Boy Moms! Stereotype, anyone?

Monday October 8, 2012

My math teacher son will be appalled by the graphic, but it's true: some stereotypes just don't add up.

The other day, I started thinking about those stereotypes it's easy to buy into...and how wrong that can be.

So I made a list of Things Your Boys Aren't.

Click on over to The MOB Society and join a bunch of other boy moms as we smash stereotypes.

P.S. I'm participating in 31 Days, posting every day about 31 Days to Rest. But this just didn't quite fit in my 31 Days series today. Being a boy mom has nothing to do with rest.

I Love Being a Boy Mom

Saturday July 21, 2012


I love being a boy mom.

It’s true, I do. Oh, it took me awhile to get used to. The noise, the wrestling, the lack of pink—but what a blessing it’s been, really.

I have four sons. Yes, four. But I’m a survivor. My “boys” are young adults now, from 29 down to 20. (A boy, every three years.) The “baby” is in college, so I guess you’d say we have an empty nest for most of the year. (That was an interesting transition—from chaos to silence!)

I wrote about raising those four boys in I’m Outnumbered! One Mom’s Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys. You can take a look by clicking on that little Amazon picture up to your left.

Why do I write? To encourage you; to inspire you. I remember what it was like to have a house filled with boys, in all its chaos, laughter, and wonder. I remember wishing for just a tiny bit of pink in the house from time to time. I remember wanting someone to shop with!

And I write for two other reasons:

Because I’ve found that saying to be true: “Once a mom, always a mom.” It doesn’t matter what age your “boys” are, you never cease being their mom in some way. You still pray for them, worry over them, and remember great and crazy times with them. No matter what their ages, we’re in this for the long haul. And…

You’re not just a boy mom. As consuming as mothering is right now, there’s something bigger at work here. You’re an image-bearer of the Father, created by His loving hands. Your spirit and heart and soul need nourishment. All that good stuff will spill over on your family when your heart is right with Him. And that’s when your mothering is the best.

So I write to encourage you in the midst of this mothering. The funny thing is, I get encouraged too as I write and as I hear from you!

I’m linking up today with The MOB Society for the Boy Mom Blog Hop. I’m an MOB Society writer, so if you join us you’ll see me over there, too. I thank you for visiting me today. Be sure to leave a comment so I can come by and see you. They’re giving away a couple of copies of my book, I’m Outnumbered, at the MOB Society, so be sure to click on over.

And come back! I’d love to see you again.

Blessings,

Teens and Moms

Saturday September 17, 2011



I’ve never parented a girl through the teen years, but I can tell you that mothering a boy through them can be a roller coaster.

I did it and survived—four times!

So hang on. Get prayed up and put your patience hat on. And know you’re not alone.

For a few ideas on how to lessen the anxiety, click on over to the MOB Society and read my post there.

Little Bits of Sanity for Boy Moms

Wednesday July 27, 2011

Blocks flying, trucks careening over boy-made ramps, brothers wrassling. And not just once in a while…it’s constant chaos.

Moments of quiet send up a red flag immediately. Something has to be wrong… or someboy is cooking something up.

When you have four boys, all three years apart, this is your life. Punctuated, of course, with a trip or two to the ER. And sometimes, it just gets to be too much.

How to survive? Find little bits of sanity.

Settle for little bits—they don’t have to be chunks, or days full of sanity. (That’s pretty unrealistic, anyway.)

Some ideas?

1. “Let’s all go outside!” A little space, a little fresh air sometimes works wonders. At least the sound disperses so they’re not as loud as they are inside the four walls.

2. “It’s bath time.” A change of scenery just helps sometimes, and sometimes separation is necessary! I’ve put the younger one in the tub and sat in the doorway between him and older brother, playing cars in the hallway, waiting his turn.

3. “I’ll bet I can get these books all put up before you guys get the Legos back in the bucket.” A challenge—boys against Mom! Before they know it, they’re working together.

4. Naptime / Quiet time. For all the boys and Mom, too. When some gave up their naps, we still had “quiet time on the bed.” Books, Adventures in Odyssey cds, pirate figures, whatever works to give the big one (and Mom) some quiet. The dishes, the laundry—it all calls to you, but it’s a great time for Mom to catch a breather, too.

