soccer-baseballSociety gives teenage boys a bad rap– disrespectful, selfish, irresponsible etc.– but I find them to be quite useful people.
1. When I have a huge zit on the end of my nose(I swear I’ll be 90 and still popping pimples), I have a huge arsenal of their prescription medications to choose from.
2. Dieting is much easier with human garbage disposals around. Didn’t I make brownies yesterday, cupcakes? Gone, baby, gone!
3. In an extreme act of self-sacrifice teenage brothers will play Webkinz on Gabe’s account “Just to help him win prize money mom.” Yeah, it’s not like that bubble game is fun or anything(Erik also plays it at any opportunity).
4. 16 year olds will do almost any chore in exchange for gas money. 🙂 And happily they will do almost any lame errand just for the sheer thrill of driving.
5. The little boys think my exercise band(trying to strengthen that darn hamstring) is a giant slingshot. When I couldn’t find the band the other night Ben went outside, in the snow, shirtless and found it in the flower beds where he’d spied it earlier in the day. And as if that wasn’t enough, he created a whole slew of new exercises for me to try. He offered to do these pictures shirtless but this is a G-rated blog ya’ know.
the flying chicken
the windmill
the cheerleader
6. If I just happen to be downtown with my friend Cindy and notice that “Oh my gosh, it’s time to pick Mary up from preschool RIGHT NOW!” I can simply call sweet Stefan and he will literally RUN to the school to retrieve her and carry her all the way home.
7. All the latest and greatest songs can be found on my ipod thanks to my boys. Sharing music from the 60’s(Beatlemania lives on at our house) to 2008 is one of our happiest pastimes.
8. Big brothers give Mary exactly what she wants for lunch: a Nutella sandwich with corn. Yes, she did eat it and asked for more.
9. If Ben cranks up the radio and pulls out a bucket, car washing suddenly becomes very fun.
10. Truly, you need a good referee when arm-wrestling over who gets to marry Ashley C.(Go Gabe!).
Love those boys– love em.
Ashli S.
I must thank you for this post! Just tonight M and I were at the movies and I left befuddled at every crowd of teenagers I laid eyes upon…. really, it truly scared me. It’s nice to know that there are good ones out there. I just hope there are in 6-8 more years when I get there.
I needed your positive spin tonight! Thanks Again!
Ashli
ps. go Luke!:)
Andrea
You have great kids. It is so refreshing to see. And hello lady, your pictures are AMAZING. Amazing. I would love for you to take our pictures sometime. I need to plan a trip ;0)!
StubbyDog
I only want teenaged boys if they’re as sweet as yours. 🙂
Denise
I love this post! As alluded to earlier, I dislike the idea that boys are all rough and dirty and difficult — and that’s ok, and girls are whiny and opinionated and emotional — and that’s ok. No wait, being uncouth — in any form is not okay. Your sweet boys are proof to me that one can raise nice boys. I know they are rough and tumble sometimes — and that’s great. But it’s nice to see that there is more expected than just that and gratefully you are raising sons who will rise above mediocrity.
Jan Russell
This post has me smiling and hoping my boys turn out equally adorable in every way!
btw – with gas prices these days(ouch!), just how many chores does it take to fill up a tank?!?
Lauri
I love my teenage boys too! Aren’t they the best. I am still waiting for them to turn on me. 🙂
Ken
Right on!
They even know the difference between weeds and perennials so we want to hire them to do our yard.
I love them too!
StakerSensations
i would have to agree having boys is the greatest!!!
Chelle
love, love, love this post.
Glazier5
I’m holding you to this…the teenage years are getting a little too close and I’m scared!