Saturday, June 28, 2008

Rite of Passage

The recent weeks have been ones in which I look at my sons and wonder at the passing of time. When did they grow up? How did they get this big? When did Isaac decide he really wants to take up bow hunting?
They don't look back for reassurance anymore; they look over their shoulders to see if I'm watching them be so successful without me. How is it that Asa can fully concentrate on relating the more exciting portions of "Spaceballs" to his new friend while he's nonchalantly acing his field tests in gun safety training? The boy could care less if he never shoots anything more than a dragonfly with a slingshot!
All in one breath they say things like, "Let me clear your plate for you, Mom," with a shy boyish grin, and "Way to go, Idiot," to a brother over their shoulder. When did my youngest, Leif, decide that he can climb into a 10-foot tall deer stand and paddle a kayak all by himself even though he's been afraid of heights and water since babyhood?
I don't know when all this started. But it's happening whether I'm ready for it or not. My kids are growing up. They all completed their gun safety training with very high scores. Leif even won a prize for "Best Homemade Survival Kit." Asa got the second highest score in the class. And Isaac taught me that you can hold a gun against the "other" shoulder if that's what it takes to see out of your "good eye."
They zip through the water in their kayaks and they have found swimming spots and adventure far from our spot of shore.
They go fishing and bring home dinner. They mow the lawn and do the laundry. They help usher, take offering, and light candles at church. They are young men. Goofy, mischievous, misbehaving young men. But young men just the same.

4 comments:

Kim said...

Oh, Sabrina. Oh, Sabrina. Your post brings tears to my eyes. Those boys of yours....It's been so long since I've seen them. Last time I did, Leif was Urban's age and the twins were 9. They were still "just boys." Now they are really young men, aren't they?

Your pride in them shines out through every word you write. What incredible lives they are living, those boys of yours.

Thank you for sharing this. It makes me grateful my own boys are still little, but it also gives me something to look forward to in the years ahead---my OWN boys, growing into amazing young men like yours (I hope!). :)

Nancy K. said...

What a wonderful tribute to your sons, Sabrina! I hope you print it and put a copy in a scrap book for each of them. I'm sure it's something they will always treasure!
And of course, there's a good reason why they're growing up to be such kind, caring, happy & emotionally healthy young men ~ they obviously have good parents!

You should be proud. Of your boys and of you and your husband and the wonderful job you're doing raising your family!

Sabrina Wille Erickson said...

Thank you,both. I'm very humbled by your praise. But yes, I'm so very proud of my boys. They are great kids.

Karen said...

Sabrina, that was a great post- Just imagine them in another 10 years and how neat they will be and all the great things they will do. Sigh. And even when they're grown and leave your house, they're still really *with* you.