School Daze, Boyz and Diaperz

My summer disappeared in the blink of an eye. We saw all cousins on both sides of the family except one, we swam, we played in the yard, all the typical summer activities. Of course, here I am using the word "we" very liberally, because I was not terribly involved in much of these activities. The cousin visiting, yes! Otherwise, I was a feeding machine all summer.

I spent the summer getting to know my little girl through 6-8 feedings a day, 6-8 diaper changes a day, and several bedtimes a day. I learned some things, too. So, this self-described "mom'o'boys" will now rattle off the many things I have discovered about being a "mom'o'girl".

First, I have learned that there is never, I repeat, never an outfit that is too casual for a big fluffy hair bow or headband. It seems that the headband is a moral imperative if we are going to be anywhere that a non-family member might see her!

Second, I have learned that girls are, by nature, softer than boys. Her skin is softer, her hair is softer, and her daddy's heart is softer when he is holding her!

Also, I have become much more comfortable with matching up clothes that didn't come in an outfit. I was afraid that I had lost my ability to dress a girl baby years ago, and that I would be like a fish out of water. What I discovered is that I actually still AM a girl, and that dressing my baby girl is as inate as baking cookies or using a curling iron! I love to dress my little peanut, but she is much more fun than a baby doll ever was because she LOVES to have her clothes changed. She giggles and smiles as soon as I start pulling her arm out of her sleeve.

Lastly, I have learned that there is a difference in the way you feel about your daughter. As my husband says a friend told him once, with your sons you can imagine them a short distance into the future, like when they are 11 or 12, but with your daughter, you immediately see yourself dancing with her at her wedding. Now, while I don't imagine I'll dance much with her at her wedding, I do imagine getting her an American Girl doll, shopping for clothes, talking to her about boys, and eventually helping her pick out her wedding dress. This is enough to place a huge lump firmly in my throat. (I'll swallow that down, now!)

So what did I learn about my sons this summer? Well, they are as soft hearted toward their sister as their daddy is. They love to kiss her and hold her and generally love on her at every opportunity. They have their daddy's tender heart.

I am particularly learning a lot about my eldest son, who will be 11 in a few months. But this is another post for another day! Suffice it to say, he is a great kid. Like all others, he brings his own challenges, and these are exponentially manifested during our school days, which began 3 weeks ago. My learning days with him are just beginning, and I am praying that I will be the mom/teacher he needs me to be.

So, off I go to teach my 3 oldest boys! Yet another school day is underway. The Lord is good! Hopefully I will reflect some of that as I parent and teach.