My Favorite Things About My Little Man

1. He is a voracious reader. Everyday I see him reading a different book. When asked how many times he’s read that particular book, the answer might range from “twice” to “five or six”. His favorites are Star Wars books (from the adult science fiction section of the bookstore) but he will also indulge in classics like “To Kill a Mockingbird” or “Where the Red Fern Grows”.

2. Despite being a Star Wars FREAK (I use this term lovingly!) he pronounces “Han Solo” like the word “Hand” without the ‘d’.

3. Because of his love for reading, LM’s vocabulary far exceeds his age. In an everyday discussion, he might use a phrase like “je ne sais quoi” or use words like “cache”. The only evidence of his age comes when he mispronounces such words, mainly because he has only read them and never heard them used.

4. LM has never met a stranger. For good or for bad, he makes a new friend every single time he goes to the park. He is never shy about approaching other kids nor about speaking with adults.

5. He loves to snuggle up on the couch with me as much as I like to snuggle up on the couch with him. On a quiet evening at home, LM will grab his favorite blanket and pillow and come snuggle up on the couch with a book, or watch a movie with me.

6. At least once a week, LM will pop some popcorn for me. Knowing how much I love popcorn, he’ll not only pop the corn, but he’ll also pour me a soda and bring it right over to the couch for me.

7. His soft heart. LM can truly sympathize and demonstrates such a loving heart. Having only known his gifted teacher a week or two at the start of the year before she left on medical leave, LM was truly saddened and struck when he learned that she has passed away from cancer this past weekend. “She was young, Mom.”

8. Should LM ever go missing, I will never have to think twice about what he is wearing. 90% of the time, he is wearing a red sweatshirt and jeans. He owns about 10 red sweatshirts (several are exactly the same) and would choose 10 more if given the chance.

9. His imagination. With a bucket of K’nex (the cool version of Legos) he creates more spaceships, rockets, and warcraft with more components and ingenuity than you can fathom. It would take him a half hour to explain to you each and every part of any single creation.

10. His sense of humor. He not only understands sarcasm, he uses it. He enjoys everything from the typical fourth-grade knock-knock joke to jokes involving much more subtle types of humor. He has written over 35 episodes of his self-designed comic strip “Smiley Man Adventures” and still laughs out loud when he re-reads some of his own writing.

11. That he will still use the hand signal for “I love you” when he gets out of the car at school each morning and I can hug and kiss him (at home) and he still enjoys it!

12. His courage. It isn’t that he has had to suffer great pains or hospitalizations, but whether it’s having his spots lasered, or having 3 teeth pulled, he courageously faces the pain and fights through it. Similarly, the first time he went tubing behind Papa’s boat, he showed no fear or anxiety. He simply gave us the thumbs up sign and begged to go faster!

13. He is helpful. In addition to his one mandatory chore that he does each day, LM will willingly fetch items at the grocery store, help pack up necessities to go to the park, assist in cleaning efforts when company is coming, take out recycling and trash, and unload the dishwasher if I’m running behind. Rarely, if ever, does he complain about helping out, often times he will offer before I even have to ask.

14. LM is passionate. Just like his mother, LM will stand firmly in his opinion (even if it might be wrong.) He believes things with fierce conviction and he loves people with fierce loyalty. Along with that comes a vulnerable, sensitive side where his feelings can easily be hurt and his pride injured.

15. He is charitable. Each week, LM earns $2 in “allowance”. He is required to put 50 cents into savings (only to be used for college), 50 cents in a charity fund and 50 cents is his own. The remaining 50 cents can be put in any of the three categories. Every single week, LM selflessly puts the extra money into his charity fund.

16. He is mature and responsible. Whether it is completing his homework, chore and trumpet practice first thing when he gets home from school, or being home alone occasionally for an hour or two, LM handles the situation with grace and maturity. Being a child of divorced parents, he has handled the shuffling and the different sets of rules extremely well.

17. He is a Christian. LM has the innocent belief in God and Christ that most children do but he is unafraid to publicly give God credit or to stand on his Christian beliefs. Seeing a beautiful sunset, LM will always declare, “Isn’t God an incredible artist?”

18. He is a willing and enthusiastic participant in KICK’N (Kid In Charge of the Kitchen Night). He has learned how to plan a menu, read and follow directions and to enjoy creating a meal for the family.

19. On LM’s short list of “best friends” he includes his cousin (Little Bird) despite only seeing her once or twice a year.

20. LM loves with his whole heart. He loves being with his family, his friends, neighbors, the pets… He has a big heart and allows everyone in.

Happy 10th Birthday, Jacob!!