Choices

We've been talking a lot about making good choices in our family lately.

Tyler was asked to make the decision about whether or not he wanted to be in Cub Scouts this year. He hasn't been too crazy about it so far ~ the meetings have been unorganized and they've been having the boys do laps around the gym rather than do something Cub Scouty. They organized the event at the Pumpkin Patch over the weekend, but once we arrived, it was clearly not a group event ~ everyone just did their own thing.

We have held off on buying a uniform because, well, they're not cheap and we're not rich. We had to have a uniform by the end of the month if he was going to stay involved. So Shawn asked him Monday to make a decision about it... though perhaps a little premature, we didn't want to buy the uniform and then have him decide later he didn't want to do it.

Shawn's been hoping he'd like it as much as HE did when he was a little boy. He has really good memories of spending time with his dad camping and doing other activities with the Cub Scouts. I think with everything that has happened with his parents, it was a way for him to still hold on... through Tyler... to that time in his life when he felt closest to his dad.

Tyler decided, after a couple days of contemplation, that it wasn't something he wanted to do this year.

But maybe we can try again next year and see if anything has changed...

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Yesterday as I was sitting in the dining room checking email and reading blogs, I heard the boys starting to argue as they sat in the kitchen eating breakfast. I try not to interfere unless I think it's really necessary because I think it's good for them to learn how to deal with conflict and to practice what we've taught them about conflict. Who better to practice on than your brother?

So they are starting to argue and after a few minutes I heard Tyler say: "You know? I just don't feel like arguing with you. I'm just going to stop talking and eat my breakfast." And he did!

I was so proud of him...

I, at 6, 16 and 26, have never had the ability to walk easily away from an argument. Especially if I *knew* I was right, as he did. (Gavin often tells tall tales and gives his own spin on reality) He clearly possesses a quality I don't have and I think, though we never taught him to say that specific thing, he is demonstrating his ability to make good choices already...

Though I know my work here is not even close to being done, I feel good knowing we've gotten off to a good start.