Watching them dance in the fountains at The Greene, weaving through fountains and younger children, reminded me that I am very happy to see that Michael and Alex aren't in a rush to be older. I've seen it with many of their friends, a rush to appear older and more mature so that they can be cooler by disposing of anything that can be considered remotely childish, no matter how much fun it is.
They are growing up, and will continue to get older and more mature no matter what they do, so their is no wisdom in forcing it by jettisoning the things that they love; conforming doesn't make you cooler so much as less interesting. In the interest of full disclosure I must confess that I have a penchant to behave like a child with my sons, and do the things that I enjoyed as a kid with them. Alex informed the girls this last week about such as lobos, a very childish form of general roughhousing we like to play, and their wide eyed response was that he has a cool dad.
RAP (7.16.2009)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
... And the dark clouds passed
Despite the inclimate weather in the late afternoon, I believe our annual Fourth of July party was a success once more. It brought me joy to see that the kids were not too old for the bounce houses, and I took particular pride in how the new LED items in the goody backpacks were such big hits; from young to old, the kids seem to have a magical time with them in the twilight hours.
One of the thrusts of this party, and the birthday parties, has been to help the boys socially by creating the circumstances where good experiences can happen and friendships bloom. Michael spent the day with Suzanne, and even watched the fireworks by her side as the best of friends. Alex is always the life of the party, and in between horseplay it was amusing that we had three different sets of adults, not kids, ask "Where's Alex?" when they saw us. Our sons aren't the only ones that can benefit, and I didn't know when it started, but this year, it was another child that would gain a needed, little boost socially. That kid seemed to gain a little confidence and camaraderie as the day went on and the dark clouds passed.
RAP (7.6.2009)
One of the thrusts of this party, and the birthday parties, has been to help the boys socially by creating the circumstances where good experiences can happen and friendships bloom. Michael spent the day with Suzanne, and even watched the fireworks by her side as the best of friends. Alex is always the life of the party, and in between horseplay it was amusing that we had three different sets of adults, not kids, ask "Where's Alex?" when they saw us. Our sons aren't the only ones that can benefit, and I didn't know when it started, but this year, it was another child that would gain a needed, little boost socially. That kid seemed to gain a little confidence and camaraderie as the day went on and the dark clouds passed.
RAP (7.6.2009)
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