A Woman's Work – Brooke Basically Blogging

Harrison and I had a chance to spend a lot of quality time together.  This was something that we didn’t always have the pleasure of doing.  When Sydney was diagnosed she required my undivided attention.  She still requires my attention now but earlier it was different.  I couldn’t leave her in a room by herself for longer than a minute.  Harrison could have complained but he never did.

Lately,  Harrison has been very talkative which I love.  He’s a 14 year old teenager that still tells me how much he loves me everyday and lets me give him a quick kiss before getting on the bus. We talk about so many different things. He’s been telling me a lot about Anne Frank and what he is learning at school.  Last week we went to preview night for high school.  I sat in the auditorium in a daze. I wasn’t feeling well and I was a wreck because my baby is going to high school next year.

As we waited for the presentation,  we talked about his dad.  He told me that he understands now that Rob and I are not getting married again.  This was something that Harrison thought would happen.  As people entered the auditorium he would say “There’s another single mom like you.”  I guess single moms have ” the look”!

I asked him if he was embarrassed that I was a single mom.  He told me that he wasn’t.  But he wanted me to know that I wasn’t alone and his friends have single moms too.  I told him that I am never alone. God is always with me and I have the unconditional love of my children. 

I did my best to focus on the presentation and the pathways of learning that he could choose.  I watched his expression as he listened to the counselors discuss selecting courses.  It was an emotional night for me on so many levels.

A few days later Harrison helped me carry a dresser upstairs to my room.  I told him we could do it. Although, I had my doubts.  We starting moving the dresser and it was more than we bargained for.  But I wanted him to see that although this was a struggle, we could still get the job done.  Halfway up the stairs and to my surprise Harrison said, “Mom, it’s time to get you a boyfriend.”

I almost lost my grip on the dresser because I was laughing so hard.  Harrison went on to tell me that “my boyfriend” could help with things like this so I wouldn’t have to do it by myself.  I don’t think that he was trying to get out of helping me. Well, maybe just a little bit.  But I think he was more concerned that he wasn’t strong enough to help me.  I had to remind Harrison that his role in the family is NOT to be the man of the house.  His role in the family is to be the best big brother and son  I could ask for.  His role is to pray for our family, work hard at school and do his chores. 

I reminded him that if I can’t figure it out, God always has a ram in the bush.  It will all work out in the end.  I am proud of Harrison for so many reasons.  HE is a gift from God!

I prayed for this child and The Lord granted what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27

Train up a child in the way he should go. And  when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6