Mama's Little Boy

Johnny is 8 years old and quite handsome. Mama’s friends say, “Girl that boy is so fine he’s going to break a lot of girls hearts someday!” Mama replies, “I know he is.” What Mama doesn’t understand is that this boy will someday break her heart as well. You see, Mama wants the best for Johnny. So she buys him the $120 pair of Jordan sneakers and Kangol hats. Nothing but top shelf for her little boy. At home while Mama cleans the house, washes clothes and cooks for Johnny, Johnny is free to play video games or go outside with his friends. On garbage day Mama takes the garbage out to the curb while Johnny sits in the car waiting for her to drive him to school. When it’s time to mow the lawn, Johnny is playing ball with the neighborhood kids. Mama mows a mean lawn. Hers is the best looking yard in the neighborhood.

In school Johnny is a good student earning A’s, B’s and C’s. He’s also a pretty good athlete. Basketball is his sport of choice. Someday he hopes to make the powder cloud before every NBA game just like LeBron James. Johnny’s in 8^th grade now and Mama needs his help with the house chores. She asks her son to please help with the dishes. It sure would be nice if he would mow that big pretty lawn. Maybe, he could just take out the garbage. That would be a good place to start. This year he discovered girls in a special way. Honor roll is no longer a priority for Johnny. He’s too busy trying to move from 3^rd base with your pretty little girl. Yes, you daughter. The nice girl in the 8^th grade honors class who thinks Johnny is as fine as Ginuwine.

We all know Johnny. He’s the dashing young man dating our teenager daughters. He’s the 3^rd year college stud who tells our bright college girl that he’s just the right man to make her a woman. Johnny is the man whom our baby girl with a master’s degree in engineering wants to marry. Despite his flaws, Johnny has a lot of potential. He always lands a good job, but can never hold onto it. Johnny almost graduated from Big State University, but he came up 28 credit hours short. Baby Girl has faith in her man. She’s convinced if she sticks by him, he’ll turn it all around and be the man that he says he wants to be someday. They’ll live happily every after.

Mama is sad. She’s bought Johnny 3 cars, paid for two abortions and spent half of her savings supporting his bad habits. Now, Mama is tired. She won’t admit it to anyone, but she knows Johnny is weak. He’s no good for Baby Girl. In fact, Johnny is no good for Mama, but she loves her boy. The wedding plans are set. Soon it’ll be official. Baby Girl will be Johnny’s wife. Weddings are supposed to be a celebration of the union of between a man and a woman. But Mama knows better. Mama knows Johnny is not a man. He’s a boy who expects his Mama to take care of him. Soon Johnny’s new Mama will be Baby Girl. She’ll nurture, protect and support his failures time and time again. Someday they’ll have a son and she’ll raise him the same way that she’s raising her husband. You know who Johnny Jr. is. He’s the really handsome kid who’s dating your niece. He says yes sir and yes maam. He’s a lot of fun to talk to but you know this kid is no good. In order to save our families from boys like Johnny, we must raise Johnny to be a man. Johnny can’t learn how to be a man from a woman. Johnny has to learn how to be a man from a man. Men in every community must stop forcing mothers to raise Johnny alone. It’s time for Johnny’s father to be a man and teach a man. Mama’s little boy is played out.