Filling Dad's MAN Shoes!

We are in a great time of life these days! Boyd finished working about a week ago, and we have a month together before we throw ourselves into the jaws of medical school. Because of his extra time, Boyd has been really stepping up to help out with Keido. In his own words, "I feel like I'm becoming the wife in this relationship." (Boyd just read this and said, that's not the whole reason why he feels like the woman. He holds Keido while I coach basketball, plays with him while I workout, walks the halls with him in church while I fulfill my calling, and chats with the other moms when he decides to take Keido into nursery.) To me, he's just getting a taste of what I do, and before long he'll be wishing he really could be the woman. I really love that he's also getting to spend some quality time with his best little buddy. Keido has been needing a little more "man" influence in his life.

Anyways, the real story here is about Boyd giving Keido "man" lessons. The other night I came home from teaching piano lessons and noticed that our parents' car doors were wide open. As I approached, there was loud music flooding out and I could see Boyd's head bobbing back and forth to the beat. I thought, oh no...Boyd's had enough of Keido and is hiding in the car while his sisters take care of him. I came up to the passenger side where he was sitting and said "Hey Boyd, where's Keido?" Just then, this little head leans forward in the driver's seat and Keido gives me a big grin. "We're just rocking out," said Boyd. Apparently they had been there for quite some time, and weren't done yet. So, I went inside and let them continue whatever they were up to.

The next night, I came home from my second round of piano lessons and found Asuka in the car with Keido this time. Same scenario. Keido in the driver's seat, visors down, music pumping, and one hand on the wheel. Asuka said that he set everything up just right, helped put the key in the ignition, and then sat down to bob to the beat.

Hanging out in the car has been a regular occurrence lately. In Boyd's mind it sure beats having Keido brush his hair, put on make-up, and lotion his face. But, to make sure that Keido is really doing manly things, Boyd taught him how to spit. Keido's spitting habit started out as just a little dribble down the face, but has progressed into a full cock your head back, work up the saliva, throw your face down and let it fly. In fact, as he was helping me do the dishes the other night, he stopped part way through to spit into the garbage next to his chair. This might be something we are going to really regret teaching him.

The last manly thing lately has been something that we don't know where Keido picked it up, but Boyd likes to claim teaching him. He has started chest bumping things. He chest bumps doors, garbage cans, us, Asuka's legs, and pretty much whatever looks like fun to run into. What a little MAN!