Through My Son's Eyes

As a young girl, I would often fantasize about my future family... all of my sweet little girls. I had a long list of girl names because I, of course, would have lots of daughters--like my Mom. Fast forward 15 years--and here I am... storing bugs as pets on my kitchen counter, digging rocks and snail shells out of Levi pockets, and way too educated about super heroes and weaponry. I have to admit, though, raising boys is easier than raising girls. (At least, at this stage of the game.) I've learned a lot about boys, and one thing that I know for sure, is this:

Few things are as fascinating as a little boy's imagination!

I received a gift from my son today--and it illustrates a boy's imagination so perfectly, but to understand this gift, you need a little background. Let me back up a bit... In May, we seeded our yard, and that means that we have weeds. Yes, we have grass too--a few blades of them--and also a few millions weeds. My planters are huge and unfortunately void of trees, plants, and bark for now--so yep... They're full of weeds too. I work on them everyday, but by the time I finish weeding a two by two foot square, the area I weeded the day before is weedy again! Those darn weeds grow... well, like a weed!! I'm afraid that those weeds are taking over more than my yard... they're taking over my sanity! When I look out my window, I swear I can hear the weeds laughing at me. When I close my eyes at night, I see massive weeds with huge fangs devouring my house... which of course leads to dreams filled with singing and dancing weeds! I even have a green "weed" blister on my right index finger which is seriously ugly.

Well, this morning, I weeded and weeded and weeded only to see minimal progress. I staggered into the house feeling sweaty and defeated, but my discouraged thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Kyler's eager face.

"Mom! I have a surprise for you!" he exclaimed. From behind his back, he whipped out this little Lego creation, and presented it to me.

At first glance, I saw Princess Leah gripping a machine gun from his Star Wars Lego set... but then it clicked. "That's me, isn't it?" I said. Kyler was so delighted that I had recognized his intention. "Yes Mom!" he said enthusiastically. "I call it: Mom Versus the Weeds!"

Yes. Only a boy's mind would conjure up an image of his mother taking down weeds with a lethal weapon. Perhaps I could use a little of this mental imagery to my advantage. I'm sure weeding would bring even more satisfaction if I imagined those scrawny weeds screaming in agony while I ripped them from the Earth. I'm going to try that tomorrow! With a mental machine gun and my son's confidence, surely I can win the battle of the weeds!

Seeing life through my son's eyes is much funner than seeing it through mine... just one more reason to be thankful for the wonderful boys in my life who teach me so many, many things.