Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
Douglas MacArthur
I was looking for something in one of my dresser drawers this morning, sifting through old playbills and letters from Mom, when I stumbled upon an old stained box. You know, one of those white cardboard gift boxes with the cotton on the bottom. When I opened it up, a delightful flood of butterflies and sentimentality danced in my heart. Inside we’re several handmade necklaces and trinkets from my boys when they were little. (Now in their thirties.)
Having been an art teacher in my B.C. days, (Before Children) I always volunteered at the boys’ school. One year, maybe around when Matt was in third grade, I volunteered to teach his class how to make a Mother’s Day necklace to surprise their moms. I brought all the beads, little wooden mom cut-outs, and fishing line. The kids had fun decorating the mom made of wood with markers and stringing the colorful beads. Matt always loved when I volunteered to read or do a craft in his class, and his friends loved it too. I think it was because I always brought a snack or candy.
The front of my necklace reads, “Back off Dude, I’m a Mom!” But the part that made me giggle out loud was the message on the back. It said, “No fair, you’re not surprised!”
PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!
Toni Andrukaitis 