Those of you who know our family know how hard we are on one another; in a fun- loving way, of course! Here is a little example of just how extreme that can get: Our son, for years, told our daughter she wasn’t planned and we probably loved him more because we had to try for some time (like we were almost getting tired of each other) to get him. Kaydee full well knows how much we love her, but his comments were really starting to get in her head. Matt is incredibly clever and told her she could fire back at Emmet by letting him know he was the reason they didn’t have any more brothers or sisters. Mercy! Some people and families would take all of this WAY too seriously and genuinely hurt one another. Thankfully, it all really is in fun for us.
That being said, how many of you moms out there know you are a different person because you have at least one son? We change when we have kids regardless, but there is something about those boys! The busy destructiveness can be overwhelming some days – thank goodness for Gorilla Glue and Magic Erasers! And the charm and wit wins over your heart later those very same days you had to open up yet one more bottle of glue and buy a bucket of paint because the magic eraser just wasn’t enough. When they learn at a very young age that the proper thing to do is hold the door for a lady, and they do it with their smooshed, crooked straw cowboy hat on, while holding their toy gun from shooting the opossum that is in the yard so the birthday party guests won’t be scared…well, my heart is just in a puddle…
Do you see the orneriness in that top picture???
And then they grow up some more. And they do things that we moms don’t think are safe. And hopefully they survive with nothing more than a few stitches or ankle braces needed, along with countless ice packs and bottles of stain remover. The last person a young man wants to disappoint is his mom. The first person a young man will go to when he is in real trouble is often his mom. Yes, us moms get stronger and stronger as we raise boys into men (and it sure does help to have an amazing husband to do this mom thing with – I am too lucky!). The dating challenges, the school frustrations, and eventually interviewing for career opportunities all get vetted not only by dads and best buddies, but us moms, too. So, Moms, tell them – tell them to do the right thing when no one is looking; tell them to put others ahead of themselves (they might already know this if they had show animals that ALWAYS came first); tell them to hold the door for a lady, not because she’s a lady, but because he needs to behave as a gentleman; tell them to send thank you’s and to call their grandparents regularly. Tell them you love them and you are proud of them and that you like it when they come lean on your shoulder while you are working in the kitchen. And for goodness sake, let yourself laugh with them.
Perhaps I especially think about all of that this time of year, as we are coming up on the birthday of one very special Son was born to save us all. I cannot imagine the emotions Mary experienced! Good grief, I am a hot mess just praying our kids are happy and safe and carrying out their intended calling – nothing close to birthing a Savior! If you read the book of Luke, right away in chapter 2, as a 12 year old boy, Jesus gave his parents a scare when he stayed in Jerusalem rather than returning home with them. Boys have been ornery, whether intentional or not, FOREVER!
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
For all of you moms of young sons out there – enjoy it. It will be frustrating and scary and oh so much fun to raise them into young men. And I tell you, it’s worth it! Having adult kids is such a joy!!! The two young men in these pictures have been friends since first grade – and I am glad, because that gave us parents a chance to become friends, too! They have grown into wonderful young men who are respectful, polite, and quite handsome, if I do say so myself.
And – to get back into sharing some favorite recipes, here is one of Emmet’s favorites (when he would bring college friends home to stay at our house and they would ask for “Mom Food” – this is what they wanted):
Meatloaf, Caldwell style
1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
2 eggs
2/3 c oatmeal
1 small onion (diced)
salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
1 1/2 c ketchup
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c vinegar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together all of the meatloaf ingredients and press into an 8/8 glass pan. Mix sauce ingredients and pour over raw meatloaf. Bake for 45 minutes or until done (internal temp should be at least 160 degrees). Double all ingredients for a 9×13 pan.
We really like to pair this with baked potatoes and green bean casserole. Enjoy!