to Josiah, on his 8th…
So you’re eight today, a day I thought would surely take forever to get here; but here we are. I can go on and on about how I hate how fast time is going by, but this isn’t about that. This is about celebrating the boy you are becoming, and the little man you will be soon.
You are eight and I am older, but much, much better knowing you are coming along so nicely. I’m not really sure how we have accomplished this. I remember holding you in my arms when you were a baby, and wondering what you would be like when you grew up. I was anxious and nervous, but instantly calmed seeing your mother hold you and love you.
I see you around people, how polite and respectful you are… but it’s when I see that little mischevious twinkle in your eye that I love you the most. I also love you the most when I see how kind your heart is. I can’t decide between the two, so I’ll go with both.
You slept in our bed until a couple of years ago. I know you could have slept on your own, but it was really me that still wanted to hold you at night. I was the one that was a wreck when you and your brother moved into your own room. Weird, huh? I don’t really care, because those were years when I was working crazy hours and momma was hanging on to her sanity and the only time I had to connect with you was when we settled in at night and I was able to hold you as you fell asleep on my shoulder. I would do it all the same again, if I could.
One night about six months ago, when we just had moved into our new house and we were still getting a feel for things, I needed to go outside and get something out of my car. It was dark, I mean pitch dark, but you ran right by me into the night. I thought about how brave you were, how I might never had done that at your age, but then you came back running to me, grabbed my hand and led me to the car. I felt humbled that you wanted me to hold your hand, and grateful that you still needed that. I hope those days last a long time.
Computers and all things lego are an obssesion with you right now. It makes me laugh to think how alike we are, and how the same things I was into at your age you are currently obssesing about. Don’t worry, I drove my papa and momma crazy with it also. I have some personality flaws that I’m afraid I may have passed on to you also, but no worries there… I think I’ll understand you much better than I’ve understood myself so far.
It is amazing to see how you love your sister and brother. You are a wonderful older brother. You are patient beyond our dreams with your sister, sometimes so much more than your momma and I. That makes you pretty amazing.
Your mother and I love you. I tell you that every night when I put you to bed. I love that little ritual every night, and hate it when I miss it when I am traveling. I know the days are numbered on nightime rituals and wanting to hold my hand. It’s ok, I also enjoy watching you grow. But I do enjoy these days immensely. Happy Birthday buddy, I love you, and you can be sure that it won’t be the last time I tell you that.
lego creations…
josiah has been on a mad tear lately creating all sorts of super mario bros. lego guys… honestly, if he was obsessed about any other toy like he is about his legos, I might be a bit worried. But it’s legos, about the most educational toy that is out there. If I could afford it, I’d buy the kid gobs and gobs of the stuff. As you can see by the picture below, the boy can make some pretty cool stuff.
One year later…
First day of school 2006 – K
First day of school 2007 – 1st
I love and hate it how much he has grown…
Pop tarts and video games
Josiah, Jack and I headed down to the southern outer banks yesterday for a weekend without the girls. This is about as much as a boys weekend as it can get. I hurriedly packed for all three of us yesterday morning, not really sure if I packed underwear for the boys or if I was missing anything else. Sure enough, I didn’t pack their toothbrushes and I have nothing to brush their hair with. I tried to wet their hair down, but Josiah really didn’t want me to do that, so he voted to just shave his head. I guess this is what boys do, so I figure we’ll make do.
The drive down was pretty uneventful, with the boys playing their Gamecube in the back while I zoned out to whatever was playing over the radio. Every now and then I’d look back at them through the rearview mirror and just smile. I can’t define exactly what being a dad all means… but this is as close as it gets for me right now.
We had a couple of emergency pit stops, but still managed to get down here in a good time. The realty company messed up our keys, so while we waited for the after hours person to show up, we headed down to the beach and took it in. The boys have been to the beach before, but it was like they had seen it for the first time. That’s weird for me, having lived all my life in Miami. The ocean was always there and it was always a part of my life. I miss Miami that way.
We finally got the keys and made it in, and the boys immediately discovered the Xbox in the house. I found my way into the other room to put the college ball game on and got settled in. During breaks we made our plans for this weekend. Kite flying, mini golf, sea shell hunting and maybe a dip in the water if it’s not freezing. I think we’ll make it to the aquarium at some point. After about an hour of hanging out I realize we had nothing to eat. In most cases this would be a problem, but mama packed chips, fruit roll ups and pop tarts for the ride down.
