This Boy of Mine

" A boy is trust with dirt on it's face, beauty with a cut on it's finger, wisdom with bubble gum in it's hair, and the hope of the future with a frog in it's pocket. Wonder. Dream. Play. Explore. Find. Discover. " -Author Unknown-

Zachary Daniel Giossi, born May 27th, 1999. Little did I know 12 years ago when I held this child for the first time, that he would take me on the ride of my life. If raising my daughter was "Easy Like Sunday Morning", then raising this boy has been "Wild Like Friday Night" There is a reason the Lord sends the "easy child" first. He has a way of humbling a woman. I often thought I could be worthy of "The Mother of The Year Award" for the first 8 years of motherhood. I could never understand why some moms looked so completely frustraded, wild, and frazzled. Surely I could give them some tips on mothering. Well like I said the Lord has his way - So how did this mom go from deserving (so I thought) the Mother of the Year Award to sometimes being one step away from being arrested???? In the first 3 years of Zachary's life I literally "lost" him twice! And when I say lost, I mean all out search party. To this day we still have the remnants of chain locks as high up on the doors as possible. Why? Well let's just say it has to do with the search parties that involved looking for a 3 year old. Who's frustrated, wild, and frazzled now? If there is a tree to be conquered he climbs it, if there is a ramp to be jumped, he jumps it if there is a machine with 2 wheels or 4, he rides it. I don't want to speak for all boys, but this boy thinks there is nothing he can't do, often throwing all caution to the wind. He keeps me on my toes, to put it mildly. Zachary is clever, articulate, musical, athletic, and can be very endearing. He has a certain charm about him that is sometimes irresistable. He has a tender heart and a fondness for the elderly. I remember one Chirstmas he was around 8 years old and I took him to a nursing home where he went to each residents room and played a medley of songs for them on his harmonica. I kid you not we were there for 3 hours. These days Zachary can be found playing linebacker on a football field, rockin' out on his drumset, making & selling wallets out of duct tape and creating beautiful origami. He can also be seen with a variety of cuts and bruises on his legs and covered with dirt and/or poison ivy from head to toe! This past school year he was awarded with 2 citizenship awards for displaying random acts of kindness to others. How does one child manage all this - He is a boy I tell you and he's mine.