Of all the jobs I have ever had in my life my most favorite has been being a Boy Mama.  I am blessed to be the mom of two amazing little boys, Robert and Travis.  I never thought I would love them as much as I do because growing up I never really liked kids.  I was not that woman that swooned over a baby or begged to hold one.  In fact, when people I knew started having babies they had to practically force me to hold him/her…awkward.  And I always hated when someone would ask, “Do you want to hold him (or her)?” I really, really wanted to say, “NOPE.  I’m good, I can see the baby right here.”

Then I got pregnant.  My husband and I went to our very first ultra sound appointment on our 10th wedding anniversary and we saw our baby for the first time.  It was love at first sight.  My heart grew so big and ached so much for this sweet little baby growing in my belly.  It was a love like no other.  Overwhelming, to say the least.  I decided I loved this baby so much that I would do ANYTHING for him.

When Little Robert was 6 months old we discovered he was going to be a big brother.  It was a busy season in our lives because my husband was preparing for his 3rd deployment with the Army to Afghanistan.  He watched his second son, Travis, be born via FaceTime.  And while it wasn’t ideal, I am so thankful that technology allowed us to share that moment together.  More on this another time…

When we found out our family would be growing…it felt really too soon.  I felt like I hadn’t had enough time with Little Robert and that with another baby on the way I would miss something.  My attention would be divided and I wouldn’t be able to love them enough.  I had just fallen so deeply in love with Little Robert…how could I ever love Baby Travis enough?

Thankfully, I have been blessed with amazing women in my life and my dear friends Deanna and Julie (former teachers of mine, turned co-workers, turned friends) told me, “Don’t worry, your heart just grows bigger.”  And boy were they right.  My heart swelled with joy and love for BOTH my sweet boys.  I decided I loved these boys so much that I would do ANYTHING for them.  These two boys are my greatest accomplishment.  They are my best work.

Today, we took Little Robert on a tour of a preschool.  It’s time for him to go to school so my husband and I are visiting schools to see which is the best fit for our family.  As we were on our tour I asked discerning questions about curriculum, schedule, safety…but all the while I really just wanted to know if Little Robert’s teachers would take good care of him, be kind to him, discover how funny he is, see how creative he is, make him feel included and important, listen to him when he tells his imaginative stories…I just wanted to know if they would see just how special my boy is.

Little Robert will soon be a student in a classroom and before I know it he’ll be a high school student sitting in a classroom similar to mine.  I don’t do it often enough, but sometimes I look out at my high school students and remember that they are children and they have a mom…or a dad…or a somebody…that loves them like I LOVE my boys.  My students are someone’s greatest accomplishment.

When I remember this, I try a little harder…to be more prepared, to speak a little kinder, to have a little more patience, to be more encouraging, to be more engaging, to appreciate each student for who they are…because that student is someone’s baby.

~PV~