So, as I posted recently, I am re-reading Wild at Heart by John Eldredge.
I love the stories that John weaves into the book... and tonight I had my own story.
Today was Aedyn's birthday and we spent most of the day out and about. As we returned home from our trip to Krispy Kreme for an after dinner donut, Heather and I heard from the back seat, "I have to potty!!"
We were only about half a mile from home so I asked Aedyn if he could hold it until we got home.
"Yes, I will go potty at home," he replied. But not more than a few seconds had passed before Aedyn informed both Heather and I that he would be going potty in the grass when we got home.
Needless to say we were both surprised by his statement. The only time Aedyn has ever intentionally relieved himself in the great outdoors was during a trip to Chattanooga with Heather last August when they had to pull over on the side of the Interstate.
Aedyn became more and more insistent that he wanted to "potty on the grass;" to which Heather said he would have to ask his Papa about that one.
As I was about to answer I first thought, "No he can't pee in the grass. He can walk the 30 yards to our apartment and pee in the toilet. What are we raising, Barbarians?"
It was in that instant that I caught myself.
The world barbarian is defined as uncivilized; an outsider. That is exactly what I want to raise.
Our culture tells young men that they are supposed to be safe, controlled, meek... that they shouldn't pee in the grass. But I want to raise my boys to be is something different.
I want them to be unaccustomed to the dull and dreary expectations civilization has for them.
I want them to be at home in the wilderness, to be an outsider to the world of "nice" guys.
So I let him pee in the grass.
The look on his face was priceless. You would have thought he had scaled the Matterhorn or wrestled a wild tiger into submission.
I had given him permission to be a man... a very small man, but a man none the less.
