Although it’s almost 9 am, the house is quiet; which is quite a feat with 16 people in the house. The aroma of Gerald’s famous Creole turkey fills the air and shortly there will be all the fixings to go with it. Today is Thanksgiving, but I have been filled with thanks all week. I could have passed on having a math test Tuesday afternoon, but it is great to have the house full of friends and family. There is no greater feeling than knowing you can be yourself, and know you are still loved anyway. It is quite amazing to see how beautiful our kids are, inside and out. I know, everyone thinks their kids are amazing, but mine are amazing people. This semester in school we read a poem by Ben Jonson he wrote just after the death of his first son who was only seven years old.
On My First Son
by Ben Jonson
Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy ;
My sin was too much hope of thee, lov'd boy.
Seven years thou wert lent to me, and I thee pay,
Exacted by thy fate, on the just day.
Oh, could I lose all father now ! For why
Will man lament the state he should envy?
To have so soon 'scaped world's and flesh's rage,
And if no other misery, yet age !
Rest in soft peace, and, asked, say, Here doth lie
Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry.
For whose sake henceforth all his vows be such
As what he loves may never like too much.
Our professor asked us what the last line meant, what does he mean using the words “love” and “like” in that way. Being the only mom in the room, I raised my hand… As a parent we will always love our children, no matter their shortcomings, or choices – good or bad, but to truly like them means that even if they were your children you would like being with the anyway. In this time that is a rare occurrence. Usually people think that to love someone is the greater act; however in this instance to “like” is actually a more profound emotion. There is no doubt of my love for my children, but I truly “like” who they are. They are so much fun to be around, but it is amazing to see their interaction with people. They have good and compassionate hearts, full of wit, overflowing with personality, each one so different from the others but all of them intelligent and beautiful.
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