Bringing up boys - when they are nice...

Two brothers

I am watching my boys clean their teeth from my office window, (we have an L-shaped house so my office window looks across to the bathroom window) and they haven’t noticed me.

Bog Boy is on his step-up stool and The Boy is beside him; one dark and one fair. They are both neatly attired in their school uniform, smart light blue aertex and dark blue jumper. Neat dark grey trousers for the littlest and shorts (in the middle iof winter- no I don’t get boys either) for my eldest, The Boy. And they are just chatting to one another as they go about squeezing toothpaste on their brushes. I can’t hear a word but its chat; nice chat. They seem so close to each other so at ease with being brothers. I can see Bog Boy laughing at something his elder has done and now he’s handing his toothpaste over to The Boy so he can squeeze it out onto Bog Boy’s brush for him.

I think to myself. “Please God, when I die let this be one of the moments in my life that pass before my eyes before I sleep.”

It is such a joyous image.

Two brothers, happy being together.

Actually I don’t quite know what has come over them this being so nice. Where are the shouts and screams of rage? What cunning plan have they got to ambush me with? Can it really be that today everyone has woken up happy? I guess so because the boys have even remembered to turn off the bathroom light.

Bog Boy has just shouted up from the Kitchen saying there are no more crumbles for the dogs, it takes me a few seconds to work out that they are feeding the dogs for me as well…

I had better find out quick what my darlings have been up to I have a feeling it won't be good…but I’m smiling!

Brothers: All By Me Own…

All by me own that’s what I am and no Boy to play with. It’s boring. I have nothing to do.

So sayeth Bog Boy for the first time on his own with just me for company. Something he has longed for when his brother is about but which in reality is not half as fun as first thought.

He has entertained himself and when asked what he was doing in my bedroom hastily reassured me by saying “I’m not telling.”

Yes, well done Bog Boy, best not to incriminate oneself. I foresee an excellent career for him at the Bar or is that behind them?

I was asked this morning at breakfast how long The Boy would be away. Four more sleeps I said.

“That’s forever!” exclaimed Bog Boy. “Can I watch telly?”

I hadn’t the heart to say no, something I fear he was counting on for I don’t allow morning TV as a rule.

It doesn’t feel right without my eldest about. It certainly is quieter but not better. He’s staying up with his Grandparents at Boot Camp and from the telephone calls and e-mails being received seems to be having a whale of a time. Though last night when the two boys were talking on the telephone I overheard:

“I miss you and I love you!”

“I love you more and I miss you more!”

It warms the cockles of my heart that does, though as I glowed warm with happiness, I was already thinking about the squabbles and fights that were bound to happen within minutes of them being back together again. It will be a long two hour drive from Grantham on Friday morning….