Leier Boys: It's Subtle

Today our little Beanie Boy is seven years old. Although there have been the same number of hours in the days, and the same number of days in the weeks, I do believe it has taken longer for Jacob to get to seven than seven years, especially in the last year. I think it takes most seven year olds longer to get to seven than other ages.

The last few years, he’s been a fast-talker and a quick-crier, who seems as if he has been loaded on sugar and missing sleep. Everything that he has done has been in fast-forward mode.

When he walked, he ran.

When he played, he played fast.

When he spoke, he got louder.

He has been going at such a fast pace for the last six years that I’ve had to hide in the laundry room just to make sure I was still breathing. Then the last day of school came. For most, the last day of school is excited because it begins the first day of summer vacation. For me, the last day of school means reflection.

During the awards ceremony on the last day of school, students received awards for conduct, attendance, reading and math. As the first graders waited for their names to be called, most of which were never called, Beanie received the “Math Wizard” award and the “Super Reader” award. Of course I was a proud momma as my friends around me hit me with comments of, “I didn’t know he was so smart!” But the sheets of paper didn’t mean at much to me as they did to him. As his mother, I always knew he was smart, but HE didn’t know it. As he stood up as a recipient of each title, he face beamed with pride because he finally got it. He was proud of himself.

That moment has stuck with him after we walked away from school. His first year of school completed, he has gained a little bit more confidence in his abilities. He has gotten a taste of cause & effect: if he tries his best, he will get his best. This confidence has turned into enthusiasm and an eagerness for more.

There is now a subtle difference in his 2015 summer days compared to 2014.

They are now filled with a variety of more independent play and learning.
He wants to build bigger and more unique Lego creations, venturing from the instruction booklets.
He loves going to the library to find more books to read on his own.
He walks to the computer to do math drills independent from homework assignments.

The subtle difference is he doesn’t need Greg or me watching him constantly during these activities. He shows us upon completion to receive his verbal certificate of achievement.

It’s subtle, but if you sit back and observe, you will see Beanie trying on his new personality as if he’s trying on a shirt.

Getting library card

He walks more deliberately, instead of running wildly.

He speaks more intently, asking questions and even forming his own opinions.

He takes showers independent from his brother’s baths.

He uses Men Dial soap like his daddy uses.

He tells me how he wants to cut/style his hair.

He chooses the athletic name brand clothes to wear over his beloved TMNT items.
It’s subtle, but oh so fun to see…if you blink you may miss it.

Yes, he will still cuddle with me on the couch or insist on his daddy carrying him to bed.

He will still grab a hand to walk through a store or a crowded parking lot.

He will still listen eagerly to stories or watch videos of when he was a baby.

And he will even suck his thumb while clinging onto his lovey at night.
All actions serving as subtle reminders that he is still young and still needs affection as he is venturing out in his unknown life.