Sweet Child of Mine

Newsflash: boys and girls are very, very different. I'm not talking about effects of nature v. nurture here -- I think that particular debate might break the internets -- but simply that my anecdotal, observational data leads me to that above conclusion (well, me and a bazillion other people). And I love that I have the opportunity to experience both a mother/daughter and a mother/son relationship. Both are magical and fulfilling and bring me incredible joy. There is much to laud in their similarities and differences. As a second child, however, Jack very rarely gets the "only" or the "first" of stuff -- even though there are so many differences. We strive very hard to talk about how "fair" isn't about getting the same stuff, it's about getting what you need. Nonetheless, as the less vocal member of the under seven posse and certainly by virtue of the fact that he was born with another member living here already, he's often not the only one in the spotlight. So, this post is about my little boy. Right now I have the opportunity (and privilege) to spend a fair amount of time with my little guy and really -- he could not be more like a sweet puppy. He and his friends wrestle. A lot. There really is very little that a roll in the grass can't fix.They use their kinetic energy to fight and make up, fight and make up, fight and make up. There is zero drama except mine when I cringe at the yanking and kicking. He also needs to run (and run and run and run) and I'm very thankful that spring has sprung so that we can go outside and resume our endless hockey games, scooter walks, playground trips, trail run/walks, tree climbs, and anything else that gets those wiggles out. There is something just so pure and innocent still about his little boyness. He loves his friends, he loves babies, he is nudge sometimes, yes, but he is agreeable, he is rarely cranky unless he's so over-the-line tired. He is a concentrator, a story teller, a laugher, and a helper. He grows up quietly -- he's the one coming to me with an entire portfolio of people pictures and letters and writes his name and practices other things without much fuss or fanfare. He still loves trains, yes, and superheroes still rank highly but he also is a puzzler and a game player and a book "reader". He also may have the best belly laugh in the lower 48. It's catching, literally.  He is so, so fun and sweet and just enjoyable to be around. He's a marginal listener (with magic mom-voice-blocking powers) but he loves snuggles and says incredibly outlandish things that make me laugh so I'm (mostly) over it. It's really quite simple  -- I love being his mom.

Two of my favorite monkeys.

Might be hard to see here but his pants are undone. Because he just peed by the trees. Keeping it classy.

And another one of my favorite puppies.