Give them a sense of pride to make it easier

When Si and I discovered I was pregnant, we discussed at length how our children would be, how we would bring them up, and our hopes and dreams for them.

Betsy Bob grew in me for ten long months, and when she disappeared, Boy was in her place.

This strange little male creature, who looked so like his Daddy, and who stole my heart from the moment he was put in my arms. For three years, it was him and me; and he demanded input, input, input all the time.

When his sister came along it was he who ran to get my bag, and kept me calm til his dad got home.

He played football, and I got involved, and we travelled to matched and cheered like lunatics.

He went to Scouts and his dad got involved.

He started school, and every report card was enough to make me cry. Parents' Nights were embarrassing "how proud we should be of our Boy". The teachers told us, that his humour in the classroom was something to behold. (Although I'm not sure telling a teacher "I have a ruler and I know how to use it", would go down so well these days. )

He started high school, and made a gang of friends - if they weren't at our house, he was at one of their houses. He took part in School Musicals - and I cried when I first heard him sing "My Best Girl".

He played Volleyball, and his sister played and we trailed along for all the matches and cheered like lunatics.

He got himself a girlfriend at Volleyball, and for years now they have been inseparable.

He could have done better academically, but in truth, Education is about experience as much as it is about learning. He learnt the value of friends, and taking part, and being enthusiastic. That's not to say he didn't get results - he did and those results took him to Mount Olive.

3,500 thousand miles away, my 19 year old took up American University Life. He learned how to live on his own, fetch and carry and laundry. He played his heart out at volleyball, and worked hard in class to get up from a 3 point GPA to reach a 4 point clear GPA at the end of his fourth year. And all the playing and practise paid off, and he was starter on court for the whole of his senior year.

We were delighted to be there when he graduated, and meet all the people we knew only through photos, and shouted skype conversations. We met his teachers, and professors, and each one told us what a star he had been. We met his employers and they all told us they would keep him.

He has spent the Summer in Wilmington, looking for work in his chosen area, whilst working at a Volleyball facility - this photo comes courtesy of Capt Bill, and this week -he heads back to Mount Olive.

Last week he got a message from the University - a position had become vacant and he had been suggested as a possibility! Within a week, and a background check later, my Boy is starting his first, full time, real world grown up job. I am so proud of him.

I adore this photo of him from Capt Bills, it's that face I know inside out - its that look on his face just before he gets up to something. It's so him, I can smell him.

Yes, I still smell my babies. He smells of young man, Tooli smells of very expensive perfume!


But heaven I make gorgeous children