L: “Mom, do you love your bike?”
M: “Yeah, it’s okay.”
L: “When I ride, I feel like I’m one with my bike. I feel like the wind.”
Category Archives: Awesome Kid
Let’s Head Back to First Grade
First Grade Girl: “What type of mascara does L use?”
Me: “He doesn’t wear any mascara.”
FGG: “Then how do you explain those eyelashes?”
Me: “He stood in line twice for those.”
Past Tense-First Day of Kindergarten
L-“I’m not nervous. I’m not nervous. I’m totally comfortable. I’m really excited. I’m just so not nervous.”
Teacher during K initiation, circle time:
“Does anyone have any feelings or thoughts he or she would like to share?
L-“Yes, I’m really, really nervous.”
Teacher: “Thank you for sharing that. Does anyone else feel that way?”
Many, many hands instantly fly upward. OF COURSE. Everyone’s petrified. Including me.
Seven Past, Eight Now
I documented L’s last evening as a seven year old. I took treats to his class the next day. His school has a great tradition of asking if anyone would like to share something they appreciate about the birthday kid. Some of the responses:
“L is a great friend and is always by my side when I need him.”
“L is my best friend.”
“If anyone ever needs any help, L’s there.”
“L is really, really funny.”
“I love how creative he is. He’s helping me learn to draw.”
“L taught me more than I ever knew about gas masks.” (Said by his teacher.)
UFOs – Semi-Past-Tense
Somewhere, outside the boundaries of Area 51….
Breathing Exercises
“Mom, it’s time to take a deep breath.”
Yup.
Friday’s Paper Folding
L has loved origami long before he could say origami. Today, he fashioned claw-fingers that slip over his real ones. Not sure where this is going. What I know: If it feels a bit nefarious, he’s generally overcompensating.
Past Tense (Less So)
September, 2010 – Parent/Teacher Conference, Meet & Greet
We were invited to a start of year conference w/ L’s first grade teacher. She actually asked us to prepare a “strengths and weaknesses” assessment. It was hard not to ask if we should add his “5-10-15 year goals.” Sadly, this is how first grade will go (a crummy teacher’s crummy).
Instead of determining those things for him, I asked L what he thought were his amazing skills, and what he might want to do a bit better. After covering drawing, math, science, drawing, humor, science, math, drawing, and science, we got to the other half:
L: “I wish I could develop more confidence. If I had more confidence, I wouldn’t have to pretend to know things I don’t, I wouldn’t have to pretend that I’m good at everything. I could make mistakes and not feel so bad. I wonder what the world would be like if everyone had more confidence. Can you imagine if we all could just keep trying and not worry about messing up? It would be awesome. That’s what I wish. I wish I had more confidence.”
Well said.
Past Tense
2008 later
Gracious friend took L for the night. As they were nodding off, he said,
“When I look into your eyes, I see the sky.”
Future ladies (or gents), gather your wits. We’re just getting started.
Dream, Dream, Dream
This morning:
L: “Have you ever had a weird dream? Like the weirdest dream in the world? I had one last night. I dreamt we went to Colorado to grandma & grandpa’s cabin only it wasn’t their cabin. It was flat and long and it was in Yosemite. But they were still there. We visited for three days and them came home. As soon as we got home, dad went to work and didn’t come home. You and I were hanging out, reading, and we heard footsteps. I looked up and a clone of you—an exact duplicate!—walked out of my play room. I kept getting the two of you confused. You were so alike. Eventually, I realized one of you had to be sacrificed. Only I wasn’t sure I was choosing the clone, so I hesitated quite a bit. I finally made the right decision and you lived.”
M: Wow. Intense dream.
L: “Yeah, I learned that you have to give something up in order to get something. I got you.”
My Kid Wears A Gas Mask 