Being a Man

Due to my laziness of blogging for such a long time, i finally decide i should take the 'effort' to post some really sweet, touching article(like this newest one) like i used to do, in one reason, to make the world realize and hoping that some of these words could change someone's heart...

For my comeback, i present this very touching article of mother and son, 'Being a Man'


I am absolutely convinced that male behavior and thought processes begin th instant the X meets the Y chromosome. How else to explain giving birth to a fully formed, bona fide guy?

Our daughter, Annie, emerged into the world feather-soft, sweet smiling and light as a kitten. Her brother, Sam, on the other hand, came out raging and struggling . When I lifted his muscular body for the first time, it felt like i was picking up a bulldog. Even his newborn aroma had a husky quality. And what and enthusiastic appetite! No doubt about it, we had a son.

As Sam grew, so did his instinctive maleness - using Barbies as weapons of aggression, finding delight in all things gross and disgusting, hiding his tears when a beloved pet died. Skinned knees and elbows were barely acknowledged with momentary winces, and my maternal fussing was dismissed with a mildly annoyed, "I'm fine, Mom!" Then he was off again at the speed of tennis shoes. Eventually, i figured out how he wanted to be treated - like a boy.

But i soon discovered more aspects to his emerging masculinity than just toughness and machismo. He was protective of animals, solicitously attentive toward little girls, and quietly perceptive of pain or sadness in people who mattered to him. The first time he grabbed my arm at a crosswalk with an urgent warning about fast-moving cars, I was impressed by his manly assumption of responsibility for a lady's safety. He was in kindergarten at the time.

One hectic fall day when my husband was out of town, i decided to take the kids to our favourite family restaurant. Just as we were about to pull out of the driveway, seven-year-old Sam suddenly unfastened his seat belt and said, "wait a minute, Mom! I have to get something." Annie and i grew impatient with hunger while he searched for his GameBoy, Legos, Pokemon cards or whatever it was he couldnt last the evening without. He finally returned, pocket bulging, and we were on our way.

"So what did you decide to bring?" I asked at a stoplight.

"Well..." He replied with a measured words, " I went back to get my wallet because i want to take you girls out to dinner." His voice had a hopeful inflection, the kind of laying-his-heart-on-the-line sincerity i hadnt heard from a young man since high school.

I was stunned. What prompted this? His offer was sweetly touching, but i knew that such an act of chivalry would wipe out his entire summer's worth of saved allowance. My first instinct was to kindly decline, insisting that he keep his hard-earned money for something he wanted for himself.

But a strong force of guidance stopped me short, and a voice much wiser than my own urged me no to reject his loving offer. He wants to be a man... let him.

I looked back at my son's earnest face and saw that what he truly desired more than toys or candy was to be the provider, just like his dad and to take care of his women. The sudden rush of love i felt for him was so powerful I thought I would burst.

"Oh, Sam..." I stammered. "Thank you! I'd love for you to take us to dinner." He beamed with pleasure, and I found myself floating on a cloud when the light turned green.

From that moment on, the evening was infused with enchantment. I couldnt have wished for a more charming escort than this little man with a missing front tooth. When he leafed through the bills in his wallet (mostly ones) and magnanimously announced, "I want to leave a nice, big tip for the waitress," I could barely contain my pride. The magic remained even when he spilled his water, got in a loud argument with his big sister - and picked up the check, looking horrified. (I discreetly slipped a ten-dollar bill to him under the table, much to his relief.)

No dinner could ever have been appreciated more... but i was concerned by his silence and somber expression on the drive home. Did he regret the generous impulse that bankrupted him? I was strongly tempted to reimburse him for the tab, but thought better of it. Maybe I could find some pay chores at home to get him out of the red, while leaving his dignity intact.

"Mom... " he said solemnly as he slid out of the car. "I'm going to need a really good job when i grow up."

I couldnt help but smiling. In spite of his worries about the daunting responsibilities in his future, he was willing to accept the challenge.

"You know," I replied, "There's more to being a man than just earning money. It takes alot of love, and you already have plenty of that to give!"

I squeezed him with a long enveloping hug, and this time he returned it instead of squirming away.

Jean Harper