My beloved middle son turns 7 today. Actually, at 11:59 tonight. Last minute, always keeping us on our toes, full of humor and affection, Mr. B is everything you'd want for a second son. This year he's asking for a spark scooter, digital camera, spy gear and the movie Shark Boy and Lava Girl. He's having a Halloween themed party this Sunday with all of his buddies and his cake will be chocolate with a big number seven candle. My son is specific. He knows his own mind. And his stubbornness is just one thing I love about him.
1. He's adaptable--he'll play with older brother, younger brother, both brothers or alone. He gets along well with everybody. At school everyone knows his name and he greets them all--older kids, younger kids--the way he shouts out confident greetings ("Hey, Hunter! Hi Maya!"), you'd swear the kid was campaigning for public office. Mr. B has as much fun playing with sticks in the woods as with battle castles or with markers and paper--he doesn't need anyone to tell him what to do, he'll figure it out.
2. He's an athlete. Tall for his age, he has an easy grace and a desire to play it all--soccer, basketball, baseball, karate, flag football. He's a little too laid back on the field or court, but when given effective motivation (like video game time), he'll kick in his competitive side and ramp up his effort.
3. He's a charmer. Big blue eyes, a smile that takes up his entire face. He gives wonderful hugs and knows when to pour on the complements. Every night when I tuck him in, I'm guaranteed a big hug (or five) and a kiss (or three) and he tells me "I love you more." Awwww....
4. He's part fish. Seriously, Mr. B is growing gills. He loves to swim. He'll spend hours in the bathtub practicing holding his breath under water. He's fast as an eel whether swimming on his front or back and he dives like a champ. He's the first kid in the pool and the last kid out. And he discovered that he likes to fish as much as he enjoys acting like one. While on vacation this summer, Mr. B was the first to master baiting his own hook and he stood on the dock forever casting out his line again and again and again. I like to watch that solitary part of him--for as social as my son is, he's equally comfortable being alone, doing his own thing.
5. Mr. B has his very own sense of style. Black fingerless skull gloves. Hats. Layered t-shirts and sweatshirts. He's a boy who likes to accessorize and he brings his own flair to every outfit he puts on. He knows what he likes and he knows what he doesn't--and good luck changing his mind!
6. Driven--when Mr. B gets his eye on a goal, he'll work at it. He'll come home from karate class practicing front kicks for days afterward. He knuckled down to learn his letters and numbers, anxious to start 1st grade this year so he could learn how to read and do math. School comes easy to him, but when he wants to figure out a puzzle or a game, he wants to do it alone--without help. I admire his determination and his ability to self-start and work through to finish. Watching his effort is nearly as much fun as watching his pride when he's accomplished something.
7. Mr. B is imaginative. He sees dragons in the clouds, potential weapons in a pile of tinker toys. He moves from knights and castles to dinosaurs to Batman adventures, making up his own storylines along the way. He loves to play "and then what?" He asks questions, experiments, hypothesizes and dreams.
Mr. B, I couldn't be prouder of you, you're clever, cute, funny and kind. You were perfectly awesome as a six-year-old and I hate seeing you grow up, but then you surprise me and each new year brings it's own pleasures and excitements. Happy 7th Birthday, buddy.
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