Chapter 7: The Lion looks after it's cub

Making mistakes as a parent should be celebrated especially if this is your first rodeo. The fact that you and the child you helped bring into the world are absolutely clueless as to what to do with each other should be a testament that the human race can and will keep chugging along. Take for example Parental instincts. No one knows how that happens, but it does. All of a sudden you become crazy protective of this little human. I've noticed how this has happened when it comes to bringing him around people that I know. I noticed how I want to keep myself, and my son around people who are naturally, good people who have integrity and are about something and all others can...well just go to hell. What can I say it's the lion in me looking after it's cub. Some people might not get it, but I honestly don't care about that and I refuse to have my son around people that I do not respect.

However no one is perfect and no one has the right answers on how to raise a child. I guess the thing that keeps me a float is that I usually follow my gut instincts and those instincts only came when I had Banneker. Some days are perfect some are not and often times I am fine with that. I am a hopeful realist. Even when my son is screaming bloody murder (which is downright brutal I should add) one should have a sense of calm. I guess as a dad that is one of the things that I contribute as one half of the team. This is important because I believe I am showing my son that I am here for him and I can be that wall for him to lean on as he is trying to work things out. I've seen it in his eyes when he is so tired that all he can do is yell at the top of his lungs and Lord knows I don't like having that experience, but during all the madness I do see a glimmer of hope as he stops to gather his strength for the next round of attack, then we make eye contact. It's at this moment he knows that I am there for him. For better or worse and when the Sandman finally begins to sprinkle the last few grains of sand over his eyes I can't help but hold my son a little tighter while I'm noticing the peace that has finally arrived for him. I lay him down kiss him gently on the forehead and watch him sleep before I go about my business.

And so it is I am...
L. Jeffrey Moore