Quiet time doesn’t come naturally to most boys, so we have to be intentional about introducing it. And it’s not just for us. Think about it; it’s a skill they’ll need at church, at school, waiting in an adult situation. Kids should be able to entertain themselves with a book (and without an electronic device) or their imagination!

Mom, whether you have boys, girls, or a combination, how do you find little bits of sanity in your day?

The Quest for Pink: Saturday Centus

Saturday July 23, 2011
I'm linking up with Jenny Matlock today for Saturday Centus. You'll see Jenny's button at the bottom of the post if you'd like to link up anytime this week.

Today's prompt is "Before I die, I want to..." Jenny slashed the word count to only 15 additional words this week! That's okay. I only needed 14.

: : :

"Before I die, I want to hold a pink, lace-trimmed bundle of granddaughter. Boys, this is your mission; accept it."

(If you know me or have kicked around this site a bit, you know I have four -- count 'em, four -- sons...and a grandson. I love little boys dearly, but I'm waiting for the pink.)

Integrity and Hugs

Monday July 18, 2011
Sometimes it seems like an uphill battle. We talk about telling the truth, and…they don’t. We read stories about being kind, and…behind our backs, they clobber their brothers.

If integrity is what I’ve heard it defined as—who you are when no one is looking—well, looking or not, it’s not looking so good some days.

What do we do?

To find out, click on over to the Mother of Boys Society. I'm writing there today.

This craziness will pass...

Tuesday April 26, 2011


I’ve come to a conclusion.

Yes, this craziness will pass, but more craziness will come into play.

Does that sound disheartening? I don’t mean for it to. It’s just the way of things. When my boys were 3 months, 3, 6, and 9, life was crazy. Oh, yes – certifiably so!

Fast forward a couple of years. Still crazy. Fast forward again…yes. Still crazy.

It’s the way life is with boys (especially four of them), with children, with a family of six. But it’s such a happy, creative crazy!

We can spend our mom lives wishing away the crazy, or we can relish it. I choose to relish.

Let’s face it, though – too much of anything is hard. So how to survive the craziness?

Carve out small pauses for yourself.

We all need that breath, that chance to think, regroup. When I don’t have that, it becomes pretty obvious. So, how can you find some relief from the craziness?

First, if you need help, tell someone! Don’t keep it to yourself. Who are we fooling? Our own sense of perfectionism only leads to disappointment and guilt.

Success doesn’t hinge on getting everything right. Instead, success has to do with how you handle getting things wrong. Seeing you work through a tough problem, through times when the pace of life is dizzying, is a lesson for your kids. Ask for help – from your hubby, from a friend, from someone.

Second, listen to others. Blog friends, friends you can reach out and touch, family. How have they dealt? Get ideas.

Third, join in. Sometimes life feels crazy because there’s no relief valve. We’re preoccupied with the laundry, the bills, the homework, the cleaning – and we just need to blow off some steam. Jump in the sprinkler with your kids. Blow bubbles. Sit down and color with them, write a poem with them, create a family work of art.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or to listen, or just to jump in.

Call on each other.

And don’t forget to look up.

Linking up with Jen at Finding Heaven Today for Soli deo Gloria. Click on over and come along with us!

Lessons from Tee Ball

Tuesday April 19, 2011

Yes, it’s that season again. Time to pull out the bats and gloves, don the caps and sunscreen, and hit the ballfield.

Time for the “boys of summer.” That’s what we always called them when they donned those uniforms and we set out for an entire day at the ballfield. With four boys, there were a couple of summers that we spanned every division from tee ball to real baseball, complete with one practice a week for each boy and four games on Saturday.

I charted the games on the calendar, we packed up our lunch and a blanket, and we took off for the field, resigning ourselves to getting nothing more than that done on that day.

It was crazy, it was busy, it was fun. And it taught them lots of good lessons.

• Sometimes you have to sit on the bench.
• Sometimes you have to sit in the bleachers and wait for your brother.
• You must wear sunscreen – especially on the tips of your ears and the back of your neck, two places those baseball caps just don’t cover.
• Sometimes you have to entertain yourself while you wait.
• It’s good to encourage a brother, especially when he strikes out.

Mom and Dad learned lots of lessons, too. In a way, baseball was easy. At least they were all in the same league, games in the same location, we could pass down equipment…

Then they started to individualize. One wanted to join the swimming team. Another decided that middle school football was for him.

