The Up Side

Adversity, and perseverance and all these things can shape you. They can give you a value and a self-esteem that is priceless.
Scott Hamilton

Deciding to be a Commuter Family was a multifaceted decision. There has never been any doubt in my mind that the adversities would provide Oldest Son and Youngest Son with life experiences that will shape who they become ...

Responsibility & Thoughtfulness - Making Dinner & Cleaning Up

I arrived home from work Thursday evening around 6:00. I can see Youngest Son is very excited and he "tricks" me into coming to the backyard. Youngest Son literally has Dinner on the Table! Oldest Son and I were treated to a Chef Salad on a lovely evening beside our pool. 

Youngest Son had retrieved grilled chicken, boiled eggs, tomatoes, celery, lettuce and cheese from our fridge. He sliced and tossed everything together topping with radish tops from our garden! He also had a surprise desert ready - home baked brownies that he made. (Adopted Grandmother was baby-sitting but he did it all by himself!)

I honestly felt so relieved and grateful to just sit down to a prepared, healthy dinner after working all day. Stress fell away (sounds like a cliche but it is true.) Youngest Son was glowing with Pride.

Then ... since Youngest Son cooked, Oldest Son did all the clean up including loading and running dishwasher. And I did not get any tweener attitude - woo hoo!

Independence & Self-Reliance - Flying Solo

Logistics are tricky these days so ... Oldest Son is flying solo as an adult (turns out 12 year olds are NOT unaccompanied minors) Saturday morning for a fencing tournament. Commuter Husband will drive from Houston in the morning and meet him at Austin airport. Oldest Son is excited.

Excited. Solving problems. Not scared or whiny or resentful. These kinds of experiences are happening all the time now. Both boys are taking adversity and it is shaping who they are which is the silver lining (another cliche but again true.)