Wild Things

I'm reading a book right now called "Wild Things: the Art of Nurturing Boys". It's very interesting. It breaks boys down by age, explaining how best to interact with them, the ways they think (or don't), and some strategies for helping them grow. It's been a great book.

(If you're reading this on my actual blog (as opposed to Facebook), there's an Amazon ad on the left with a link to it and a couple of other books, too.)

The author was talking about how certain boys, especially in their pre-teens, can get very focused when playing a video game, working a task, etc. That reminded me of a story.

I had a lawn business for a little while, and sometimes I would get some youth from the church to help out on larger jobs. I had this big yard to do with flower beds all around a pool. They were very jungle like, and looked as if they hadn't been cleaned up in months.

I was trimming hedges, and Josh (a 12 year-old that was the son of a friend and a great kid) was pulling weeds and throwing them in a garbage can. Josh is a VERY smart kid. He now attends Stephen F. Austin State University, in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Me: "Josh, could you run around to the front and get the shovel and the rake out of the pickup."

Josh: "Okay."

Josh took about 4 steps and I stopped him.

Me: "Josh?"

Josh: "Yes?" he said, turning around.

Me: "What are you getting from the truck?"

Josh: "Uhh...the rake?"

Me: "And..."

Josh: "Uhh..."

Me: "The shovel."

Josh: "Right! The shovel!"

Josh turned and started trotting toward the front of the house.

Me: "Josh!"

Josh: "Yes?"

Me: "If you want, you can go ahead and throw those weeds in the garbage can."

He looked down at his hands and the two fistfuls of weeds he was still carrying.

Me: "Oh yeah."