Gentleman in training

 

"Abby," I overheard Caleb yell in the backyard, "will you get me the scissors?"

"For what?" she asked.

"I just need them!" he answered. His sister wandered inside and retrieved the scissors for him, pulling the door shut behind her.

A few minutes later, the door creaked open again.

"Mommy," Caleb yelled again, "will you get me a cup?"

"What do you need it for?" I asked.

"I just need it!" he answered. He met me in the kitchen and I handed him a cup.

My eldest son busied himself at the counter while I pretended not to notice.

"Mommy!" he yelled once more, this time right in front of me. "I made you a bouquet."

I'm pretty sure he wiped out my rose bushes to make it. And I'm pretty sure this is perhaps the most beautiful bouquet I've ever seen.

Have I mentioned how much I love having three sons among my little flock of children?

Their dad has a little reminder taped up in our bathroom:

"Look in the mirror often -- the man you see is the man your sons will become."

I think it's working.