Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The day he became a man

High above, in the Peruvian Andes mountains, groups of men take their youngest kin fishing in Lake Titicaca. The men of the Uros build artificial islands made of floatable reed as their lives are surrounded by water. The youngest watch as the men bond through fishing.

In the early fall, men in central Europe gather their sons and friends and enter the Black Forest. On long hikes they search for patches of perfect Chanterelles. The youngest members on the trek delighted to be a part of the traditional male ritual.

On a dusty field off of the main road Carretera Sanchez in the Dominican Republic an intense game of baseball is played out by fathers, uncles, and the youngest of cousins. The sport of baseball is one of the strongest forms of male bonding and school aged boys take part eagerly.

Deep inside the suburbs of Chicago, east of Sheridan, perched high above on a Lake Michigan cliff a dinning room table is silent. The men of the family gather in delight as they inhale wings from Buffalo Joe's the youngest of the clan, halfway through kindergarten, devours a dozen alone before the eldest.

The smallest of the men....

watched

delighted

eagerly

devoured



That was the day that my son became a "man" (or so, we led him to believe it) surrounded by six incredible men: my father, my husband, my brother, my two cousins, and my uncle.

"That was an enjoyable time. Buffalo wings are my most favorite food." My little man whispered in my ear that night as I tucked him in.

And. That was the night that I kindaof cried myself to sleep realizing that my son's new favorite food was wings and not the organic puff cereal he loved as a toddler, or the gouda cheese he asked for in preschool, or even my infamous stuffed cabbage I spoon fed him until be was five. He has moved onto more manly food.

What's next?

55classy comments:

Rhea said...

That's awesome. What a cute male bonding ritual.

Me, I want to go in the Black Forest. That sounds awesome.

Now I need to ponder good female rites of passage...besides the usual blood, gossiping and back rubs...

Dennis and Leslie said...

Haha, that's adorable! What's next?? Spitting and shaving?? They grow up so fast....

Don Mills Diva said...

Is it weird that this made me a little weepy?

I guess I just really love wings.

Kat said...

Aww. The little man. :)

Those pictures are gonna bring back such wonderful memories when you look at them down the road.

*sniff, sniff*

Bethany said...

Oh, tell me about it...my nine year-old just quit believing in Santa. Talk about growing up!! It sucks when your kids get older. :)

Scary Mommy said...

OK, that is just the cutest thing. And it totally made me weepy too! So, what do the girls do?!

tiarastantrums said...

oh, you poor dear! It's too early! Don't let it happen(hugs for you) . . . but he's so cute - the little man!

Anonymous said...

Too cute!

Mmmmm, I love wings. I hope you girls had your own plates of wings. Mmmmmmmmm!

Next? Grilling!

carrie said...

Budweiser and Marlboros...

Just kidding! This was an adorably cute coming-of-age post!

Jenn said...

Stop, you're making me cry!!

Anonymous said...

I had to laugh - real men drink Diet Coke! he he.

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I love chicken wings! Am I a man now?

Anonymous said...

That made so happy! I love theat Jay loves those wings. We've been getting them for dad every year for his birthday as long as I remember along with a 6 pack of Guiness. Buffalo Joe's forever! Hopefully, he'll wait a few years before going through the 6 pack.

Anonymous said...

Girls and booze!
That is so cute.

Laura said...

Shaving and girls!!!!

What a realization, that your little boy is growing up...it happens so fast!

Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Oh babe. Heartbreaking and bittersweet and adorable.

A man.

*sniff*

Melissa ♥ Spoiled Mommy said...

Aww-dont you love/hate them moments?!
I love the pictures-very adorable!

Anonymous said...

Before you know it he'll be asking for coffee-milk! LOL

Buffalo wings.. ahhhhh.. you know how I feel!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

There is no turning back now!!

What a fun ritual that he is now part of.....really great pics of the men in your family!!

Happy Holidays!

Lisa

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Oh, he's growing. Beer and babes are next, right?

What a fun bonding activity....eating with men!

