A role model for my son.

     Sometimes I worry about my son. Not that there is anything wrong with him.  It's just that he is the youngest in the family, and he has two older sisters who have a questionable influence on him.  Maybe if he had a dog that would help.  After all don't all little boys need a dog?  A dog would give him a partner in crime, someone to get in trouble with rather than playing kitchen with his sisters.  Someone to blame things on, when he gets in trouble.  You know the whole the dog ate my homework routine.
     Fortunately, he has a good role model in his life.  This role model takes the shape of a cousin who is several months older than he is.  A cousin who has no older sisters to corrupt him.  A cousin who is all boy.
     Recently this cousin was visiting.  Somewhere during the visit someone noticed that the two little boys were missing, and that they were awfully quiet.  That's when the search began.  It didn't take long to locate the two of them.  They were in the bathroom, and the toilet was completely full with all of my son's toy cars. 

 

     The cousin quickly denied any involvment "Corey did it!" he says.  The mothers  of said boys instantly start scolding them.  I on the other hand couldn't have been more proud.  Not only had the cousin helped Corey get in trouble, but he'd also shown him how to blame it on someone else.  A valuable lesson for a little boy to learn.

     Then Corey's cousin set a good example for me too.  I was ready to help the boys get the toys out of the toilet and clean them up.  As were the little boys.  Corey's cousin reached in and grabbed one, and his mother yelled "Don't touch that they're dirty!"  So the boys didn't touch them, and neither did I.  We sat back and watched the mothers dig them out of the toilet, and bleach them in the sink.  To think I was ready to go to my truck and get one of the shoulder length sleeves I use for preg-checking cows to cover my arm while cleaning the toys. 

     I'm so grateful that Corey's cousin set a good example for me too.  Why clean up a mess you've made, when you can get your wife or mother to do it for you?  I'm so glad that I've found a good role model for my boy, I think maybe I can learn a thing or two from this kid too.