Mother's Wisdom

Jessica wanted to work on a craft project with me, so I suggested we make her a name bracelet with some plasticy crystal beads and some letter beads.

She was happily stringing along when Brendon came in to check out what we were up to.

"I want to make a bracelet too."

"Really? This is a girl thing."

"I want to make one for someone in my class."

And so, he told me the girl's name and began picking up letter beads to spell out Ashley (with a heart bead included in the mix).

I knew about Ashley since I saw clues in his backpack in the past. Papers with her name on it, phrases like "I like Ashley" neatly printed...sketched pictures of a blond haired girl.

Here's where my wisdom comes in. Teasing him, I said:

"Oh, you don't need a girlfriend."

"Why not?"

"Because girls are nags. Stick to your studies."

"Why can't I study AND have a girlfriend."

"Because they'll never let you get your work done. They'll keep bugging you about why you don't call them, or why you don't tell them that you love them, and they'll keep asking what you're thinking about. Trust me, girls are a pain when they're girlfriends."

With that, he kept plucking up beads to save for the next day so that he could sit down and take time to make Ashley something special.

He'll be 8 soon. The next thing I know, he'll be 18. Will my motherly wisdom sink in? Probably not.