Friday 5 February 2010

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.

14 comments:

Dorset Dispatches said...

Sons. They can be so wonderful. He is going to be a cracker when he gets older. I'll sponsor him in his 6 mile walk!

Metropolitan Mum said...

What do you mean - me talking about how great little L is was not the most fascinating thing in the world???

You can be so proud of Son 1. And yourself!

nappy valley girl said...

Ahh. How gratifying that he is turning into such a lovely boy. And with such an enterprising and intrepid Mum, no wonder!

By the way I can't believe you live in Beedon - I'm going to send you a message right now...

Sam said...

I actually got a lump in my throat reading that. What a lovely boy:-)

Anonymous said...

Oh that's just beautiful!

I'll sponsor him too :)

Home Office Mum said...

Brit in Bosnia - that's really kind of you. I'll let you know when he's got himself organised

Metropolitan Mum - obviously hearing about little L is the most fascinating thing in the world :-)

Nappy Valley - got your message. Small world. You'll have to come visit now!

Sam - thanks. He is lovely!

More than - thanks to you to for your kind sponsorship offer. I'll definitely let everyone know about it when he does it

katyboo1 said...

How lovely. Thank goodness for times like those, and may there be many more. I'll sponsor him.xx

Twiggy said...

Hello there
I've just foun your lovely blog. What a great post, my eyes welled up reading it :) what a lovely boy you have. My lovely boy is 4 and told me today he is going to marry me when he grows up so he can live with me and Daddy :) Aren't boys just fab !!
twiggy x

Welsh Girl said...

I'll sponsor him. I hope they do build the school to look like a castle. That would show real imagination and would make it the only school other than Hogwarts that everyone wants to go to. Have you considered architecture for his future???

angelsandurchinsblog said...

Sob. What a star. And clearly his mother's son. I feel they so often get bad press, with their endless wrestling matches, cycling and scooting, so what a lovely reminder that they are just as thoughtful and caring as girls. Let's hear it for the boys!

Home Office Mum said...

KAty - thanks for the sponsorship offer. I just need to get him to pull his finger out now!

Twiggy - lovely to meet you. My 4 year old says he's going to marry me to. Yay - another chance for me to wear my dress :-)

Welsh - he is utterly obsessed with Harry Potter right now, hence the castle school. Sadly theirs will be a timber frame thing that pops up in 10 days (from Canada) but as long as he sees it as a castle, that's all that matters

A&U -I agree. Who needs toys that still have their heads after all? Let's hear it for the boys!

Nadine Hill said...

Bless him! What an angel. Boys are awesome! I have one of each and whilst my daughter is a feisty female (a chip off the old block) my son is so cuddly, loving and cute.
I never realised how brilliant boys are until I had one!

A Modern Mother said...

Oh how sweet! I like six too, they seem to be realy people, and their spelling is adorable.

Nicola said...

OMG! What a lovely post! What a lovely boy!! My six year old is incredibly thoughtful and tender too. He has become a total and utter joy to be around. I am hoping some of it rubs off on his younger brother, who is still very self involved and very jekyll and hyde in his behaviour. Just have to wait and see I guess.

This post has made me feel all melty inside.

Thanks x