As I sat with my daughter taking down her braids, I hear a crack. My middle son kicked a soccer ball and put a very, very small sized hole in the front glass window of the home; which had already been cracked by my older son tapping on the window with a key. Both of my sons lost their keys to the house. My older son  had his bicycle stolen from his school.  The middle son is a pre-teen and the older son is a teen. Their brains are made of smush and their ability to think past their next breath is often times amazing. I find myself constantly reminding them to do the chores on the chore board and when reminded; they moan, they walk even slower than they normally walk, and they act as if I, their mother, has asked them to run a marathon. The mother who feeds and clothes them and takes them wherever they need to go; as well as to places they want to go.

 They say only a man can teach a boy to be a man. I tend to believe 'they'.  To have a man willing to step up and teach a boy is a good thing.  As I wipe the right side of my cheek with my thumb, I ponder this man, and think my sons are on their way to knowing that money talks and the other stuff walks.  As a mom I am to give guidance, discipline, consequences and expectations to my children.  These little almost teens will grow up one day and in my mind's eye I see them taking care of me.  (one can dream) This is one of those times where unconditional love comes into play.  I suspect there will be many more of these days. My daughter is only 9, soon to be 10, I have a feeling that she is going to be more strategic  than the boys. We'll see.

Yolande Barial
Your Words Project: Speaking on Purpose
Seeks to Enrich the Lives of Women through Spoken and Written Word.
510-589-6445

http://www.yolandebarial.wordpress.com/

http://www.redroom.com/member/yolandebarial

ybarial@gmail.com

http://www.examiner.com/motherhood-in-stockton/yolande-barial

http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/11154526/article-Her-Voice--Children-are-a-parental-responsibility?

http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/12489710/article-Her-Voice--To-helmet-or-not-to-helment?instance=home_opinion_lead_story

http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/tag/yolande-barial 

"Through her inspirational writings and spiritual poetry, Yolande Barial empowers women of all ages to be on purpose

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