Medium Sized

My son Cael turned 9 years old last month.  I know in most circles that is not a milestone birthday, but in our family it has become a big deal.  9 years old means you are no longer a Little Kid, instead you are a Medium Kid.

The distinguished title of Medium Kid came about several years ago on a family bowling trip. Cael was about 7 years old at the time and despite Cael's best efforts he could not outscore his older brother.  After the bowling, Cael was frustrated and pouting.  In an effort to make him feel better, I told him that he did really well but that he couldn't expect to bowl like a professional or even as well as Jaden because he was just a "little kid."  Cael started crying, balling hysterically really.  He said that being called a little kid was the worst insult he had ever recieved.  And yes, he did use those words.  He went on to tell me that he could not believe his own mother would be so cruel to him.  Again, his words.  I had to save the situation so I calmly explained that everyone knows you are a Little Kid until you turn 9, after which you become a Medium Kid.  You weren't actually a Big Kid until you became a teenager.  After about 3 hours, a Dr. Pepper, and an ice cream sundae at Village Inn, this became an acceptable explanation and I was forgiven.

Medium sized has its advantages.  You become a better bowler.  You are more helpful around the house so you can earn more money.  You can be somewhat trusted with expensive electronics.  You get to take drum lessons.  I don't believe there is any part of Cael that wishes he was 8 years old again.

Cael

As a mother, I am not so sure I like medium sized.  Cael got called to the principal's office for the first time in the last month.  It was not his fault, he tells me, his friend was pushing and he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Also, at his birthday party, his 9 year old friend was talking about "boobs".  What???? At nine?????  Cael told me he thought this was disgusting and didn't want his friend to come over again, ever.    Thank the good Lord. 

 But still, I am reminded that you can't shelter Medium Kids quite as well as you can shelter Little Kids.  Jaden will be 13 in two years and I am certain that sheltering Big Kids will be even harder than sheltering Medium Kids.  I don't like this, but what other options do I have?  Even if I homeschooled them, and didn't allow my children access to media, and never took them anywhere, eventually my Big Kids would be adults.  And then what??   I guess I could tie them up.  But my boys will be taller and stronger than me very soon.

My Medium Kids; Jaden and Cael

I can't shelter them, protect them, hide them or tie them up.  I can only raise them and ask God to build them. One of my very favorite poems is by General Douglas McArthur.  It is my prayer for my boys as they grow.  The poem is just of a medium size, so I encourage you to read it.

Build Me A Son, O Lord

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”

-General Douglas MacArthur