My first reaction was, “Oh, no – we’re just doing baseball. We’re all doing baseball.” Then I remembered how different they all are, as inconvenient as it may be. I knew we had to foster those unique talents, abilities, and interests in our boys so they’d have a chance to really know themselves.

So we took a deep breath, got a different colored marker for each boy, and loaded up the calendar. They experimented. The swim team didn’t last long, but it was a great lesson in perseverance. And so many more lessons came from their choices. (We did limit it to one sport a season, though – after all, there’s more to life than sports, said Mom.)

And in retrospect, there were a lot of good lessons there. This trip down Memory Lane reminded me of a few:

• Sometimes you have to sit on the bench.
• Sometimes you have to wait for someone else.
• It’s good to encourage a brother (or sister), especially after a strikeout.
• Explore your talents, abilities, interests; get to know yourself.
• We’re all created uniquely – His workmanship.

(That one about sunscreen is pretty important, too.)

What lessons have your kids taught you lately?

Linking up with Jen at Finding Heaven Today for Soli deo Gloria. Click on over and come along with us!

Moms and Teens

Wednesday March 3, 2011

I sat with a dear friend the other day who said, “He is SUCH a preteen.”

She went on to say, “He rolls his eyes. At everything.”

I felt her pain. I’ve been there, oh so many times.

And I live to tell.

She’s doing so much right, though. Loving her boy, encouraging him, yet holding him accountable.

I thought of a few things that might help her – and you, if you find yourself in the same spot.

1. Pick your battles.
This is hard. But you have to remember, there will be bigger battles than whether or not he wears that today. Save your big guns for the big battles.

2. Say “yes” as much as you can. (Maybe not an enthusiastic yes, but at least not a “no.”)
Again, this is like picking your battles. You’ll have to concede some ground because he’s establishing himself. Yes, you’ll have to let go a bit. Loosen your grip. Instead of saying, “Do this” or “Wear this,” give him a range of acceptable choices and let him pick.

3. Keep, keep, keep on loving him – and let him know, even if you think he doesn’t care. A secret? He does. He wants to know if you’ll love him when he stinks, when he’s unlovely, when he rolls those eyes.

4. Know that this, too, will pass.

I read the post of another friend this week who told of her date with her 5 year old. It seems his younger sister requires a bit more of Mom, so she gets a bit more of Mom. I know that scenario, too. I’ve had to remind myself to praise the one who is always doing a good job because, well, he’s always doing a good job and doesn’t seem to need it. But he does.

Anyway, the story of this preschool mother and son reminded me of something very important, and it leads to #5.

5. Make deposits in the time bank now; you’ll draw on them later. If you have a child who’s years from a teen, do as my friend did – take him or her out for some special one-on-one time. Those times really do serve as deposits in your relationship; you’ll be drawing on those later, in harder times. The memories will be there for both of you, and they’ll draw you closer.

Mothers of teens and preteens, hang on. There are some great things about those times – look for them.

What about you? Do you remember wise things your parents did when you were teens or can you lend some advice to other mothers of teens out there? Chime in!

Give Me a Boy's Christmas

Thursday December 16, 2010 It’s a boy’s Christmas for me!

We adults make life so complicated sometimes. Kids reduce everything down to what’s really important.

What if I took that boy’s simplicity and applied it to my Christmas celebration?

I posted over at the MOB Society today. Click on over to read the rest...

Just Call Me Columbus

Monday October 11, 2010


I feel like an adventurer, an explorer.

For so many years, we’ve walked the parenthood trail. The paths diverge but they’re similar, and they’re all part of the same trail.

For the longest time, someone was getting teeth at our house while another was losing them. One was leaving diapers and another came on the scene, with many diapers ahead.

It hasn’t been “same old, same old” – trust me, it was NEVER boring! But I do welcome a bit of change.

Do you remember when you took the crib down – for good? Or when you stopped saving Pampers coupons? Or the last one graduated from kindergarten? Sure, there were regrets (aren’t there always?) and sweet moments we’ll hold in our hearts forever…but there was also a bit of freedom in the idea.

We’re parents forever, no matter how far the heartstrings stretch geographically. But as our children grow, their needs change – and we must, too. Adjusting to your child’s growing independence, even if it just means letting him ride his bike to his friend’s house – is the tricky part of parenthood.

