For the love of labor

I've started putting the boys to work.  In an odd way, this has been easier than trying to entertain them. In fact, to my surprise, things have been going really well.  I'm sort of not sure what to make of this.

This morning, each boy got his own patch of yard to weed, and each boy seemed to appreciate the chance to carry out sanctioned destruction.  So much so, that later in the day, I bought each boy his own set of garden shears and leather gloves.  (Yes, I purchased them new.  Real money was involved.  So you know this is serious)>

The result was delight.  The minute N-son got back from a friend's home, he discovered the new weapons (I mean, garden tools), he was out in his patch of dirt.

N-son chopping down weeds.

J-son and C-son had a head-start on N-son, and they were the first to beg to be allowed to try the new tools out.  They spent all evening -- two and a half hours -- clearing out the weeds under my pear tree.  Every once in a while I'd go to check on them.  And they were still working hard (and harmoniously!) together.  It was C-son's night to cook, but what was I supposed to say?  "Son, stop all that weeding right now!  Come in and cook!"   No, at about 8:00 I told them they were allowed to weed until dark, and I went in and made dinner myself.  Worse compromises have been made.

The pear tree at 6 p.m.

The same pear tree at 8:30 p.m

Speaking of cutting things, earlier in the day, J-son had asked for a haircut.  He wanted his mohawk touched up, and could I please add lightning bolts?  C-son was intensely interested in the process.  He explained (somewhat to our surprise) that he'd worked in a barbershop.  He didn't want to cut J-son's hair himself, but he offered to "touch it up".  And the attention and care he showed to his brother was -- fittingly -- touching.

No beta-fish baiting here.  Just a big brother, showing off his skills, and making sure his younger brother was still as devastatingly attractive as his rep demands.

If things keep going like this, I think we'll survive the summer!