Just leave the boy ALONE!

Will goes to his room to play. Soon afterwards, we hear a CRASH and lots of laughing. He comes running out asking me very enthusiastically to COME SEE, COME SEE! He is using blocks to build a tower, then kicking the whole thing down. It is really bringing him such joy. After his "sharing" his sisters decide to get in on the act. I come back into the livingroom and the arguing ensues. Faith has taken over directing the construction for the best possible tower and Gracie, in her enthusiasum to insert herself into something that is obviously so much fun is prematurely kicking down the tower. Soon Richard and I are yelling at them to "JUST LEAVE THE BOY ALONE!" and forbidding them to walk into his room. (aka, our room that we let him sleep in) This has me reflecting. Faith honestly thought she was helping and that the building of the tower was about the building of the tower. Of course, to Will, the only reason to build the tower was to enjoy it's demolition. A concept she doesn't get. A concept I never got myself, until I became a mother to a boy. Gracie, wanting to join in the fun, stole all the fun. Both of them assumed they knew what he wanted and decided to "help". I wonder how many times I've decided to "help" my husband and completely stolen the joy out of one of his projects. Sometimes the "building" isn't about the "building" These insights are only a few of the gifts that come from mothering my "Joy Boy". Another is this: Yesterday, F and G both told me that when I was old and they had to take care of me that they would make me eat PIGS FEET! Not my boy..........my "favorites" rotate, based on behaviour, on a daily basis. (sometimes hourly, sometimes by the minute) but for this moment my boy has it locked down!.....