We can’t mother them at 15 the way we mothered them at 5.

When mine was 5, just the thought of mothering him at 15 scared me. So how do we get through it?

We act like Columbus – maintain that adventurous spirit. Be ready to explore new lands. Realize that what’s around the bend will be different from yesterday’s shore. And relish it!

Know your crew – their strengths and their flaws. Let them do all they can to help and to discover on the journey. Even let them take the lead down the path once in a while.

And me? I keep my eye on the North Star. Fixed, unchanging, useful in navigation – He’s always there.

Have you ever felt like an explorer on your parenting journey? Blazing new trails, hacking away at the undergrowth, sure no one had been here before you. Or has your path been smooth, well-marked by those before you? Chances are, it’s been a mixture. What helps you in your journey?

Garage Sale Treasures

September 1, 2010
They sit on a shelf in our bedroom, guests of honor.

A delicate, mini champagne flute.

A little plastic Barbie-like doll with very blonde hair.

They were carried home in a little boy’s hand. He had a full heart, an empty pocket, and lots of love for Mom.

The champagne flute has never seen a bubble, the little doll has never taken part in playtime. And they’ve been there quite a while.

When I redecorate or declutter, they’ll survive. They’re guests of honor, after all.

They remind me of a little boy who spent his own pennies on gifts for Mom. One who smiled a hopeful smile as he held them out. Knowing this one, they were likely a bit sticky when I took them, but I was used to that. Nothing a little soap and water couldn’t cure.

This one was all boy, but he chose girl gifts for Mom. With all those boys around, he figured she needed pretty things, so he chose the prettiest he could find.

They’re gifts of love, straight from the heart.

What about you? Do you have treasured garage sale gifts of the heart on your shelf?

A Word from the Boys: Welcome to My Book

Tuesday August 31, 2010


Time for the last chapter of I’m Outnumbered! One Mom’s Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys. I must admit – I got some help on this one.

I gave all four boys a number of questions to answer. Among them:

What was great about growing up with brothers?
What was hard about growing up with brothers?
What highlights of family life stand out?
How do you feel about limits on technology?
Can you “be your own boy” among a bunch of brothers?
Can brothers also be friends?

The answers were varied and interesting. I held my breath on a few – like that technology one – but it seems the boys have seen the wisdom of Mom and Dad’s approach there.

Interesting that I didn’t ask a question about sibling rivalry, but it cropped up anyway. And from more than one of them. There were a few admissions, some advice for parents and boys, and some real honesty.

(One of my favorite responses – when I asked “If you and your wife have boys someday, what will you do differently?” the youngest said, “That’s just too weird to think about.” Yeah, he’s the youngest.)

This chapter is a fun look inside the household of boys, so don’t miss it.

Today is the day – my book is officially on the shelves! Yesterday I had my first live radio interview, and that was exciting. Keep your eyes open for posts and giveaways. A number of my good blogger friends are helping with publicity, and I’m thankful.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the previews, and I hope you enjoy the book itself even more!

This is SO exciting! I'm sitting here with a smile on my face...!

A Band of Brothers: Welcome to My Book

Monday August 30, 2010


Chapter 9 of I’m Outnumbered, A Band of Brothers, has to do with the brother bond. With competition, sibling rivalry, and the tensions that can crop up as you raise a bunch of boys, keeping sight of that bond is an important thing. As the boys change and grow and leave the nest, family dynamics change. And Mom won’t always be there to be the glue.

As the boys leave the nest, the ties that join them stretch and sometimes they snap. The way they relate to one another can change – for better and for worse. This chapter includes hints on how to help the boys deal with that change. As young men, they need to work problems out themselves, but sometimes they need a little coaching to get started. Hopefully, if they attack problems and iron them out early, the brother bond will stay strong and solid. (I have been known to tell mine, “I do not want there to be a Christmas someday where one brother doesn’t show up because of some silly argument!”)

And as they grow, their needs will change. How they relate to one another changes, but how they relate to Mom and Dad will change, too. It’s important to realize that different doesn’t always mean bad. Anticipating those changes can help a mom adjust to them. With the information in this chapter, my hope is that you can support them through the changes in their lives and help them remain brothers of the heart.

