Friends...

As I mentioned in my first post, I am blessed to have friends that I have made in various seasons of my life scattered throughout this beautiful country. Sadly, though, that means that I don't get to see most of them as often as I would like and, in too many cases, our connection consists of an occasional email or Christmas card. Still, I'm glad the connection is there. Now that Wyatt and Jack are elementary school age, they are beginning to form what may become lifelong friendships. It's very cool to see these fledgling relationships develop. I was fortunate to grow up with the same group of friends from elementary school through high school. That continuity was incredibly important for me. Those relationships helped form who I am and gave me an identity that endures to this day; they ground me in time and place and still provide a meaningful touchstone.

I don't know if the friendship experience is the same or different for boys. Regardless, I firmly believe that friendships are incredibly important relationships to foster and maintain. Valuing friendship doesn't devalue the role of family nor does it ignore how often family members are also friends. While bonds of family are intricate, invaluable and often indescribable (though poets, philosophers, psychiatrists have tried), friendships are unique in that people who were once strangers choose to love each other simply because they share something together that defies obligation. It's as simple as this: friends just want to be with each other. For many folks, myself included, some friendships are so nurturing and sustaining that those individuals actually become family, though no genelogy will ever memorialize their existance. These special friends add value to our lives in powerful ways; and that's a beautiful gift I want my boys to have.

With that lofy ideal in mind, I try very hard to give Wyatt and Jack time with friends. Because they are on an intradistrict transfer, they don't go to school with the kids in the neighborhood. So we do our best to create play dates and other experiences for them to enjoy with the friends they have made. They have good friends...friends that one day may be just like family. At least, that's my hope.


Wyatt and Levi: These handsome boys became buddies in Ms. Megan's class at preschool in 2003. They've been on soccer teams together for the last two years, the Pumas and the Leopards.



Jack and Ian: How great is it when your children are friends with other siblings who are about the same age? Pretty great! Ian is Levi's little brother. We like doing "dual play dates" with all four boys. Our thought is that if the little brothers are occupied with a friend and they won't bug the big brothers...as much.



Third Grade Buddies:
This is a quite a crew. These are Wyatt's kickball mates at school. Maka (far right) and Wyatt have been friends since birth. We lived in a duplex beside his family when they were born. What a great group of young men!




Jack and Jake: Jake is Jack's friend from preschool. Time will tell if they'll still be finding fun together down the road. Someone asked if they were twins...made me smile!