Ever since this boy of mine was...oh about 3 years old, he has given me a run for my money. Ok, maybe since he was born. Can you say headstrong? Determined? Particular? He likes what he likes and doesn't like what he doesn't like. Easy enough? Right? Not for me.
I am more of a peace-keeper. Don't make waves, or at least not very big ones. Go with the flow.
Compromise. Ya, that's more me, I guess.
So, Seth leaves me scratching my head more often than not.
Will is way more patient with Seth than I am, most of the time.
"He is just like me!", he says.
"Oh, good", I think. Will turned out ok.... LOL!!
I have come to learn and realize that Seth is NOT me.
He doesn't like what I like. And that is OK.
He doesn't like most social settings. I do. I thrive in them, most of the time.
I signed him up for a homeschool group for boys that I thought he might like.
It gave the boys a chance to learn about important men from history, to learn values, to play and do "boy stuff" like sword fighting. I thought he'd like it. I wanted him to like it.
Well, he hated it. A whole lot.
The boys met a few times before the holidays, taking the month of December off.
This gave me a chance to think about his involvement.
Is it a good thing for him to be in?
Yep.
Is it a big deal if he isn't in it anymore?
Nope. Not really.
After some thought, prayers and chatting with my friend Jennie about it, I realized
that Seth doesn't like it and that's OK.
He can't quit things like Scouts or Primary, but he can quit this group.
Sometimes as parents we tend to force our kids to be what WE want them to be instead of letting them figure out WHO they are and what THEY like.
Just because I am one way doesn't mean I have to force my child to be like me.
I need to pull back and let Seth be Seth.
I need to listen to him.
I will continue to help him try new things, and I WON'T let him quit certain things, but I will do my best to help him become the best boy he can be.
And if I can figure out how to play Lego Wii games with him,
he will say I am the best mom EVER.
