![\"\"](\"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Taste-of-India-2012-661.jpg\" "\\"Taste")
<\/a><\/p>\n(The turban is just an added piece… the boys love fighting over it!)<\/p>\n
Sometimes as I watch my friends with their perfect children, I wonder if it is not a disservice to hold them in that light? \u00a0One of the boys showed us a text of a few classmate… one who is perfect to their parents… and I was truly aghast and disheartened that such ugliness was going by un-parented. \u00a0And yet… it would be too uncool to tatter tale … but ugh I realized that I’d much \u00a0rather know and address the imperfections (especially racism and hatred) if they are factors in my children then live in lala land.<\/p>\n
This said, I am going to be honest and say the last few years with my oldest were rough ones. \u00a0Many people who have girls and boys say that boys are hard in the younger years, as they are busy, messy and loud. \u00a0Then they say that girls become much more difficult in their teens as the hormones hit. \u00a0I would say that I disagree. \u00a0My boys are moody, their hormones seems to be in full swing and often times, we are not sure if it’s up or down. \u00a0Sigh. \u00a0I think that teens are, for the most part, a hand full. \u00a0 And then I panic, thinking of living through with six teens.<\/p>\n
Going to India… I had mixed feelings about bring the two older ones. \u00a0Part of me wanted to be selfish and enjoy this time with my brother alone. \u00a0Grown ups and me time. \u00a0Then the other part that obviously won out knew this would be a once in a life time experience. \u00a0Of course I had no way of \u00a0knowing it would a life changing for all of us. \u00a0I was a little uncertain about spending time with my teens… in a way that we never have… as grown ups.<\/p>\n
Wow. \u00a0I wish I could find words to tell it all. \u00a0I wish I could have video taped the experience in its fullest. \u00a0Yet all I can say as through out this trip God gave me glimpses of how my little boys were becoming amazing men. \u00a0I found myself fascinated with the protectiveness that came out… such as insisting to carry my huge carry all with my camera and our cash… so that no one would target me. \u00a0As we shared a room and beds at families houses, I would feel myself being recovered with the blanket rather than it being pulled away. \u00a0I would feel a head on my shoulder, or find my own head welcomed on their shoulder as I struggled for comfort on the very long trips. \u00a0I saw gratitude and gratefulness for the life they are privileged to lead.<\/p>\n
I saw my boys, especially my oldest, able to relate in an incredible way to people of all walks. \u00a0No judgement. \u00a0Acceptance. \u00a0I saw him coming down to the level of little children after taking their picture to show them, rewarded with a smile. \u00a0He understand what a reward it was to receive that smile. \u00a0I loved that they understand the gift of family. \u00a0They absolutely understood that the true gift of meeting family that may not be around too much longer. \u00a0They watched the tears on my face and I believe sought to truly understand all that emotion and confusion. \u00a0I loved that they embraced their heritage, their culture as theirs. \u00a0Sure, they are Canadian, their birth certificates say so \u00a0and yet they sought to embrace their roots. \u00a0I loved that. \u00a0I hated being different growing up. \u00a0I wished I was white. \u00a0Everyone else around me was. \u00a0And while I get that my boys may have had those same feelings on occasion, especially living where we do, I saw them embrace what took me till this trip to do… truly appreciate and cherish my motherland. \u00a0I loved that the boys were able to see so much to be proud of … to see past the negatives and grab on to the positives. \u00a0Actually I think they had an uncanny ability to over look the poverty, the filth, the discomforts and see the beauty of this motherland.<\/p>\n
Upon return, as I listened to Sammy share his trip, I heard him talking about my uncle… except he said, “My Kumar Kaku…” My…<\/em>\u00a0I loved that it was his <\/em>kaku (uncle). \u00a0It could have just as easily been my mom’s uncle<\/em>… \u00a0I loved that he embraced this family … though separated by oceans… as his family as if they were in the next town.<\/p>\n I loved that as we saw needs, immense needs, the boys saw it and responded to it. \u00a0While in Calcutta at the temple, there were many beggars in this area… and we had been warned to not hand out money as we would be swarmed. \u00a0I loved that Tyler saw a little older lady, felt that tug and chose to break the rules and hand her a coin. \u00a0I love that seeing a little church on the roadside, that we stopped at, in need of seating (the members sat on the concrete floor), that my son said, “Mommy, I’d like to help raise money to buy benches.”<\/em><\/p>\n I love that this trip opened my eyes to the boys I have been raising, that drive me crazy on a daily bases are growing up to be good men. \u00a0Boys to Men. \u00a0Good Men. \u00a0I love that God gave me this assurance with these little peeks into their character. \u00a0I love that Sammy \u00a0put his arm around me as we were visiting family and said, \u00a0“Mommy, thanks for bring me on this trip.” \u00a0<\/em>I love the he loves wearing his Indian outfit, that he is able to stand out and be different. \u00a0I love that confidence. \u00a0I love that! \u00a0I love that they are eager to return again, soon.<\/p>\n I love that God gave me the privilege to be these six boys’ mama.<\/p>\n I love my boys.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n ps… if you would like to help the boys with their fundraising for benches for the church they saw… email me at sukreema@hotmail.com. \u00a0 And thanks!<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have struggled with this post, simply because to be true to me, I must be honest and yet to be honest seems to make me stick out… \u00a0you know, to admit that I am not a perfect parent or … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n