however, he excelled himself.

At school assembly, plans were unveiled for a new look school. A new building that would give them the space they desperately need. But it will cost £150k. They have grants and such, but they still need to raise money, lots of.

Chatting to son 1 on the way home I asked him how he felt about the new school plans. He said he wanted to donate some of his money so that they could build it. I said that was a lovely idea, but why not come up with a plan that he and maybe his friends could do to help the school raise money. He immediately, having just walked throught the door, sat down with a piece of paper and wrote a list. It went like this:

Bild Beedon Scool (you can tell what this says right?)
By Son 1 (not putting his actual full name here)

1. I love Beedon (the love indicated with a wonky heart) with an arrow pointing to the action: donate your monie (the aim behind this was to get other kids in the school to donate their pocket money or some of their savings to the school and in exchange he'd make them a badge that said I heart Beedon).

2. Competetetetiosion (competition) with an arrow pointing to: to make the most monie (the aim being to encourage other kids in the school to try and see who can raise the most money for the school)

3. My personal challenge (the spelling was correct here as he asked for help). After much debate about what his challenge might be, he decided that walking 6 miles (1 mile for each year he's been alive) would be his challenge. He would get sponsors. I would help. I would in fact have to use all my PR connections to get him massive airtime to get him sponsors so that he could raise 'monie' and thus win the competition.

4. Here he drew a picture of the school as he currently sees it (a box) with an arrow pointing to how he sees the new school (a castle).

He is determined to do this and definitely would like to be in the paper, but doesn't want to have to say anything to anyone about it and perhaps I could instead.

Bless.

Then this evening, we went to the school bingo evening. He arrived late having been at football, delivered to me cold and rosy-cheeked by a friend. He looked all glowy and handsome in his football kit and it made my heart thud just a little to see how grown up he's getting. We then managed to win two prizes in the raffle. I asked him to choose them for me. He chose a bottle of wine. Good lad. Knows his mum. Followed by some bath smellies. Again, for me.

Next we won on bingo. I asked him to go choose a prize. He pondered and walked up and down the prize table for some time, studiously ignoring the toys at one end and returned to the table with a box of lovely candles. I said: "Those are lovely my darling, but why didn't you choose something for you?" He shrugged. A teacher came up and said: "I showed him the toys but he said he wanted to get something for mummy." You can get your tissues out right now. I almost did.

So I insisted he put the candles back and to go choose a toy. He did so reluctantly.

We managed to win one more time and again I sent him up to choose. And he came back with an array of hand/body creams for me.

Honestly, by the time we left I don't think I could have felt more in love with or more proud of my son. He was so sweet, lovely, kind and gentlemanly.

Tonight gave me the tiniest insight into what it means to have sons. And I'm so very glad I do.