Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Taking advantage

Son #1 is home for a bit, between visits abroad and sharing an apartment in Jerusalem with friends. He sometimes fixes things and deals with the plants in home and garden, not near the realms of my husband, who's an apartment dweller by nature and training. Even the twenty-five years we've lived in private homes haven't dented his habits much.

But my sons are different. They've only known country-like private homes, and they've earned spending money doing gardening for others. So on lucky days, they help me out. As they were growing up, I found them "mentors," so they also learned how to repair and build, G-d willing someday, they'll be great husbands and fathers and they won't have to hire others for all sorts of things. They "wow" relatives with skills they didn't inherit.

Many of their friends are married and fathers, already. My husband and I married young, but our kids haven't. Now, one is and we have two gorgeous, bli eyin haraa, granddaughters.

There are things we have no control over.

So, while our sons don't have their own homes to care for, it's nice to take advantage of their skills and willingness.

Now, I'm getting ready to go off to the Neve Yaakov pool for some fun and fitness. I must keep old-age infirmity far away....

7 comments:

Holly Schwendiman said...

I need help getting my garden attacked here in sunny AZ now that the weather has cooled. Can you send him over?

Take heart, my daughter's instructors at Sylvan told us they waited with baited breath for our daughter and her stories to arrive each week! I've always struck a deal early on with new teachers that if they agree to only believe about half of what she says I'll extend the same courtesy. *wink*

Hugs,
Holly
Holly's Corner
Here via the Carnival of Family Life. ;o)

Holly Schwendiman said...

So that last part was a response to a previous blogger article - blogger is being VERY weird this morning!

Hugs,
Holly

Anonymous said...

Hope my sons grow up to be that helpful. You are blessed.

Anonymous said...

It's so great that they help you in the garden. I'm sure it's nice for you to have the company as well.

Here via Carnival of Family Life.

Batya said...

Thank you all.
Yes, I do have wonderful kids, thank G-d.

Anonymous said...

Your sons sound wonderful! It's so funny that we can be such creatures of habit, and the habits we cling dearly to. My daughter is like this, she craves independance (at 5 mind you), but is very opposed to change- just like her dad. It's so nice that you were able to find mentors for your sons.

Here from the CFL.

Batya said...

Thank you; they are.
I did all I could to give my children the freedom to be themselves, even when I didn't like all of their decisions. You can't hold them back.