The Goog

Boys are found everywhere -- on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them. A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket. ~ Alan Marshall Beck

I marvel daily how two children can be so amazingly diverse yet so similar...not to mention that this diversity exists under one roof! Essentially there are six years separating my two children. Daughter was drawn to books and learning immediately. Son...loves to learn, but not in the same manner. She was always more sedate and able to attend more to traditional learning. Goog....not so much. From the moment his eyes open in the morning he is on the go. He lives to be outside doing typical "boy" things.....he surfs, skateboards, bikes, runs, destroys, plays ball, spray paints (yes, I have found a spot of paint on our home that he and a neighbor hijacked from the neighbor's dad)....you name an activity that can be wild and woolly and outdoors and he is up for it. He is 6 going on 16....ready to be a "big guy". He knows more high school boys than most kids his age (from the skate park and the dock, I suppose). He already begs me to take him to the beach in Buxton...where all the big guys surf....at almost 40, I prefer to go to the beach in Hatteras where all the mom's hang out. He is NOT deprived by going to the beach there as there are a large number of surf-folk there, too. Yesterday his cousin DID take him to the beach in Buxton....I wonder if he'll ever be satisfied down here again! It's still morning and I've already heard about the Buxton beach. He is a daredevil. I can't bear to watch half of the things he does. I do not take him to the skate park because I know I will vomit. I hear he is good. I am NOT so bad that I don't allow him to go....I just can't watch. After surfing in Buxton yesterday, Hali brought him to where the rest of us were in Hatteras. Clutching his new surfboard (from Santa....how patient he has been to wait this long to use a gift!), he paddled out to where all the big kids surf. Last year I did not allow this. Yesterday it just seemed natural. He did great! On the last day of school he won a free kite boarding lesson. Whew....talk about a new fear for me! I know adults who have broken their necks doing that crazy stuff! I called Hubby from my classroom immediately to share the wonderful news.....his response: "Don't tell him!" It was too late, though, as it was part of the morning televised broadcast. It was so ironic since this spring Ethel and I took the brood down to the beach on a warm, windy day and watched dozens of people kite boarding. I looked at her as these crazies were using the kites, boards, waves, and wind to jump 10+ feet in the air doing all sorts of acrobatic stunts and said, "Why do I think that surfing is just not going to be enough for Son?" I am really rambling now....sorry. As I try to update and summarize the lives of my children at the close of this academic year, I think back to Son's first day of kindergarten. Before starting he expressed many times how much he wanted to read. Having such a busy schedule and desire to be outside, he just had never had the interest to devote time to learning outside of his preschool setting. After school we asked how the first day was. He was rather dismayed because "they didn't teach me how to read today". I guess he thought it would be like riding his bike, skating, surfing: just pick it up and do it. I am thrilled to say that my Goog has become a proficient student this year, exceeding the typical kindergarten expectations. I think we must be doing ok with him, too. He was student of the month for kindergarten in March because he ALWAYS helps with all the class chores and helps his classmates. My heart fills with pride, joy, and love when I merely think of him....just as it does when I think of Daughter. Of all the things I do.....I LOVE being MOM the most! :0)