Compare and Contrast

Benjamin recently was assigned a compare and contrast essay and it gave me an idea for a blog. I know you should never compare your children, but forget that, this could be fun. I think of my boys as being so different, though many would disagree.

Sam was born on a nice, beautiful, sunny, early spring day. He screamed the second he was out of me. Ben was born during a thunder storm and was very quiet. Sam was an easy going baby who loved to nap. Ben was a wild thing who never napped. Sam walked at 15 months, Ben at 11. Sam took forever to start to talk, Ben was never quiet. Sam loved sleeping in his crib and finally got out of it when he was 4, Ben hated his crib and was climbing out before his was two. We put him in a bed early so he wouldn't kill himself. Ben didn't sleep by himself until he was 7 or 8, and then he had about 5 night lights. Sam would play with his train set all day, every day. Ben wouldn't play with anything for more than 20 minutes at a time. We called Ben, Benzilla as a toddler.

Sam loved school and loved to read. He especially liked reading history text books. Ben has never really liked school. Sam read every book he was assigned and Ben, not so much. Sam loved History class the most, Ben only likes lunch this year. Ben is better at Math than Sam. Ben recently asked me if Sam was "forced to read all the books in his room or is he really that much of a dork?". Ben has a few books in his room in a basket under a pile of clothes, none of which he has read. When Sam is home we share the paper and discuss the articles over breakfast. I'm not allowed to speak to Ben in the morning and he has never once read the paper. Recently I asked Sam what he liked best about going to college and he replied "the lectures". I don't even know what to say, except, where did he come from? Ben is sometimes right when he calls him a dork.

Morning is not Ben's finest hour. He likes to stay up late and has a hard time falling asleep and subsequently waking up. Once when I dropped him off at school, I cheerily said "have a good day", he replied "why do you say that, you know I won't". I try to keep a sense of humor and more often than not he apologizes by dinner time. Sam tends to wake up easier and is more pleasant, as long as you don't rush him.

Both boys have multiple groups of friends. There are the school friends, the sports friends, the guy friends, the girl friends, and in Ben's case, the x box friends. Both have been raised in a very diverse community and don't see the world in any other way. Both have friends with names I can't pronounce or spell. I really like all of their friends. Ben lives to text with his friends, Sam not so much. Ben has a much fancier phone then Sam, and Sam doesn't seem to care.

Ben is a soccer player, Sam played hockey. Sam ran cross country and track,all long distances. Ben is trying track this year and he won the long jump and came in second in the 100 and 800 in a recent meet. Don't tell Sam, but Ben is going to be a faster runner. Both are superb athletes and can play almost anything. Sam loves to watch sports on TV and in person. Ben hates watching sports on TV and only occasionally enjoys watching it live. Both love gym class. Most importantly, both love the Red Sox. I'm doing my best to raise them right.

Sam doesn't care about what he wears, frequently doesn't shave and never combs his hair. Ben loves new clothes, always combs his hair and recently asked me if he should shave his mustache. I needed reading glasses to see the hair, so I said no. Sam is like a golden retriever. All happy and furry. Ben, I haven't figured it out yet, but certainly something sleeker. They both wear a similar size, though Ben's feet are bigger. I have a community laundry basket with t shirts and socks in it. I have no clue who they belong to. Ben is built like his Dad and Sam is built like my Dad when he was young and buff.

Both enjoy listening to music. Ben loves Metallica, if fact, I'm not allowed to speak if it's on the radio. Both of them play with the radio stations while I'm driving and it makes me nuts.

I could go on and on. They are brothers, different, but so alike. Ben calls Sam a "dork" and Sam calls Ben a "punk". I try not to get involved, though they might be accurate. They love each other. I am so blessed to have them in my life. They have made me a better person and have brought me more joy then I thought possible. My two greatest blessings both call me "Mom". Mother's Day is on Sunday. For me, it's not about a card or a gift, it's about watching my two glorious boys become men and find their way in the world.