Wow. My eldest son is nine. Nearly a decade of parenting this child-sized human ball of energy, curiosity, wildfire, hilarity and deep, deep passion. How can I reflect on the monumental shift that is becoming someone's mother? How can I reflect on the one person who has made me grow up more than anyone else ever could?
This picture really says it all. Flex is ready to take a bit fat bite out of life - and the gooee-er the better! He was born ready. At times this has created real challenges for us, as we try to keep up with him (physically at first - he was a 'runner' as a toddler), mentally (he can be sharp as a knife with a great capacity for learning) and also emotionally (he can swing from intense joy to fear, rage and flight in a nanosecond).
But having said all that - man, this kid rocks!!!!
He cooks with gusto, loves his friends and family with a love as big as the sky, understands himself better and better each day and is addicted to comedy. Yesterday was his birthday and this is how it was celebrated:
We started with dinner the night before at Flex's all time favourite restaurant 'Brazillian BBQ'. He loves it because, quite frankly, it represents gluttony and indulgence! 21 types of meat, all you can eat...you get the picture. Flex is a real carnivore!
Then we woke him up (as if! He was probably awake from the crack of dawn!!!) with cake, singing and presents as is our family tradition. Flex LOOOOOVES presents. He is starting to understand that it's the thought that counts, and just as Lucky slowly opens and savours each gift, Flex rips and devours his - he exudes joy, excitement and pleasure with each rip of paper!
We then got ready and went to the markets where he couldn't sit still until his friends had arrived....and once they did arrive it was all on - they played, ate food, drank cordial, sprayed each others hair, climbed on the cubby house roof. Flex was also visited by some of our lovely neighbours who also showered him with sugar and books (the theme of the day it seemed!). And then, after establishing an interest in the harmonica, and getting one for his birthday, Flex played his first 'gig' with Gav and some mates (no, they are not called 'The Central Coast Wood Turners'!!!). He played really well, was remarkably restrained for a born soloist(!) and enjoyed himself.
Then it was home to the farm for swimming, free boarding, trampolining, XBox'ing and Kung Fu Panda 2 watching. And then dinner of pork ribs and chicken (more meat omg), wild salad and fresh sourdough with a table seating 9 boys of various ages and me!
Phew.
Exhausted to the point of dissolution, Flex came out of his room saying he 'couldn't get to sleep'
"Why" I asked.
Bottom lip quivering, and shiny tears squeezing out of the corners of his eyes he answered;
"I just keep thinking about today, and I wish I could rewind it and have it all over again because it was the greatest day, and now it's nearly over..."
Deep, deep passion.
Flex, we love you.
But having said all that - man, this kid rocks!!!!
He cooks with gusto, loves his friends and family with a love as big as the sky, understands himself better and better each day and is addicted to comedy. Yesterday was his birthday and this is how it was celebrated:
We started with dinner the night before at Flex's all time favourite restaurant 'Brazillian BBQ'. He loves it because, quite frankly, it represents gluttony and indulgence! 21 types of meat, all you can eat...you get the picture. Flex is a real carnivore!
Then we woke him up (as if! He was probably awake from the crack of dawn!!!) with cake, singing and presents as is our family tradition. Flex LOOOOOVES presents. He is starting to understand that it's the thought that counts, and just as Lucky slowly opens and savours each gift, Flex rips and devours his - he exudes joy, excitement and pleasure with each rip of paper!
We then got ready and went to the markets where he couldn't sit still until his friends had arrived....and once they did arrive it was all on - they played, ate food, drank cordial, sprayed each others hair, climbed on the cubby house roof. Flex was also visited by some of our lovely neighbours who also showered him with sugar and books (the theme of the day it seemed!). And then, after establishing an interest in the harmonica, and getting one for his birthday, Flex played his first 'gig' with Gav and some mates (no, they are not called 'The Central Coast Wood Turners'!!!). He played really well, was remarkably restrained for a born soloist(!) and enjoyed himself.
Then it was home to the farm for swimming, free boarding, trampolining, XBox'ing and Kung Fu Panda 2 watching. And then dinner of pork ribs and chicken (more meat omg), wild salad and fresh sourdough with a table seating 9 boys of various ages and me!
Phew.
Exhausted to the point of dissolution, Flex came out of his room saying he 'couldn't get to sleep'
"Why" I asked.
Bottom lip quivering, and shiny tears squeezing out of the corners of his eyes he answered;
"I just keep thinking about today, and I wish I could rewind it and have it all over again because it was the greatest day, and now it's nearly over..."
Deep, deep passion.
Flex, we love you.
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