Saturday, 19 April 2008

• Some Thoughts on My Son's 15th Birthday

  Fifteen years ago today, April 19, at 1:10 in the afternoon, after hours upon hours upon HOURS of hard labor and harder delivery, a screaming grayish cone-headed baby boy finally made his entrance into the world.  My first thought was "Good, the epidural held out."  My second thought was "Give me my baby.  I need to hold him."

  Tonight my delightful teenage son (and I truly mean that, I am not in any way being sarcastic about that,) was sitting in the extra bedroom we call an office.  As I worked on classwork, he entertained me by singing a song to the tune of "Mary, Did You Know?"  His song was entitled "Mother, Did You Know?" and was all about how he really didn't feel like cleaning his room at 1:00 in the morning.  (Yes, we do keep odd schedules.)  Meanwhile he has made brownies, (which just came out of the oven and are wafting their siren scent through the house,) and is writing a new theme song for a band he has decided to create soley for the purpose of using his awesome band name:  The Really Disappointing Carrots.

  So before I go partake of his yummy brownies, here are a few thoughts directed towards my son:

  • I'm sorry I didn't catch you when you tottered off the stoop and scarred your face at 10 months old.  (I cried so hard knowing that was a permanent scar.)
  • When you were two or three there was this really mean old man at Hardees and he literally was going to punch me.  Gina grabbed my keys and hustled you (and me) out the door while the old coot's friends held him back.  We got outside and you looked at me in all seriousness and said "If he hit you I was gonna kick him."  Lol... you learned to be protective early.  Good for you.
  • I was just telling someone the other day about when you were 3 years old and you'd take your plastic toy fishing pole and cast into the full culvert in our front yard in LeClaire.  Funny how you never caught anything.  But you were SO adorable!
  • You were four the first time we left you in Arizona with Grandma & Grandpa Rock for a whole week.  That was the first week you made friends with Lane, and I find it very cool that you two, as well as both of our families, have maintained that friendship through the years and despite the distance.
  • I dont' know how old you were when you started camping with Dad in the Boundary Waters, but I love those pictures.  You with a backpack bigger than yourself.  You pumping water through the filter.  You building a fire by yourself.  You have become a very accomplished outdoorsman at such a young age.
  • There were some really rough times for you over the last few years, but we've watched you grow into a self-confident, strong young man who knows how to cope with adversity, work hard, socialize in any circle, and keep your cool.
  • It blesses me to see your empathy in action.  You have a tender heart towards other peoples' needs.  That time we were in Chicago at the youth activity and you saved your lunch so you could give it to the homeless guy we'd passed on the way there....Your dad and I both were so proud of you we could've burst. 
  • You have a great sense of humor.  I love your witty randomness.  Touche.  No pun intended.
  • I'm proud of you for embracing your smarts and not letting kids sway you.  I know that re-entering public school this year wasn't easy but you handled it extremely well.
  • Keep growing in God.  All through your life people-- your friends, your teachers, your bosses, your heroes, even your parents-- are going to let you down.  There is never a moment, however, when God will not have you in His sight, in His care.  Don't be changed by your circumstances no matter who else is.
  • And of course, I love you.

  K, that's enough I think.  I'd say it would embarass him, but it won't.  I'm so thankful to have a teenage son not afraid to show affection.  I know our years homeschooling helped develop that closeness, as well as his natural tendencies to want to stay close to those he knows.

  And P.S.  The brownies are amazing.

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