My Son

This is my 8 year old son, Tyler. As I have said on many occasions, he is my soul walking around outside my body. We are two peas in a pod, I am afraid. I passed down many terrible traits to him, both personality-wise and physically. He has my bony legs and feet, my teeth, a constant tummy-ache, the need to save and collect everything, my fine art of being sloppy, my moodiness, and my reading obsession. I tried, but he got all these things from me anyway. We get each other, though. Being empathetic towards his flaws does not make it any easier, though.

I am afraid we won't make it to his 9th birthday. One of us isn't going to make it, anyway.

Tyler was the best baby, toddler, and small child. So obedient, polite, and a joy to be around. I could take him anywhere and people would always comment on what a precious child he was. I knew it wouldn't last forever, but I hoped, deep down inside, that I was wrong.

Now he is 8. And potty humor reigns supreme. He loves Power Rangers and Pokemon cards. He lives to harass his little sister. He pushes, screams, and scares her on an hourly basis. Let's not even discuss behavior in the car. I'd rather take a bobcat on a road trip. His room is ALWAYS a pigsty. He drips toothpaste from one end of the bathroom to the other. He pops the knees out of new jeans within a month of getting them. And, he will wear the same socks for days on end if no one intervenes.

I. HAVE. A. SON.

And he is a doozie. I get so frustrated with him, and just when I am at my breaking point, I will hear him whisper, "Hey Em. Will you sleep with me tonight?" Or, "I'll play Polly Pockets with you if you want." Maybe he'll be human afterall.

In the car this week, he asked me what it meant to be mature. I thought about it a while and felt it was easier to explain what it meant to be immature. We talked about different examples of maturity versus immaturity, and he sat back and took that all in. Then he said, "So basically, I am mature at school and church, but immature at home and in the car." Yes, Tyler, that is exactly right. Anywhere you are with your mother, you are immature. I guess I'd rather have him be mature for other people than me...

But, at the end of the day, he is my precious boy and I love him beyond words. So concerned about his friends' feelings and looks out for kids that need extra help. So deep in his faith at such a young age. So crazy about his family.

If you'll excuse me, I have to go wade through piles of webkinz and legos and Magic Tree House books to get to his dirty clothes.