I got postcards!

I also talked to both the boys on Sunday night about 10 pm. I was so happy to hear from them. They are having a good time and were looking forward to going to D.C. on Monday.
Jarrett wrote on his postcard, "Hey, remember me? I used to live there. Well, I remember you!" Then he went on to tell me about Old Rag Mountain that they climbed. Ricky talked about Old Rag too and he admitted that he was "kinda homesick, but who isn't!" I really enjoyed hearing from them.

Of course, with them being gone I have spent a lot of time thinking about some changes that could be made in our family. Things could be done better to make things easier on me and less stressful for the boys. I hate that I want them to be the best ever. I know they will never live up to all my expectations. I need to try to accept them for who they are and what they can do. But I don't know how to do that yet. My emotions get in the way sometimes. Like with scouts. I am not happy unless they are both at the meetings every week. I do ask them if they want to go to events or not. They always say yes but then they give me a hard time when it's time to go because its the weekend and they want to hang out with their buddies or go to the movies. Again and again I have to explain to them that they made an commitment to something and they need to follow through. Like with this football camp, I could not get him to go the last two days before he left for summer camp. He made it seem like I was the worst person for trying to make him go. He tried to tell me that his body was not ready for intense training yet. He needs to work up to it. He needs to start out slower and then maybe he could do the two hour death camp training. Yet, I was still trying to guilt him into going. Telling him that he wanted this, not me. Saying that sure you are going to hurt for the first week but after that your muscles will get used to it and it will get easier. Pushing him to argue with me about not going. Just making him feel like crap for not going, and not really supporting him like a parent should. I just want him to make an effort and try something new. Maybe I am doing this all wrong, but I am trying. I have not given up yet.