Do you have any 28 yr old professional type women friends that work in the retail or fashon field. Not something gay or metrosexual but what I am driving at is
If your boys think these ladies are hot stuff and they take them shoping for a few clothes they will know if a man close to their age will catch their eye the boys will take note.
Even if these were the exact clothing you would choose.
What you are giving them is a start at the gift of confidence. A good part of a mans self esteem is his interactions with the fairer sex. The more positive reinforcement the better he thinks of himself. In 5 years or so their ability to pick a quality life partner is highly enhanced.
I am not advocating shallowness just something your boys could use the rest of their lives as an adjunct to their lives.
"All I want is a weeks pay for a day's work" Steve Martin
They have an older sister and do ask her advice. Well, maybe not ask, but she tells them they need haircuts, etc. when they do. It's so nice that I don't have to.
Well, I decided that I would take Jack on a shopping spree. New clothes, shoes, whatever he wants. He's a really good dresser and loves clothes. He even knows how to iron. I'll do the Nashville thing with Jake and if he doesn't want to go, I'll give him the money to go to the beach with friends for spring break. I've got a few little things I've picked up for them to open already - a couple of I-tunes cards, a usb data plug in for their laptops, CD holders for their cars, really funny cards, gum, candy, that kind of thing.
I called the X last night and asked him if he wanted to join us for dinner out on the big day. He wanted to, so when Jake came home from his dad's I asked him where he wanted to go and left Jack a VM asking him the same.
Jake doesn't want to go out, he wants me to cook. He specifically asked me to make jaeger schnitzel - a delicacy I learned to make from a German friend while living in Germany. So I called X back and told him I would be cooking. He laughed and asked what I was cooking. It seems when I first called, HE asked Jake to ask me to make that. He can't wait! He misses my cooking. Oh well, as long as everone is happy, that's all that counts.
Jake doesn't want to go out, he wants me to cook. He specifically asked me to make jaeger schnitzel - a delicacy I learned to make from a German friend while living in Germany. So I called X back and told him I would be cooking. He laughed and asked what I was cooking. It seems when I first called, HE asked Jake to ask me to make that. He can't wait! He misses my cooking. Oh well, as long as everone is happy, that's all that counts.
Happy,
This is exactly how my son is. When he comes home he never wants to go out to eat, he always wants Me to cook his favorites. I think most guys think their Mom's are the best cooks. My MIL was the queen of casseroles but ex still loved her cooking.
Thanks so much for sending the pictures of the boys. WOW, what great looking kids! Do they know what they plan on doing next year? It's an exciting time for them isn't it?
As always, good to hear from you Sweetie. We need to keep in closer touch!
Hmm, for boys turning 18? Not sure about gifts, but I might:
- find an old barber who still shaves with a straight razor, and take them in for a guys-guy haircut and shave. Maybe give each a cigar to chew on while sitting there waiting, reading some mags and listening to the old guys talk about man stuff. [you'd have exited, or they'd have driven themselves]
Afterward, a lunch or dinner out where the three of you can relax and talk, about nothing in particular, but with a general celebratory yet calm theme about them becoming men (they're not really yet, but it's a nice thought ). Maybe a personalized letter to each about your reflections about their personality, their early key events or moments, and your hopes and dreams for them in their upcoming lives and years. Something they can read by themselves in private and hold onto. I'd probably write it on heavy bond paper rather than a storebought card. S/t they can hold onto, stick into their bibles for safekeeping.
FL, those were great suggestions. I'll keep them in mind for their 21st.
The party's over. It went very, very well.
They loved their gifts.
Yesterday after work, I came home and made 2 cakes. I've always given them 2 because they are and always have been 2 distinct personalities. For Jack, I made him a coconut cake and for Jake I made a chocolate torte. Both favorites of each.
Today, I took off a 1/2 day and came home to cook. It took 5 full hours to put that together. But everyone loved it.
X came and was gracious and I'm glad the boys can spend milestones with both parents. Of course, it will always be me who initiates these contacts. But that's ok where my babies are concerned. I'll do what I have to do to make their lives easier.
I gave each child a bag. In each there was a lottery ticket with their birthdate, time born, and weight. Of course, it was wrapped in a play responsibly flyer. I wanted them to know that just because they're old enough to play, it's just a game and they need to be responsible about it.
They each got an Adam Sandler movie, and a usb for their laptops.
Jack got a hand-written card good for a shopping spree with me that he wants to redeem on Friday. He loved his gift.
Jake got a hand-written card good for a trip to Nashville with me for his spring break, or an expenses paid spring break trip with his friends from me. He loved his gift too. We're going to Nashville next month. Now Jack wants to go with us, but I told him he can't unless he pays his own way. He may save up enough to do that.
I am a lucky human being to have a son who wants to shop for clothes with me, and to have a son who wants to spend his senior spring break with me (possibly two) in Nashville.
The boys just left with their dad. It's Wednesday, the night they spend with him. But I made this day so good for them. Their dad helped by coming here and breaking bread with my family.
For all of you who might read my thread, remember that the kids are the most important thing. If you can do that, you will be rewarded tenfold.
Happy, You truly are blessed to have such great kids. Gosh, it's so nice to see boys that are so close with their mom. My D and I are like that also. It's the best thing about our lives, isn't it?
Happy Sounds like a wonderful night for your babies!!! Thoughtful gifts from you!!
Its nice their dad will join in
Boy the cakes sound delish!! both of them, i'll have a piece of each please!! lol
You are so right Happy, through all this crapola we've been through, having our childrens respect and love, is, well all thats really important in the end, isnt it?
Last edited by KarenMarieS; 02/14/0806:40 AM.
Be Happy for this Moment, This Moment is your Life
). Maybe a personalized letter to each about your reflections about their personality, their early key events or moments, and your hopes and dreams for them in their upcoming lives and years. Something they can read by themselves in private and hold onto. I'd probably write it on heavy bond paper rather than a storebought card. S/t they can hold onto, stick into their bibles for safekeeping.