Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Liam is nine



If I left it up to Liam, he would be on the computer or playing video games every waking hour. I've often said that he reminds me of my brother. They are so much alike except for the fact that Liam also loves sports. He will play any sport I put him in and is loving his newest endeavor, Tae Kwon Do. Like my brother, he enjoys games and SciFi/fantasy. He is obsessed with Pokemon and will take it any form (TV show, trading cards, video game, and even "fashion"). 

Understanding the similarities between Liam and my brother have helped me navigate parenting him. My brother is wicked smart and will admit that he doesn't like to work particularly hard and has to be "made" to participate in experiences outside of video games and board games. He will also admit that when he does participate he almost never regrets it. It's one of the reasons he is so thankful for his wife who loves to try new things and go to new places. This is my Liam. The difference is that he doesn't have the maturity to understand that when I want to do things outside of screen time as a family, I don't mean to ruin his life or make him upset. Pretty sure he equates any activity that he isn't thrilled with as a punishment or a secret vendetta that I must have against him. But usually, once he let's go of that and allows himself to enjoy his surroundings he has quite a nice time. Alot of me has been equating this behavior to a sense of entitlement and selfishness. But knowing that my brother behaved similarly and still turned out to be one of the kindest, most lovely humans I know has helped me to realize that this is just an area that Liam needs to grow in. I need to ignore the negative behavior and cut him a break once in a while. He's just a kid. Kids get upset when they don't get their way. It doesn't take away the fact that he is empathetic towards his younger cousins or still wants me to give him 10 kisses and 10 hugs every night at bedtime. 

I love him deeply and I know that he feels the same about me and his father and sister. He's becoming grown up and part of me can't wait for that maturity to set in, but another part of me yearns for him to stay a little boy dependent on his mama. 

1. What is your favorite color? neon pink
2. What is your favorite toy? Xbox
3. What is your favorite fruit? mango
4. What is your favorite tv show? Trollhunter
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Pizza poppers
6. What is your favorite outfit? Pokemon shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Overwatch
8. What is your favorite snack? chips
9. What is your favorite animal? tiger
10. What is your favorite song? Immigrants from Hamilton Mixed Tape
11. What is your favorite book? Harry Potter
12. Who is your best friend? Zeke, Daddy, Kai, Jude and Kama
13. What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Go snowboarding or sledding if it's snowing, if it's not- play football with dad
15. What is your favorite drink? Ginger Ale and Root Beer
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Myself
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? banana ice cream
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Shrimp cocktail
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Football player
21. What is your favorite movie? Rogue One
22. What is your favorite football team? New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers