Bonding time for boys, quiet time for mom

We are busy.

I’m sure you are too.

With three active boys, we run from one thing to the next to the next.

Last Friday was one of those days when there was a little something for everyone.

I took all the boys over to the Naches Valley High School football game.

It was the season and home opener against East Valley.

Last year at this time, my now 1 year-old wasn’t old enough to take in the late night game.

So, I took the older boys and Nathan stayed at home with mom.

What a difference a year makes!

So, how did the night shake out?

Well, let’s start with mom. OK, I’m not necessarily looking for a pat on the back, but this was my idea.

I told Julie to take the night off from all things “boys.”

She went out with a friend (of course, a girl – she needs that on occasion) and had a great time.  I’m told there was a trip to Borders followed by an appetizer platter.

My oldest boy, Matthew, doesn’t really like football. But, at age 16, he does like his friends, and many of them were in attendance.

I’m not sure he knew the final score, but he had a great time just “hanging out.”

Micah, who is 10, would give up just about anything for football. He loves it. Can’t stop talking about it.

So, he loves to go to the games.

He spent part of the night playing an impromptu game of football with some of his friends back behind the stadium. And the other part of the night was spent cheering on the Rangers.

As for the little guy, he spent most of the night in the stroller – but he did do a little crawling around towards the end of the first half.

He did great until late in the fourth quarter when he gave me the “dude, it’s late” look. He wanted to be held and was done with the stroller.

No problem. A little time for me and the littlest Mayes is good for both of us.

So, all in all, a great night.

Guess what we’re doing this Friday night? You guessed it, a re-run. We’ll be back at Ranger Stadium.

My tip for you husbands out there. Make sure she has time for a girls night every now and again.

A happy wife (and mama) makes things in your home and marriage run pretty darn smooth. And, she just might remember it the next time you want to go out with the fellas.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth football dad and changes diapers. He’s experienced many things as a parent, but is absolutely clueless about raising daughters.

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