oh, and one more thing....

today after school, both my boys are going to a friend's house. they are both thrilled. these are high times in the life of a grade-schooler. they have literally been in a great mood all week.

here is where the age gap comes into play.

ben, my 9-year-old, is going to a friend's birthday party at the child's house. this particular child is very sweet, but his parents are wilder than coon dogs. their oldest son plays with matches. their younger children have played in a "dead" refrigerator in the garage. said child has fallen out of a second-story window that had no screen, and landed in a pile of dirt. they live in a home that backs up to a creek that houses god knows what animals. and here is what i say to ben this morning:

"bye sweetie. have fun!"

matthew, the first grader, is going to his best friend's house after school. they do not live on a creek. the boy is an only child. the two will play indoors under close supervision. here is what i say to matthew:

"matt, remember to use your manners. 'thank you,' 'no thank you.' do NOT say any bad words. play nice. do not get wild. no jumping on furniture or throwing food. look his mother in the eye when she speaks to you. do you know my cell number? tell me what my cell number is again..."

this talk exhausts me. because i come home and worry if i've warned him of every possible danger that could come his way. ben has heard my spiel many, many times. matthew is new to this. sometimes the speech includes reminders of where to kick a bad guy who tries to touch them, and never to go to a public restroom alone. ever.

i know they will be fine. i know they can surely survive a few hours without me. but i have to say these things. i physically cannot stop these words from coming out of my mouth. even when they one day tune me completely out, and my words are rote by then, i will still be calling "be careful" into the wind.....