a tale of two brothers

Once upon a time, there was a fair maiden that lived in a houseful of boys.  It was not Snow White, though, at times, her boys can be quite Grumpy and Sneezey.  Very seldom are they sleepy, but I digress.

Hit the rewind button to the end of school and summer.  Jeffrey, the fair prince and heir to the throne would come home from school quite exhausted.  For amusement, he would lock his brother Blake out of his room and dis-allow access to any of his toys.  The handsome prince Blake would become quite sad and distressed because all he really wants is to BE the fair prince Jeffrey.

Fast forward to the first month of homeschooling.  It is like magic fairy dust has settled over the house.  The combination of the three little princes being gone all day plus prince Jeffrey being home all day is turning into a winner.  Jeffrey actually looks forward to his brothers coming home (I doubt he would admit it), but even rode with me today to pick them up and giggled and laughed with them all the way home.

This is awesome, thought the fair maiden, but alas I am sure the swords will return once we get home.  Safely inside the castle, Sir Brantley wanders off to be left alone - exhausted by the social demands of school.  Sir Andrew, also quite content to NOT be intellectually stimulated is also winding down for the day.  

But, Prince Blake and Prince Jeffrey still are full of energy.  Prince J helps Prince B make a football field out of the family room (complete with separate locker room).  They then proceed to play together for THREE HOURS.  They run plays, video tape themselves into a football movie, clean up their mess, have a snack, take a bike ride, and somewhere around 6:00 go their separate ways.

"Shh, don't tell anyone," I tell the King, "but the princes are actually being NICE to one another."  I found Jeffrey piled in bed with Blake - heads stuck under the covers - watching their home-made football movie on the 3" video camera screen.  "Can Blake stay up just a few more minutes?" Jeffrey asks.

When I decided to homeschool Jeffrey, it was a decision covered in prayer and a layer of fear of the unknown.  We felt confident that it was what God wanted our family to do this year, but Doubt told me that I was kidding myself and the whole thing would prove to be a disaster.  The boys did not fight all the time, but Jeffrey really was worn out by the time the school day was over.  He had very little left to offer anyone else.  What a joy it has been to see him start to engage with his brothers - playing football with Blake, legos and game-cube with Brantley.  (He's always been nice to Andrew).

Maybe there is a "happily ever after" for this school year after all.