Living with Little Men

Red! Blue! Yellow! Black! Green! The colorful little blocks have been out for years and have entertained literally millions of children around the world! There are even adults who play with them!

We personally own about an 18-gallon plastic tub of them and our sons still have a great time playing and building with them. We've bought kits that build Star Wars ships, boats, cars and even an SUV but they usually throw away the instructions for those and build their own creations. Many of which I have taken pictures of to "keep" the project in our memories but free up the blocks to build something else.

One day our boys were quiet playing Legos in their room. At that time, we lived in a mobile home that had air conditioner vents in the floor. When I went to check on them, they had built a whole town complete with an electric generating plant! The "generating plant" was a little building that had a Lego fan on it and when the air conditioner in the house turned on...it turned the fan to generate electricity! How ingenious I thought! Even funnier was the houses and stores were all connected with thread used as power lines!

There were no parents/adults involved in their building...just two boys ages 6 and 9 playing quietly in their room. That told me that Legos would always have a place in our home and I hope they are in yours as well. If you don't have a set for your children, consider purchasing a set and let their imaginations run wild!

Shelbie D.

You'll never believe what I did today! I climbed Mt Everest. My dear sweet husband helped me...I guess you could say he was my guide by helping to get me started.

Ok...ok...so it wasn't exactly Mt Everest...it was more like Mt. Never-rest. I tackled our mountain of laundry. It's amazing the amount of laundry a family of 7 can provide...the hours of enjoyment I get with moving it from washer to dryer. Then the real fun starts...sorting and trying to get them to fold their basketful and put it away. You know...before someone dumps it out to find something and before the dog decides it makes a great bed.

I've heard...and I'm sure it's just someone's idea of a sick joke, that there are actually people out there who enjoy doing the laundry. I'm wondering what planet they are from or maybe how I can move to that attitude. When I'm faced with a mountain like that, I try to remind myself of two things: first, "All things are possible with Christ" and second, that God has truly blessed our family with plenty of clothing! Both trains of thought help me climb the mountain. Hey, maybe it's the Faith that moves mountains! :)

Anyway...I'm always trying to find ways to help with the mountain and if you've got any tips, send them to me and I'll post them for others.

Have a great day!

Shelbie D.

Years ago, no boy would be without one. They were needed for everything from carving, whittling and working....especially for farm boys. The trusted pocket knife was an important tool and still is today.

Recently, our nephew was given a pocket knife. Nothing fancy, but it's a knife of his own. He was instructed on how to use it and warned that if used improperly, it would be taken from him.

Our own sons have had knives for years and we've had no major accidents with them. Oh sure, little cuts here and there but they've learned to use them responsibly. We have all the basic rules when it comes to tools: use them for what they are intended, never threaten or hurt others (human or animal), and always be careful.

Our boys favorites have always been the "Swiss Army" knife with all the little gadgets and tools. It can be a great tool and help build responsibility in "Little Men."

So consider buying your Little Man the tool no man should be without.

Shelbie D.

In "The Dangerous Book for Boys," Hal and Con Iggulden have compiled a wonderful resource for boys. From "how to" lessons and instructions to history of great battles, men of character and even a little advice on "girls" and grammar...they have compiled the ultimate guide for boys.

I have recently purchased this book for one of my sons. When I showed it to his older brother (now 18) he commented that it was very similar to a book he often borrowed from the library. I remember that book; he would read it constantly and always wished he would not have to return it. Unfortunately, it was out of print and I could not find one.

I highly recommend the book although there is a section on role-playing games and it uses the example of Dungeons and Dragons. These games are not for everyone but there is too much great stuff in the book to toss it for that.

Check it out and you will probably end up purchasing one for your adventuresome young man!

Shelbie D

When our oldest boys were young we never let them have toy guns. It was a toy that we never wanted them to have. Why would we want them to go around pretending to shoot each other?

Well...I think there is something built into boys that they simply MUST have a gun of some kind. I figured this out when our oldest discovered his finger gun! We're thinking..."where did he get this idea from?" Later he found other "guns" to use, even building them from Legos. We soon gave up on that idea and decided to teach them gun safety and self-control...you know, the kind that keeps you from shooting your brother "because he's driving me nuts" kind of self-control. So, now several years later they all have the traditional BB gun and they're learning to target shoot in the back yard, always being careful of what's behind the target as well as where all the other people and animals are playing. It's working well for our family and it might for yours too. Of course, the younger boys don't have BB guns but they do enjoy their "pop" guns and rubber band guns. :)

I wonder if their need for a gun could have been the result of the many John Wayne movies they've seen...I'm a bit addicted to them.

Have a great day!

Shelbie D.

When our first son was born, we were very careful with him...like most parents. We didn't want him to get dirty and cleaned him as soon as their was a speck of anything on him. My dad was really into fixing cars and often covered with car grease. No way was he holding the baby like that! There were so many things the first wasn't able to do or play.

Well time changes, right? By the time our 5th son was born we were almost tossing him under the car with grandpa! Grandpa had got used to our complaining about touching the baby with greasy hands with the first one that he was a little shocked with the later additions to our family. We always were allowing them a little more freedom...I guess it happens to all of us. I'm not sure if it's laziness or just lack of energy to chase them as much...we're not going to mention age, right?
Oh...another difference, when the first child fell...we rushed to help him up and soothe his crying. When the last child falls...we laugh, check for blood and tell him to get up and try it again.
Interesting, isn't it? It's not a lack of love or concern for the last one but rather we know more. Kids need to get dirty sometimes, they need to have a little freedom within the confines of safety and they need to know that although they fall...they must get up and try again.
This phenomenon usually appears when a couple has 3+ children. For some reason, it doesn't happen in families with only two children. Hhmmm, maybe we are just tired!

Have a great week!

Shelbie D.

I had to work today and I came home to a few "gifts" my children had been given by their grandma and grandpa. There were two small guitars for the younger boys (ages 4 and 6) and a Cookie Monster thing that sings songs and dances when you push the button on the front.

Cookie Monster is from Christmas so he only sings Christmas songs....about cookies! It's supposed to play a few different songs and after a few hours, I think I've heard about 3 songs over and over and over......well, you get the idea.

Then there are the guitars....what can I say? I guess I should be thankful that the boys are creative enough to think of new songs. One song my 6 year old sang was "What I want for Christmas this year"....I figured it was to difficult to explain to him that Christmas is several months away. So.....he kept singing and little brother would join in with him. Maybe there's a band in this bunch! Wouldn't that be fun?!

Well....if you are a parent....you probably get things like this given to your children. If you are a grandparent.....you get great joy GIVING those gifts to your grandchildren. I know MY parents do!