Family Traditions ( Archived) (10)

For generations in my family it has been a tradition that once the boys come of age..(14)..they are put on 'detention for six months hard labor'..this of course means working out on a farm during their free time and learning the ropes of working on the land and with animals. It happens whether we live in the city or towns.

Well today my son Liam 14 had his first day learning to drive a tractor and be subjected to the harsh reality of work....We live on a the beautiful coast and enjoy an optimum lifestyle but he journeyed at 4.30 a.m. on a bus to partake in what has been a long life tradtition.

As a woman I was thrust in a world tyoday unfamiliar to me filled with mixed emotions, the mother side wanted to keep him in bed and make him hot chocolate...the wisdom side knew through experience that is has been a healthy and rewarding doorway into manhood....

Do you continue any traditons that are proudly part of your family and ancestors?

kinda the same as you, work ethic...it's a wonderful thing to be taught if you don't already possess it. I'm sure your son will feel quite the man when he is done

Thanks Princess...its always hard to let go as a mother and stop mothering but I know in my heart it helps shape boys into fine young men.

my son is 22 and I still can't stop mothering, but I don't think that they really want us to, after all, they only have 1 mother for a lifetime! ....... .........

Have to say thats a great tradition to have. Must learn very quickly that hard work pays off.. Mre people should do something like that!

If I had a hat I'd tip it for you.

Where are you Zarah? It doesn't sound like a Dublin thing.

No

I am coming there is three weeks so you will have to put with me then...

I am living in Australia at the moment but lived in lots of countries through medical and humanitarian work but born is Sweden...

Thank Goodness for my son...he would probably get buried under a blizzard.

We had a tiny one of those the other day.....so I wouldn't rule out some May snow in these climate change days!!