Tomorrow is August 31st – the official launch day for I’m Outnumbered. Be sure to visit tomorrow to hear about the last chapter, A Word from the Boys. Check back and hear what the boys said when I gave them a chance to speak!

Growing Respect: Welcome to My Book

Thursday August 26, 2010

How do you grow respect in your sons? Well, we have to plant the seeds of respect and nurture them all along the way. Chapter 8, Growing Respect, gives you practical ideas of how to accomplish just that.

We want our sons to be respectful young men. We want them to value young ladies and treat them with dignity. But how do we accomplish that? It takes more than a crash course in dating, for respect grows from a wellspring deep inside.

I’m convinced that our sons need a three-fold sense of respect. They need to respect authority, they need to respect themselves, and they need to respect others. This chapter gives hints for fostering all three kinds of respect.

Of course, modeling respect for our sons plays into the picture. And Dad’s respect for Mom speaks volumes, too, to the boys in your home. In addition, there are things we can do – activities we can involve our sons in – that help foster respect for others. Placing them in activities with people who are different from them, spending time with other generations, getting involved with a team – these kinds of things teach children how to respect people who may be different and reinforce the value of others.

The value of manners as a code of behavior for boys is addressed in this chapter, too. And ideas for encouraging healthy boy-girl relationships are included. The chapter ends with some advice on being the Mother of the Groom – something all of us boy moms are going to be someday.

Respect is the basis for so much in life. It’s important for us to make it priority in our homes.

Next week, I’ll preview the last two chapters of the book. I’m Outnumbered officially releases on August 31st, so I’m working up to the official launch day by giving you a sample of chapters 9 and 10 on Tuesday and Wednesday. So, come on back next week and celebrate with me!

Media in a Young Man's Life: Welcome to My Book

Tuesday August 24, 2010
Chapter 7, Media in a Young Man’s Life, isn’t simply a list of what your son should or shouldn’t watch or listen to. Instead, this chapter encourages moms to teach their sons how to discern.

British novelist E.M. Forster wrote, “Spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon.” If we spoon feed our sons in terms of media choices, where will they be when they leave home? What we want is to somehow teach them to discern between wise and unwise choices.

Reading is the perfect place to start. When we discern, we determine the true nature of something. When we read, we cut to the heart of the teaching. Why does the character say that? What does he mean? Why is he going there? If we can teach our sons to think about the worth of a story or its characters or its lessons, when they’re faced with media choices, they will likely apply the same measuring stick. You say your son is a reluctant reader? This chapter also includes some hints from Sigmund Brouwer, author of high-interest series for boys.

Chapter 7 discusses early exposure to media, how to use the news as a family, and how to consider the family mix. Even though the book doesn’t list titles your sons should and shouldn’t see, I came across some great lists as I did research for the book. In the appendix, there’s a section called Reading, Media and Technology that will give you some very specific ideas (including titles) that can provide entertainment and teaching moments for your boys.

On Thursday, I’ll be previewing Chapter 8, Growing Respect. This chapter was originally entitled How to Treat a Lady, but it grew to be about so much more. That same respect that boys will accord a young lady begins very early and stretches across age and gender. If you’re interested in hearing more about Growing Respect, be sure to come back on Thursday.

Great Expectations: Welcome to My Book

Wednesday July 21, 2010

Great expectations.

Don’t be fooled. Expectations are not always great. Too often, especially for moms, expectations are a trap.

The first chapter of my book is called Great Expectations because the possibilities I envisioned were great and wonderful ones. Now, motherhood is great and wonderful, but there’s an awful lot of the reality of motherhood that is NOT easy and, let’s face it, not really wonderful.

It’s so much harder than you ever thought it would be. (This is probably a good thing. If we knew what we were getting into before we got into it, the human race would probably be significantly smaller.)

Most of us enter motherhood with expectations about our baby’s gender or health or temperament. I saw some of my expectations come crashing down pretty quickly when Boy #1 had colic. He was not what I expected. (Note: He’s a joy now – has made up for it over and again!)

And there’s the multiple boy thing – I really did think I’d have a girl somewhere along the way! Just a smattering of pink, please. But no.

What about birth experiences? How many of us planned to go natural only to wake up with a baby and an incision to heal from?

