(no subject)
I have a young man in my life who throws everything I thought I knew about men into a somewhat chaotic state (and I'm not saying I ever knew a whole lot about the opposite gender to begin with).
He's 13 and he is my son, and for convenience's sake I'll call him Jay.
From the start, including my labor and delivery with him, he's been almost the polar opposite to his sister when it comes to raising and caring for him.
Jay was a mellow baby, a demanding toddler, and kind of a clingy preschooler whereas my daughter had been ornery, followed by easygoing and then independent.
They share some physical traits in common - with similarly light hair, pale skin dotted with freckles, and blue eyes, it's easy to see they're from the same family - and a few character traits as well, obstinacy not the smallest among them. But in large they're so different in personalities, preferences, and behaviors, it takes me by surprise at times to remember they share the same gene pool.
Now that my son is an adolescent, my confusion continues to grow and I'm expecting it very well might for some time. Individuals often don't see small changes in themselves so Jay probably doesn't notice the gradually increasing height, the stray hairs sprouting, and rare crack in his voice.
Still, I found myself genuinely surprised (and trying valiantly to hold in laughter) when he came to me not long ago and expressed he had something serious to ask me.
He knelt down in front of my chair, which is indeed his earnest posture, and asked, "Mom, am I ever going to enter puberty?"
After giving him a big hug and schooling my expression to one of gravity befitting the question, I told him of course he was and I was already starting to see signs. "Beyond that," I advised him, "you'll need to talk to your dad as I have no direct experience of the male adolescent process."
He seemed somewhat consoled, and I was left feeling as ferhoodled as ever.
this is my entry for Week 3 of LJI Friends & Rivals. stay tuned for a later update on voting information for this and other submissions after the deadline for entries passes.
He's 13 and he is my son, and for convenience's sake I'll call him Jay.
From the start, including my labor and delivery with him, he's been almost the polar opposite to his sister when it comes to raising and caring for him.
Jay was a mellow baby, a demanding toddler, and kind of a clingy preschooler whereas my daughter had been ornery, followed by easygoing and then independent.
They share some physical traits in common - with similarly light hair, pale skin dotted with freckles, and blue eyes, it's easy to see they're from the same family - and a few character traits as well, obstinacy not the smallest among them. But in large they're so different in personalities, preferences, and behaviors, it takes me by surprise at times to remember they share the same gene pool.
Now that my son is an adolescent, my confusion continues to grow and I'm expecting it very well might for some time. Individuals often don't see small changes in themselves so Jay probably doesn't notice the gradually increasing height, the stray hairs sprouting, and rare crack in his voice.
Still, I found myself genuinely surprised (and trying valiantly to hold in laughter) when he came to me not long ago and expressed he had something serious to ask me.
He knelt down in front of my chair, which is indeed his earnest posture, and asked, "Mom, am I ever going to enter puberty?"
After giving him a big hug and schooling my expression to one of gravity befitting the question, I told him of course he was and I was already starting to see signs. "Beyond that," I advised him, "you'll need to talk to your dad as I have no direct experience of the male adolescent process."
He seemed somewhat consoled, and I was left feeling as ferhoodled as ever.
this is my entry for Week 3 of LJI Friends & Rivals. stay tuned for a later update on voting information for this and other submissions after the deadline for entries passes.