Planning for the future...

There has been a lot of discussion about the future in our house lately, both the near and distant future.

The countdown to summer has begun, with only 2 months left. The boys do a date check at least once a week ("how much longer to summer?"). Yesterday, CJ said "two months? I want it to be 2 weeks! No, I want it to be 2 days!!" They are also completely clear on what they will be doing this summer. Ask them and they respond in chorus "going to the pool!" AJ is going to golf camp one week but that was all he was interested in and nobody else wanted anything at all. They are anticipating days of swimming, running on the grounds, playing with friends and eating lots of ice cream. To them, life just doesn't get much better. I remember summers like that, waking up with only a vague plan for your day and letting it unfold before you. That truly is the magic of childhood.

A parallel discussion took place a week ago. Driving to CJ's occupational therapist, he and AJ planned out their lives as adults. AJ is going to be a famous golfer and rich. He's going to live in a mansion that he shares with his brothers, although he was clear that everyone would have their own rooms. CJ will take care of the house when AJ is away at golf tournaments. There will be a 25ft television in the living room and also a TV in every bedroom. CJ suggested rooms for the wives but it was then determined that they would not be married, they'd just hang out together with their friends. Craig and I, however, will have a room waiting for us whenever we want to visit and there will be a limo and driver to pick us up and drive around as well as lots of security and maids to take care of everything. TR was on board immediately when they shared the plan with him later on. And why not? It was, in essence, the grown-up version of their summer plans. They'll be together and wake up every day ready for a new adventure.

Having three boys is a constant challenge to our hearing and our patience. There is very little quiet time and a lot of wrestling, but there are also moments that remind you that the source of both is a special bond that they share and that will be there long after they have left our house.