Them's The Rules

I'll be the first to admit that Alex has always been a Momma's Boy. His soft, consistent devotion has Tim worried that I'll be tucking him into his bed well into his 20's, but like any mother of a momma's boy, I revel in it. I love that he'll still save me a seat next to him at the movies even if his friends are there. I silently beam when he waves to me from across a field during one of his soccer games. And, yes, tucking him in bed never gets old.

Which leads us to the subtle shift...

 Alex is playing both soccer and lacrosse this spring. Lacrosse is a venture that he's found that he's both good at and enjoys. Two of his best friends are on the team with him. It's the first time he gets to wear a cup and enough padding to make him feel tough (and make me comfortable enough not to go screaming onto the field like a banshee on fire every time he gets hit).

 With his new venture, comes new personal rules in the mom/son department....I have been informed that I am strictly forbidden from kissing him anytime he wears his lacrosse gear. Strictly. Forbidden. As in, don't even think about it. In his Yoda-esque wisdom, he explains that boys who wear pads and a mouth guard can't be seen kissing their moms. It just doesn't happen.
But in his soft, devoted sort of way, he has offered me a consultation prize; he says that I can kiss him all I want when he plays soccer. No cup, no pads, no problem.

Not to worry, Tim. It looks like I'll only be tucking him into bed until he's 18.