My son is not the manliest of sons, and I say this with all the love and pride in my heart.  He is goofy and awkward and sensitive and weird.  The other night when Charlie was at work, Noah, Lucy, and I went through this whole thing because there was a not-quite-dead cockroach in the shower and none of us had bathed yet.  Towel-clad Lucy convinced Noah to take care of it, and he did... with much ado.

When he was 4 and we were living in Oklahoma, it was 1 year-old Lucy who picked up bugs and played in the dirt.  It was Noah who ran in the house to wash his hands.  But my son loves to read and draw and play video games.  He likes to play in the ocean and goes hiking with Charlie.  We ride bikes around town, he walks to the corner store for me to pick up sour cream or a chili packet.  He may not be athletic, but that doesn't mean in any way that he disappoints me, nor does it mean he doesn't sometimes surprise me with his bravery and protectiveness.

An example.

We have 6 bunnies and a couple of them have gotten out of their cages a couple times, and every time they were retrieved, scolded, and put back where they belonged.  Our 6 bunnies sometimes go nuts in their cages at night because apparently they like roaches about as much as I do.  Our neighborhood has been having something of a rat issue in the last year or so, and the rabbits hate them, too.  So one night a few weeks ago they were going especially nuts.  I asked Noah if he was sure he closed the cages good when he fed them earlier and he said he had.  Then he said without hesitation, "I'll go check on them, Mom, just to be sure."  My son, my not manly-man son, went into the dark garage where flying cockroaches and the occasional rat have been known to roam to check on the bunnies.  And he didn't just stick his head around the corner, either.  He stood in front of their cages and checked the latches to be sure.

It's a small thing, but I was so proud of Noah, more proud than when he brought home his last wonderful HSA scores.  He wanted to protect the bunnies even as he hates having to feed and water them twice a day EVERY day.  More than he hates roaches and rats.  I thought of how grown my little boy has become, how mature and strong.  Noah feigns weakness so he can avoid actual labor (and who among us hasn't and doesn't?), but I can count on him to do the right thing.  Usually, anyway.

Not one of us is perfect, but I revel in watching my children grow up and grow into strong human beings.  I love seeing them use their hearts to help people and help themselves.  I'm proud of them.  I'm glad I have the privilege to be a part of their lives.  I'm so happy they're my children.