GypsiAdventure said...

So sweet - little men grow into big men soon enough, but for now he's still your little guy (wings and all).
~K
Happy 2009!

Jay @halftime lessons said...

fantastic...
Love the ritual, love the wings!!

jay

Courtney said...

What a handsome man he is too. How sad for the momma though, I feel for ya!

Stephanie said...

Steak. That's next. Every man has to love a good steak.

Blessings From Above said...

Jay looks so grown-up eating wings with the men. Bittersweet moment for any proud mama.

MarĂ­a said...

Is that your dad there beside him? I'm in love with your father, and now even more so. So handsome!!


Wait, this is supposed to be about your baby boy becoming a man. I'm all distracted by your dad...

Buffalo wings are so a woman's food too. I mean, ask my ass. And my thighs. *lol*

Momo Fali said...

What's next? Wet One's and beer.

krissy said...

At least he doesn't have a nice cold beer to chase the hot wings down.

My daughter loves wings. Loves.them. She can suck the meat off of the bone from across the table. It's nuts.

Happy New Year.

Lisa said...

I love it! What a man, Jay!

I've been very weepy about my Goosey growing up lately. Is it the time of year?

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Mommy, there's this girl I like...

Crushing. It hurts US worse than them.

Anonymous said...

I need more sleep. Because, I totally just read the title as : The day I became a man.

Awesome.

Briya said...

What's next? GIRLS.

the planet of janet said...

yeah, a brewski would have been just the thing...

... to send you right over the edge.

just wait til they sit at a table with you and LEGALLY ORDER ONE.

kill me.

BusyDad said...

As a fellow man, a shed a tear of joy. Another one has joined our ranks. Can I bring him to Hooters now? My kid needs a wings n beer buddy.

LTYM said...

I knew the jig was up when my 7 year-old son told me he thought Goldfish were for babies. I thought I'd be buying them for the next 20 years.

Diva's Thoughts said...

Aaaawww...how adorable!

April said...

I guess I'm not man enough to understand the appeal of buffalo wings. Thank you for making me grateful for my daughters!

Caroline C. Bingham said...

NNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lynn C Mama to 3 said...

That is too sweet. What happens when he starts aski8ng for a Bud Light to wash it down with?

Rachel said...

Awww!! Too cute! I adore that boy and you, you are just too darling girlie.

Yippeee!

Miss said...

What's next? Beer most likely.

xo

Anonymous said...

This is awesome! I know our kids are 6 going on 21. My 6 year old eats organic kashi cereal with soy milk and now peppermint hot cocoas from Starbucks. They grow up so fast. Especially the younger ones who are following in their older siblings foot steps a little sooner than I would like. Enjoy!

mwshores@bellsouth.net

Anonymous said...

Awww, he's growing up! I love the male-bonding over buffalo wings. TOo cute!

McMommy said...

I think beer pong is just around the corner....

*makes a mom so proud*

Robin said...

What next is eating increasingly hot wings until they are actually on fire and jalapeno eating contest. (sorry)

Then of course the fart jokes, but maybe you will be lucky.

Clare said...

what a cute post, i love the picture of jay reaching over all of the 'men' covered in wing sauce!! adorable!

katydidnot said...

this is my favorties post of yours. perfect male bonding.

katydidnot said...

this is my favorties post of yours. perfect male bonding.

Flea said...

Congratulations, OHmommy. One of the most difficult, but definitely most beautiful things about raising a son, is watching him grow toward manhood and independence. Having an 18 year old baby boy is certainly and ugly thing. Good job, mom!

Unknown said...

"What's next?" Women.

just jamie said...

Oh boy... (BIG boy).

Crystal D said...

LOL, only you could make a vegetarian get all misty eyed over a boy eating wings. But seriously, what a sweet boy you have.

CC said...

Ah! The manly man. Just now loogies, 'kay?

Amy said...

Definitely a rite of passage. But we put our girls through it too! We are some wing eating fools here!

Ali said...

chicken wings = Josh's FAVORITE food
:)

 

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