Whether we’re boy moms or girl moms, our experiences meld together at some point, don’t they? We all share expectations for and about our children. This chapter talks about how to deal with expectations – how to escape their trap and replace expectations with trust.

Curious about chapter two? Be sure to check back next Wednesday for a preview of The Magnet Syndrone (aka Sibling Rivalry).

Welcome to My Book

Tuesday July 20, 2010

You may have noticed that cute little book cover over in the sidebar. My first book comes out August 31st, and I’ve decided to give my blog readers a little preview.

As you probably expect from the title, my book is about feeling outnumbered – in my case, outnumbered by four sons. When you’re the only woman in a household of five guys, life is different, believe me. So boy moms, you’ll be nodding your head as you read. And hopefully, you won’t feel so alone.

What about those of you who don’t have sons? There’s a lot in my book about dealing with larger families. Granted, I only had four but that seems big in today’s culture. Keeping a household of six running is a bit different from keeping a household of three on track, and I write about those things.

And those of you who have sons and daughters will be interested in what I have to say about what I call the “boys plus” household. When you have a girl in the mix of several boys, life is further complicated, so I address that throughout the book, too.

Whether we’re boy moms or girl moms or have a mixture, we moms share a lot. So my hope is that my writing will speak to you no matter where you are. Even if you are in a totally pink household and only know a few boy moms, maybe this book will help you understand (and sympathize) with them a bit more.

As I raised my sons, I got so much help from other boy moms. I’d call them daily sometimes with questions! My hope is to share that wisdom, along with insight from professionals. Yes, some professionals have already written about raising boys, but most of them are men. And there are certain things only another boy mom knows – that’s why I wrote this book.

On Wednesday, I’ll be writing about the first chapter, Great Expectations. Be sure to tune in!

Visit the Mother of Boys Society

I've written a guest post

over at the Mother of Boys Society today.

Come on over and visit!

Words from the House of Boys

Monday May 3, 2010

You may have read about our new fence. It’s a work of art, the product of a father-son project. It was a big, long, involved project, done in several stages.

Tearing down the old fence – tearing down anything is fun!

Installing fence posts – digging holes in dirt? Awesome.

But last week came the ultimate, the epitome of the project: nailing the boards.

Nails and hammers? What’s so cool about that?

No nails and hammers here – for we’re using a NAIL GUN.

Yes, ladies, that’s like a gun that shoots nails. It actually hooks up to an air compressor, whose air provides the power to SHOOT those nails out and into the boards.

Oh, my. The air compressor is a big thing, and it’s loud, making it even more desirable. But the nail gun itself? When my eighteen-year-old held it (imitating a victory stance), he grinned as if to say, “Boy, will my brothers be jealous.”

They started the nailing process just as I left for the grocery. I stuck my head out the back door and said, “You guys will be careful, won’t you?”

Both husband and son replied with the same words, uttered with the same disgust in their voices: “Yes, of course.” I took a good look to make sure they were both wearing safety glasses.

Although, if that compressor powers a nail into a wooden fence, what chance do safety glasses have? Well, I can’t afford to go there.

Walking through the grocery store, I check several times for texts and make sure my phone is set to ring. Just in case. As I turn the corner onto our street, I see that my husband’s car is gone.

Hmm…

I unlock the door and look through the house for signs of a hurried, emergency exit. None. I check the backyard and there’s no sign of injury. I decide to be a big mom and NOT call to ask what is up. I force myself to assume they just needed a part, for example.

I bring the groceries in, and wait. I put them away, and wait.

Finally the front door opens. They tell me they assumed I was still shopping since I didn’t call. They just knew I’d call to see where they were. (Small victory for Mom, there.)

“So, what’s up?” I ask casually.

My son holds up a monstrosity – and even BIGGER nail gun – and says, “We had to get a BIGGER one!”

His eyes twinkled. He looked as if it were Christmas morning.

His words were accompanied by that Tim the Tool Man grunt, too – I wish I knew how to write that. But you know what I’m talking about.

There were now two boys in front of me. Dad had been transformed, too.

They both reminded me of the preschooler standing at his Fisher-Price tool bench, drill in hand.

It starts so early.

The older he gets, the more reflections I see of his early days.

But the nicest of all is the sight of father and son, side by side, working on a project together. I have pictures of it at three; now I see it again at eighteen.

It’s a beautiful thing – even if it involves a nail gun.