So video games and pop tarts kicked off our first night. We played into the night, watched basketball and pretty much passed out at about eleven. Today we’ll explore the town a bit and head to the beach a bit later. We miss our girls, but I’m really glad to hang out with my boys. I’m telling you, right now, this is what being a dad is all about.
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And we danced…
What do you get when you combine 100 elementary kids, the cha cha slide, the electric slide, limbo, some Outkast and The Black Eyed Peas? Well, only the most fun dance party that I’ve ever been to with a bunch of 9 year olds. (Not that I go to allot of dance parties that involve 9 year olds…) Anyways, Josiah’s school hosted a dance Friday night, and he really wanted to go. This surprised me a bit, because between Jack and Josiah, it usually is Jack that likes to listen to loud music, dance with me, hang out at outdoor concerts and the like.
We dressed Josiah up in his handsome shirt, took the obligatory first dance pictures and Josiah and I headed over to the school. To say there was energy in the room would be a little bit of an understatement. It was ROCKING. The music and DJ were awesome, and although Josiah never ventured too far from me, I did manage to get him out on the floor with me to do a little dancing. The most fun part of the night was when we did the cha cha slide. If you’ve never done the cha cha slide, it’s like an updated electric slide, only 100 times more fun.
The highlight of the night was when the 2007 dance champions were crowned. My inner fourth grader wanted to get out there and compete, but you know , it would have been a little awkward and all. Besides, the boy and girl champions were well deserved. It was a really fun night, and I’m looking forward to many more years of dance parties with my kids.
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Conversation with Josiah…
Papa, Mama bought us beer today!
Ummmmm, what???
Yea, she bought us kid beer. Kid beer!!
Buddy, there is no such thing as kid beer. (At least I hope not, and if there was, where was it when I was growing up??)
Yes there is. She bought it at the store today. She said it’s special kid beer.
No. Really, there is no kid beer. Show me what she bought you.
He then runs to the kitchen and brings back a big bottle of sparkling cider.
OH…ok, this is not kid beer, this is like sparkly juice.
OHHHH…
You haven’t been telling your friends mama buys you kid beer, have you?
No answer… just a big grin….
Oh, well. I guess we’ll just wait for that knock on the door from child protective services now.
Girls Growl
So the other day I’m having a conversation with Josiah in which he is explaining to me why he asked to be moved from his current table at school.
j: I wanted to move because H (a girl in his class) was bothering me.
me: how was she bothering you?
j: she growls at me.
me: (laughing) wha??? growls at you?
j: yea, she growls at me
I couldn’t help but laughing, because, well, girls do growl from time to time. I explained to him that how he responds to that growling is what matters.
j: It’s OK, she’s still my friend even if she growls at me.
There’s wisdom there my friends.
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How is this for insensitive?
Josiah’s school celebrated grandparent’s day this week. Well, his marmie and opa (grandma and grandpa) live in Miami, so unfortunately he wouldn’t have them at his school on that day. He fully understood that they couldn’t come, and was OK with that. So, the other day when he gets home he tells me:
j: I had a horrible day at school today.
me: Oh no, what happened buddy?
j: Well, it was grandparents day, and all the kids had a special lunch with their grandparents in the lunchroom but me and Jordan and Priscilla had to stay in the classroom and eat our lunch there. And I had to ask to be able to sit with Jordan and Priscilla because we were sitting at different desks.
me: wtf???? (I didn’t say that, but it was what I was thinking)
What person in their right mind singles 6 year old kids out because their grandparents could not make it for whatever reasons? I can’t think of one good explanation. They could have “adopted” a grandparent for the day, or even sat with the room mother, who is a little old lady and could have been their “grandma ” for the day. We’ll see on Monday what the teacher has to say about this genius move. Is it me, or was this totally inappropriate?
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Josiah shaves his head
Yea, my little beautiful haired boy decided last night that it was time to shave his hair. I have discouraged him from doing it for four months now, but last night he was dead set on doing it. Out came the scissors and the buzzer, and gone was his hair.
I have to admit that I was not too happy about it, not in an angry kind of way, but a sad to see such a big part of him go away. But that was just it, his hair was not his definition of himself. He was happy to see it go, in fact proclaiming that the new Josiah was here. I am so proud that he is willing to rediscover himself, all at the tender age of six. It makes me wonder how many times I haven’t tried new things, major things, because some form of fear was holding me back. Thanks buddy for reminding never to stay the same, and not be afraid to try new things!
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