While I attempt to avoid sentimentality, sometimes as a mother, it is impossible. It has been an emotionally draining week here at the Zoo. We're only a week from the beginning of the school year and the pace has picked up noticeably in the family schedule. But that isn't what has been draining.
Usually, I can ignore the fact that the Heathens are growing up without too much difficulty. They are all still young at heart and love laughter and playing. And none of them have gotten so old yet that they are unwilling to laugh and play with their Momma - which is such a blessing.
But there is always a time when I can no longer ignore their aging - and that is when I sew patches onto Boy Scout and Cub Scout uniforms. While I refer to them as "patches," these little circles, ovals and squares of embroidery are actually the Heathens achievements in life. Each little piece is a goal that one of them set for themselves, that they worked towards, and then achieved with little or no help from me.
Two days ago, Heathen #1 submitted his COMPLETED Eagle Scout packet - the only thing standing between him and a goal he set for himself at the age of six is a board of review. Ten years of dedication on his part has paid off. The day he submitted that packet, he couldn't contain his excitement. The grin of pride on his face was breathtaking to see.
The same day Heathen #1 submitted his packet, Heathen #2 brought home a new rank advancement that he had earned - and he was grinning with pride as well. He just attained Star Scout. He handed me the rank advancement card with patch and, while grinning, told me, "I'm getting closer to Eagle!" He, too, set himself the goal (at age 6!) that he would be an Eagle Scout.
Today, I pulled out my sewing box to attach these pieces of my Heathens' achievements to their uniforms. Heathen #3 is finally old enough to wear the tan shirt of the "big boys" and I needed to move the patches to his new shirt. After I had switched over the patches, I had him try it on - and the grin of pride was, like his brothers, amazing to behold. He was so proud to wear that shirt and commented that now, "my shirt is just like Daddy and the boys' shirts." He knows his father and brothers have attained something worth striving towards and he set himself the same goal of becoming an Eagle. He frequently worries (at the age of 9) that there won't be any "good" Eagle projects left by the time he is old enough.
But, as I sat and stitched, I realized that for the first time in ten years, I won't have a little boy in my house that is wearing a blue shirt. We've reached the end of an era in our household.
Our little blue shirt is finally retired - but it has served the Heathens well. That shirt took my Heathens places and it taught them things. It taught them that they were capable (even at the young age of 6) of setting a goal and working towards it. I remember handing it to each of them to wear for the first time and seeing their excitement. And they all wore it the day each of them looked at their father and me and said, "I am going to be an Eagle Scout."
Little Blue Shirt - thank you for what you have taught my Heathens. You will always hold a special place in my heart.
The Heathens' Momma
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