The Carlson Column: My Lefty, My Righty

"Mom, go do it... see if you can clear it." My Sergeant says about this neighborhood bike ramp my boys discovered this past week. He said it like there was no doubt in his little mind his delicate mom could take the dip, height in the middle and crash land ending in the dirt... all on her pink beach cruiser that squeaks. Made me giggle and almost try it. Instead my boys had their fill of it themselves this weekend, the wounds to prove it. A hair shy of our annual ER visit. Benny looks like his face was rubbed with coarse sand paper... Stink developed an Easter Egg above his right eye. When the gravel gave Benny the unpleasant kiss, his brother was right there by his side... walked crying Benny to meet mom with one hand and with the other walked Benny's bike. He said the precious words I've caught him saying many times before, " It's o.k. Buddy". They most certainly look out for eachother, which brings me to this...

A book that sits on our dinner table to read together called "Mothers and Sons- why sons always need their mothers". A page that is true: A son needs a mother to encourage brotherly love. Brothers are a blessing not everyone gets the chance to have. The brotherhood is a unique relationship that should be nurtured, cherished by the lucky keepers. Any mother of sons knows it needs proper encouragement and guidance at the right times. My boys certainly know how to love eachother, no doubt. I leave that be to them and watch it blossom into their unique bond only they can create. I know well it is a fond/fight relationship. Mom steps in during the fights to preserve and remind them of the fondness they have for eachother. Sometimes it works, and it's through a break, discipline, or redirection of focus. I'm lucky that my boys already have formed a strong brother-bond. It does have it's trying times though... They are different, in almost every single way.

Sergeant Stink (Primary Love Languages: Gift Giving, Acts of Service)

-likes short hair

-very outgoing

-can handle quite a bit

-protective

-adores his mom

-eyelids are shut by 8pm, early riser

-loves a big breakfast, first thing

-washes every crevice and compliments it with body spray

-right handed

-brown eyed

-stindgy with his goods

-stays out of the kitchen unless someone made food for him

-electronically challenged

-"mom do it for me"

-adjusts to things quickly

-prefers fish and fruit

-likes things, trinkets and clutter

-Non fiction reader

Benny (Primary Love Languages: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation)

-likes long hair

-sensitive and shy

-needs a little more nurturing

-wants to know he's protected

-adores his dad

-goes to bed late, likes to sleep in

-doesn't like eating breakfast

-needs to be reminded to comb his hair and use soap in the shower

-left handed

-blue eyed

-likes to share anything he can with you

-loves to cook with mom

-good with electronics

-"mom, let me do it"

-needs to be well prepared for things/no surprises

-enjoys preservative loaded food

-likes a clean, organized, have only what you need environment

-fiction reader

It's no wonder why they have some occasional clashing... but they do compliment eachother very well. I don't know if it's their strong love, differences, or the combination. Whatever it may be, it works. Caring, sharing Benny usually lets brother have the first say because he knows he likes to run the show. Benny taught Stink how to use his PSP. Something that Stink told me about... I will never forget. His brother would get scared and cry at night when he was away from home, adjusting to somewhere new. Stink told me he would hear him and go to his room in the night to sleep with him so that he wouldn't be so scared. I bet I know just what he told him too... buddy it's o.k. One thing my two boys will always have is 'eachother'. Despite the shuffling and some things they go through, they can always count on going through them with one another. Here they are, together...