The Growing Child
Well, it’s official. My son is no longer a baby. How do I know this? Was his first day of school? Was it how he posed for his Halloween pictures or at dinosaur world with his fingers pointed like he was a jock? Nope and nope. I know that my son is no longer a baby or a little boy but a kid because … he has phone issues. I have long used the phone to teach Elijah numbers. Teaching phone numbers and have a large phone list was a really easy way to help him learn his numbers (that an Thomas the Tank Engine). And in recent time, he’s really enjoyed playing with cell phones, opening them, punching in numbers; and as long as he doesn’t push the green send button, I’m all for him using it as a toy. But it would appear that his interest in dialing has some more insidious characteristic. It would appear that it wasn’t about learning numbers and fine motor skills. No, it was the emerging of the beast. I too was victim to the beast in my mid to late teenage years. You may recognize the beast in those close to you because it’s seed pods attach to the ear of it’s victim, while sucking the brain waves out and transmitting them through a curly, twisty umbilical chord back to the main base. Recent adaptations of this beast have evolved and are able to transmit the sucked brain waves through the air though their small antennae. Don’t kid yourself, though the beast may seem to be helpful and useful – it is very addictive and can lead to financial ruin if it’s power is not carefully monitored. I personally fed the best the larger portion of my earnings from the ages of 17 – 20 years of age – before area wide long distance was created. Yes, my son has developed a fondness for CALLING HIS FRIENDS. He has always called the neighbors to see if he could go over and play. But now, he likes to call his friends from school. Today, he called his friend Gabby from school and told her that she could come over, but she’d have to go to Myron’s house first and get directions. Then he called Myron, to let him know that he should expect to see Gabby sometime soon, I guess. The sheer glee and joy on his face when he was talking to them was precious. And each time, he said “you remember me, I’m Elijah from your school.” Which leads me to my own personal “please like me” issues that I suffered while in school and don’t wish upon anyone. I’m hopeful that he will be more like Jose when it comes to making friends – everyone seems to like Jose – especially mentally challenged people – which doesn’t say a lot about me I guess – but anyway – That was it – today, looking at Elijah as he was grinning at me, giving a thumbs up sign and talking on the phone. My prepubescent teen of the future. Please god let all of his friends live in my county.
