We’re still very much enjoying the golden phase of parenting, where our boys play independently for hours on end but still snuggle at bedtime and cry “watch me!” to see us smiling from the sidelines. These elementary years have been some of my favorites, full of imagination and wonder and milestones and growth. But every now and then, we get a glimpse of what’s to come, as our nine-year-old starts to place more and more importance on the opinions and actions of his peers.
When he learned to speak as a toddler, I’d get caught blindsided by my own reflection; my diction and intonation coming from his mouth. Now, he comes home from school with a new vernacular, words and phrases winding their way into his regular vocabulary that aren’t familiar. I’m caught abruptly, hearing for the first time, the influences of people I don’t even know. Not to say it’s bad, but that’s how I went from “Mom” to “Bro.”
As parents, I think it’s easy to think of our kids as miniature versions of ourselves. But boy, do they prove us wrong. While I remind my son “I’m not your bro,” I remind myself he’s got new words, new interests, new strengths, new challenges, and that reflection I once saw so clearly is now only visible in his eyes when he smiles.
It’s up to me to take interest in his world instead of the other way around- Star Wars, legos, Minecraft, basketball, guitar, and books of dragons. I may not be an expert but they’re all fun to play, which I guess makes him a pretty cool “bro.”
Our Life in A-Z 