My son Matthew is extremely active, and I’m not. He is very daring, and I much prefer self-preservation. He has endless energy, and I have ever depleted energy. Sitting still is the ultimate torture for him but it is very relaxing for me. My point? I’m very different from my boy.

First, he seems to have a surplus of testosterone flowing in his blood. Because I am so different from him, how I want him to play is usually based on my own inclinations. I’d much rather have him sit and read or help me around the house or play quietly on his own. All of these go contrary to how God has made him. He would rather jump off from a high plane, run like a wild horse through the house, and smack things as he sees fit. My husband has to remind me often that I have to let Matthew be who he is, i.e. a boy. The activities he likes to engage in should be encouraged by me. I should not prohibit or discourage his boyish nature. This isn’t to say that I should let him be wild and irresponsible as he sees fit, but neither should I try to merely box him into a mold that he wasn’t made in which to fit.

Yesterday, Matthew got two cardboard boxes and used them as a sled to slide down the (hardwood) stairs. I was shocked when he showed me his newest daredevil activity mainly because I was concerned about his safety. He wasn’t a bit concerned at all. He was all smiles when he slid down the stairs. Seeing my disapproval, he asked if he could do it again. I initially said no, but remembering that he is a boy after all, I reluctantly said yes. Since I agreed to this stunt, I decided that I might as well make the most of it by capturing a video of him sliding down. He was quite thrilled. I think the adrenaline rush is quite thrilling for him. I allowed him to go down the stairs three more times. It was a good day for him.

I think mothers like me need to work hard to allow more of these “boyish” activities (with precautions, of course). I was there to supervise so he wouldn’t get his bodily parts all wrapped up in a twisted or contorted fashion. In all this, I am glad that I’m learning to help him to be a boy, and eventually a man of character who takes initiative, just as God has made him.