I had every intention of writing a post about Iain for his birthday back in January, but then things got a wee bit busy and I never got back to it. It seems like this last year, now year and a half, have been times of tremendous change for him.
Not the outward changes of an ever evolving life, but inward changes that I’m not sure I have adequate words for. It seems that there are times that I see in him the man that he is becoming.
Now I know that he won’t be a man for a long time yet and I am a huge proponent of living childhood to it’s fullest, but there are still hints there. I see it sometimes in the way that he holds his sister, when he mummers reassurances in her ear; the loving father that he may someday be. I see it in his efforts to right a wrong, when he tries shepherding his younger siblings along smoothly to circumvent a meltdown. I see it when he dedicates a day to some chore for the good of the family. And yes, I still see the tears over small things and the bickering and sometimes outright bullying of sibling interactions, but more and more I’m seeing maturity creep into him and begin to flavor his temperament. And I watch it all with great pride for my little boy, who’s becoming a young man.
And our relationship is growing and changing along with him. In a moment of conflict a few weeks back, I looked at him and clearly saw this boy who is now practically eye to eye with me. I can no longer be fully in charge here. Anyone who knows Iain knows that no one was ever totally in charge of my fiery boy! But this is different. He’s well past the point of being picked up and taken where I wish him to go. I do no intend to fully relinquish my authority as his mother, but there is an extent to which he is wholly responsible for certain actions now, because I am no longer capable of stopping him. Thankfully, he’s living up to this responsibility and showing a mastery of his frustrations that was so elusive to him in his younger years.
This kid is so much like his father. And I think it gets him in trouble with me sometimes (sorry love, but you know what I mean), and yet somehow, I love him all the more for it.
He makes me laugh, just like his Daddy does.
The other day when we were at the dock fishing, and I took out my knitting to which Steve gave me an incredulous look (completely in jest of course) and said,
“Your knitting here?!?”
I replied, “of course I am! Where ever I go, it’s how our children get clothes you know…”
And Iain looked at me with a wry smile and said, “The dock says ‘fishing only’ Mom” (as in ‘no docking’)
And of course we all laughed.
And Iain looked at me with a wry smile and said, “The dock says ‘fishing only’ Mom” (as in ‘no docking’)
And of course we all laughed.
He’s made such great strides lately in so many areas. This summer he conquered his life-long fear of the water and passed his first level of Red Cross Swimming certification. He is now looking forward to the challenge of the second level. He overcame his nerves at auditioning for a stranger and has been accepted into a children’s chorus. After years of struggling against the frustration of a learning disability, he finally mastered the skills that allow him to now read and write with ease and he’s rapidly becoming a regular little bookworm. And so many other accomplishments, both small and large.
It’s been an incredible journey and an over-whelming privilege to watch him and hold his hand, as needed, along the way.
My goodness- I cannot imagine my child looking me in the eye. . .luckily I am 5 foot 9 so my oldest (age 8) has a little ways to go!
I know what you mean about all this though- my girl is nearly 8 and a half and I am having similar feelings with her growing older, letting go a little, seeing glimpses of the woman she will become one day. On the one hand I think I have a long ways to go- on the other, I see that she is nearly half way there!
It was fun for me to see Mairi's post and then Iain's because I really feel that they have the same little face!
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I'm 5' 0" and my husband is 6' 4", clearly I did not think this through! lol I think that my little self is something of a site with my huge babies and tall children. Iain is maybe 4" shorter then me at this point and he's been averaging growing 3" a year, so…
Yes, I think he's the one she looks most like too! Most people don't see it though. She looks a lot like he did as a baby.
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That's lovely.
That is quite the height difference! I'll bet the sight of you and your tall boys is very sweet. Perhaps Mairi will match you height?
Just a shy delurker wanting to say — this was so beautiful — simply beautiful. (I had to laugh at the height comment, I'm 5'4" and my husband is only 5'10" — somehow our 5 1/2 year old is already up to my shoulder and has feet almost as big as mine. Some sort of recessive gene in the works.)
CC
What a beautiful post. Your kids are amazing, and you are one wonderful, thoughtful momma!
you have some seriously beautiful kids. it is bittersweet to see them grow up, isn't it? to see what incredible young people they are becoming, while leaving their littleness behind. my oldest is only 6 1/2, and it's all going by way too fast for me.
A beautiful tribute!
How old are your kids now?
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Allie- Iain is 9.5, Elijah is 7, Galen is 3 and MÃ iri will be 7 months in a couple days.
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This was such a sweet post, so full of love!