Yesterday I had the privilege of spending the day as a "boy" mom again. Let me explain; my neighbor returned from spring break and realized her 4 year old (or is he 5 now?) son was still on break until today. Kim needed to get back to the real world and her job so she asked if I could watch Tyler for her. The lovely family that I am chef for had gone to the Outer Banks for a spring rest. I was free to be Mom again for a sweet little guy named Tyler, just for one day. Some may be saying why would you want to take care of a little one when all of yours are practically (or think they are) grown? As my FB friend Rose put it "What is your secret talent?" Mine is being a boy mom.
I accepted the invitation to keep Tyler with on one condition; I could take him Strawberry picking. Sure why not just pick some strawberries for us too! I have kept Tyler before, when he was much younger and he would show just a bit of resistance when Kim was not there. When my first four children were stacked up like stair steps and the Biz was just a twinkle in Jon's eye I was always very busy with the kids. The choice had been made to stay at home and raise them. We had high standards and stuck to our proverbial guns about no commercial television, no video games and lots of adventures. I would make a day of strawberry picking or even go picking at sunrise before school would start, taking all four with me. Breakfast would be in the field. Nothing like the vitamin C in those berries for breakfast. This is the hindsight portion of the story, I think? I was remembering the fun with my own before I became obsolete. I had so many I never really got involved in play groups or play-dates, it was built in. My reminiscing was Tyler's gain.
The BIG green Tractor
Kim left for working leaving me with Tyler's clothes, instructions (not too many but shoes were big) ;)She assured me that he would sleep for a while. Opened my book and sat down to relax and wait. I think I finished 2 paragraphs before I heard the pitter patter of little feet!Gillie, Kim's oldest, had not left for the bus yet and help Tyler to get up and dressed. She came down to inform me that he was in a mood. Was that Uh-Oh? Not for Super "boy" Mom it wasn't. Next thing I knew he was flying down one set of stairs and up another to hide in the play room in front of the TV. Armed with my awesome powers of boy persuasion I approached him with a deal. Tyler if you come with me to take Gillie to school I will take you to see BIG tractors. No more desire to watch cartoon network! He would even pick strawberries with me. Off we went to LMS with Tyler, Gillie, and a boys best friend; Colby. Who could resist that face?
As we approached the first destination, LMS, we passed the fire station and I enquired if Tyler had ever been to a fire station before? Nope, have you been close to a fire truck before?Nope again. There you have it, no self respecting "boy" mom would pass a fire station with out stopping first to check on the the trucks and the men that keep them. On the way to our neighborhood we pass station 20 coming and going. Over those young years I was often seen parked out side or walking up to check on our trucks. My boys knew where all the trucks in the city were and what their jobs were. It was a part of us. Even Sarah, having the miss fortune (?) to having been born along with three boys, loved to visit fire fighter Ricky. She really is a crazy mix of boy and girl nature. Tyler was in awe. In fact that was what he said as we walked out of the station, awesome. He was much quieter and timid then my crew. Mine tend to be a little on the full tilt side. They would climb all over the truck, guaranteeing me side ways glances from some of the fire fighters. Tyler just gazed and soaked it all up. It was such fun watching wondering eyes again. (Sorry left the cell in the car here , no pictures!)
Spending this kind of time with our young children is so precious. I sometimes ran out of energy and patience with mine. I have definitely not spent enough time doing these things with Biz. She does have some one else to share these experiences with; her big brothers and sister. She really gets it from 6 of us showing her the world. Back to the fun with Ty. Next was our mission to find a BIG tractor. We just drove south down London bridge Road and on out to Princess Anne and kept on going. When you hit the light in Pungo ( to locals know as the "Pungo light") turn left and follow the signs to Henley's farm. Well you usually can find strawberries ready to pick here but this time our only find was the BIG green tractor. Promised kept. That should buy me some time to pick some strawberries at Henley's market back at the Pungo light.
Mind you picking strawberries was a new experience for Ty. I talked to him about the rules;
No stomping through the plants, Stay in your own row (those ladies that make jam are VERY serious)ONLY pick the red ones and never pick the flowers. Off we go to the field with the market clerks request that Ty try at least one field ripened berry right off the plant.
Ty liked this bowl because it was blue! He didn't mind carrying it at first. The strawberries were just the right sweetness with that pinch of tart. The berries practically fell off the vine into the bowl. we made it about 30 minutes and a full bowl. Tyler took the advice of the market clerk and had himself breakfast right in the field;
just the way I remember mine doing. Well,except Tad who would run off and chase the tractors to see if he could get a ride.
Once again Tyler and I walked back out of the field and he exclaimed to me "this is awesome." We browsed the market and found some fresh Romaine for sale, it will be ready for picking early next week. The "you pick" thing is a great outing and you kill two birds with one stone; wear out the kids and grocery shopping. I highly recommend it, even for girls. Just promise the girls you will bake a pie with them after picking and they too will buy into the labor.
Here is the sweet clerk that let Tyler weigh and ring up our berries. Here is what was waiting for us in the car, ready for his turn to stretch his legs. Anyone who has driven past a military airbase knows you often see the planes taking off. This sparked another idea for our morning adventure.The military history in our area is rich. We are fortunate to have several great museums just a short drive from us. We had made it all the way to Pungo so I had to go the extra few mils to share some of this history with Tyler. Remember I only had the little guy for one day. I had to maximize his exposure to my cool "boy" mom repertoire. Off we went to the Military Aviation Museum in , yep, Pungo.The museum is a stones throw from the south end of Charity Neck Rd were we visited the BIG green tractor. Charity Neck is also the location of the SUPER cool Southern Fried Studio. I hear they will be selling ice cream soon. Off the beaten path I go. We walked into the museum and every boy nature was firing for Tyler. What is it that draws them to tanks, bombs, or astronaut suits? He was looking for a plane and wasn't sure were they kept them. Open curtain number one please? Look at his expression in the picture below.
He was waving his hands around trying to count all of the planes in the hangar. I got a full bellied AWESOME. This is what he saw:
What's that one doing up there?Can I really Touch the planes?
Anything with BIG teeth is a hit!Tyler has grown up with sisters..He referred to the plane on the right as the "princess" plane!
We returned to the car and Colby. It was time to hit the beach and some water somewhere. I toyed with idea of False Cape but I could tell my friend was getting tired. That was the whole point of our escapades was it not? It always had been with my own children. I will admit to squeezing in every bit of action I could, I only had one day. So the narrows called me and Colby to the shore. Tyler asked when we might be going to his house. I said after a little fresh air and exercise. We needed to run Colby.
and let him cool off in the water. When we got to the 64th and the narrows I asked Tyler if he was ready to run with Colby, Tyler replied "I am too tired to run." We sauntered down the trail and Colby was busting at the seems to run to the water. He knew where he was by the way things smelled!! Ty wanted to know why sniffed EVERYTHING! Colby reached his destination. Tyler was tired but what boy placed in the midst of the woods, beach , mud and a wild dog would not been drawn to explore?
No comments:
Post a Comment