Wild kids turn into protective fathers!
On Father's Day, it's only fitting to tell you the story of two very naughty boys who grew up to be fantastic dads. Born five weeks early and two minutes apart, Steven William and Christopher James quickly figured out the power of working together.
Parent-approved barriers such as cribs and playpens were nothing; they hoisted themselves up and over railings like gymnasts. They helped each other over those stretchy gates meant to keep them contained. By the time they were two, they had mastered door locks. Neighbors would return them home. You could never look away.
Mischievous was an understatement. Once they decided that it would be fun to get back at another kid...by smearing his parent's car with everything from my pantry. Jelly, honey, mustard, ketchup, syrup. They were so pleased with their work that they simply had to go back and admire it. Of course they were caught. From there it was a short trip to the police department. Apology letters and some public service followed.
On to adolescence. Endless tiny pipes cleverly crafted from aluminum foil. A couple of trips to court, and once a late-night bail because they tried to ignore a citation, thinking I wouldn't find out. Their peak moment was throwing a party when I was out of town. The woman I'd hired to stay with them decided to go somewhere (I'm still not clear on the details) and they had a full-blown blast. Never mind that we lived on a corner, on the main street of the town and down the road from where patrol cars got fuel. Needless to say, the police were soon involved. The next week's newspaper headline? "Mom's Away...Kids Play." I wanted to move away and leave them behind. Immediately.
I'd like to tell you that they learned from their mistakes, but that wouldn't be true. A few more blunders, at school and at home. I'm pretty sure I was on the high school Dean's speed-dial. More community service--so much, in fact, that they actually made friends with the men at the local recycling facility where they put in hours and hours of time.
We were all angry and frustrated. I didn't think the three of us would survive the teen years. It was day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute.
Then, over time, life slowly started getting smoother. Good male role models happened our way. Eventually, as young men, they took classes, got jobs. By their thirties, they found love. In true twin fashion, their weddings were just a few months apart. Same with their first babies. Suddenly, my bad boys were fathers. And good ones, at that.
Today they are vigilant fathers. Two boys who leaped like idiots from rooftops now worry when their toddlers want to jump off the sofa. They worry about helmets and head injuries, fevers and flu. They push strollers and swings. They make breakfast and kiss boo-boos. They read endless books and watch videos for the millionth time. They patiently teach fishing, swimming, and the fine art of disc golf.
They get it now. They are responsible men and authentic fathers. They make me proud every day.
Amen! And...whew!
Ah, this makes me smile, Suzy. How crazy the times were and now our sweet babies, finally got past all the terrors, and actually are responsible and loving adults.
Posted by: Linda K Clark | 06/21/2015 at 04:20 PM
Various autocratic regimes and utopi-ists have undertaken the raising of children toward a state approved conformity but parents rearing their own children, for better or worse - mostly better- seems to be the most successful model. Congratulations on your successful twin launches.
Posted by: Ed Koizumi | 06/22/2015 at 07:57 AM
It was a crazy time, being a single mom with adolescent sons. It would have been helpful to have had a more supportive society. In the end, we did make it!
Posted by: Suzy | 06/23/2015 at 08:02 AM