1. Write a blog post inspired by the word: sparks
Kainoa was all, “I don’t want to celebrate my birthday while we’re camping, I want to have my birthday at the laser tag place.” And being the accommodating mother that I am, I was all “that’s fine, we’ll go camping and then have a laser tag birthday when we get back.” Which clearly wasn’t good enough because he was all, “I don’t want to go camping.”
So we went camping.
We sang Happy Birthday at the campfire and ate cupcakes. I gave Kainoa a walkie talkie. I thought maybe a little celebration on his actual birthday would be special even though the party would come later.
Kainoa was all, “Why aren’t we opening more presents for my birthday?” and I was all, “remember you said you wanted to have a laser tag party when we go back home?” and he was all, “I don’t want to go back home. I want to celebrate my birthday camping.”
That interaction is the essence of a majority of interactions I have with my boy since he first learned to indicate that he would like to be picked up as a baby. And then back down. And then back up. And back down again. Eventually I might get kicked in the head by his flailing limbs as he tantrumed as his frustration sparks at my inability to figure out exactly what he needed, regardless of what he said he needed.
The thing is, I do know what he wants. He wants the laser tag party right now, today, this moment and THEN he wants to go camping and he’d really enjoy a party there as well. And actually, if the fun things could just not stop happening ever at all…that would be perfect.
But everyone expects me to instill manners into this kid. Society likes humans who are considerate and grateful and respectful and humble. They like humans who respect “personal bubbles” and who watch where they’re going. So I have to make sure there are breaks from all the fun in order to drill some of that into his brain as well.
He’s getting there. He is a bouncy, long limbed goof. He makes me smile daily. He has dance moves that will move you to tears. He doesn’t always give thought to his actions or his tone. He can come off as flippant and rude at times and it can be pretty embarrassing when that attitude is on public display.
But he cried when his sister’s fish died because seeing her sad made him sad. He refuses to do fun things with just me when his sisters are away because he wants doesn’t want them to miss out. He kept a note from his second grade teacher posted on our front door for months. He is the first to hop up and make Baby Harper laugh and just today declared he nearly, “broke his funny bone” watching her play fetch. He still climbs onto my lap every morning and begs me to come cover him up at bedtime.
This boy has a good heart and I am so thankful for all the years I get to spend with it.
Happy ninth birthday Kainoa!
You turned one.
You turned two.
You turned three.
You turned four.
You turned five.
You turned six.
You turned seven.
You turned eight.
Stacey says
Watching them grown up is equal parts amazing, hilarious, and maddening.What a crazy ride they put us mother’s through, but would we have it any other way?
Gigi says
Happy birthday to your boy!
Nine…wow. It goes so fast.
May says
You made me tear up. There is something really moving about raising a son who is sensitive to his sisters, funny and very loving. I am blessed to have one of those myself. Perhaps not so coincidentally he is the youngest of three with two big sisters. I think there is something about that positioning that produces a certain sweetness in a boy.
Damien Riley says
All the pics are great. My favorite is the tunnel one, so cool.