The Long Awaited Kids Meme
Thanks Code Mama for this Three Word Kid Meme. Now to write it without my oldest finding out.
Chris, 12
1. In a word, Intense. He’s my Sanguine/Choleric child. I think? It’s hard to pin his personality down. He’s creative, and moody. Caring and curt! He’ll defend his brother one minute and in the next one tear him down with his words.
But most of all he has a high sense of justice, and it doesn’t matter if you,re the president of the US or the principal, chances are, he’ll tell you just what he’s thinking and especially if you’re wrong. I know he’ll make a great leader some day, I just hope I don’t blow it raising him.
2. Creative: He’s a gifted singer. At the age two when he came prancing down the stairs, making up his own words about eating pancakes to the itsy bitsy spider song and singing on key and pitch, I knew it was time to look for a music program for him. I eventually found one when he was four, and he’s been singing on stage ever since. But DON’T put him on the spot, he won’t sing unless he feels like it.
One of my most proud moments was when he got the part of Dodger in Oliver Twist. Years ago I saw the musical with him and was immediately taken to the part of Dodger. I knew Chris would be a natural in the part and years later, he was. I’m not being bias (okay, maybe) but Dodger was my favorite character in the show this year!
I just love to watch him on stage, and I’m so glad I found the place he really shines!
3. Loves to have fun: If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing! That’s Chris. He’s not motivated to get good grades, unless of course he can earn some PS2 time. Over the years I’ve also learned he’s an extrovert. He needs people, especially friends around him so he can be rejuvenated. So while we homeschool, I try and give him lots of opportunity daily to spend time just playing with friends. Though when he doesn’t complete his assignments, it’s so hard for me to take away his play time. It’s an interesting balance I need to find for him. He needs to be motivated to finish his work, and he needs to play with friends.
Joey, 9 1/2
1. In a word or two, hands on! He’s just like his dad, ready to tackle a project and help without being asked (except when it comes to chores, of course.) He’s always fiddling in the garage with daddy, and if he has a choice to play with friends or do a craft, my introvert son choses the craft. He’s very unorganized and messy, but loves to build and create. In fact, when he was a baby he never played with action figures like my other two boys. He’d play with building toys, and his favorite are K’Nex. He must have about four or five of those giant K’Nex roller coasters.
2. Thinker: I had always thought of Joey as a jokester. While I knew he was a smart cookie, I never knew how smart until I started homeschooling him. He’s my kind of student. I teach him once and he just gets it. The only problem is he goes off down these intellecutal rabbit trails that I don’t have the time or intelligence to answer. He’s way better than me in math, and I’m blown away by his insight and articulation.
This year he’s in two homeschool co-ops with all older kids. He keeps up with them academically, it’s jut his maturity is that of a silly, 9 year old.
3. Performer: Joey is an excellent gymnast and likes to work hard! He sings and acts as well, and my proudest moment was when he got the part of Chip in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. I honestly never thought he even had a chance. It’s no secret that he’s not as gifted in singing as Chris, but the director saw something in him! And I’m so glad he did because I got to see Joey in a way I never looked at him before. One bonus Joey has is that he has an excellent memory and learns his lines very quickly. He’s also very teachable, just tell him what you want and he’ll do it.
The downside to this littler performer is that he’s very, very silly and into bathroom humor now a days. He’s very, very loud when he talks, and I often find myself shushing him, espeically when he sings silly songs or makes silly noises in the house. I guess it’s pay back for me for my singing at the dinner table and opera singing stages I put my mom through.
Timmy, 6
1. In a word, easygoing. From day one we called him our “angel boy” because he was so content. He’d literally sit in the stroller for hours without trying to get out like my other kids. And now at 6, he’s the one who’s quiet and most often obedient. He usually gets caught in the middle of the line of fire between me and the older boys. I usually have to stop my rant to say to him “Timmy, you’re not the one who’s in trouble!”
2. Sensitive. As good as Timmy is, even he has his dark side. I recognized it for the first time when he was 3 years old and threw a major fit. I thought my little guy had turned into Mr. Hyde, and I was a horrible mom becauses I had created this monster some how! I had never seen him so out of control. Later on I began to realize that it was his sensitivity that could bring on a major fit. So I learned to understand my Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde son, and soon stumbled upon the fact that distraction and humor could bring back my “angel boy.”
3. Funny. Since Timmy is relatively easygoing, I didn’t see the funny side of him until the last year or so. The kid has some major silliness going on, and he’s got some real style especially when dancing. (Me and the boys took a hip hop class this summer and he had the most style!) His personality has really started to shine, and I love the way he interacts with his brothers and his sister.
Grace, 4
1. Active. When I prayed for a girl, I should have been more specific. I should have requested someone like Timmy, quiet and docile who would sit content in the corner, playing dolls by herself. Well, I wasn’t specific and I got a female clone of Chris as a toddler. From age 0 – 3yrs, she was the kid of toddler who you couldn’t turn your back on for even a second. When she was two my husband took his eyes off of her for two seconds, and it took us over five minutes to find her somewhere in the museum. She would never stay in the stroller, and climbed every where. Homeschooling the first two years was a nightmare because she was always getting into something and never sat still for more than three minutes. Now at four, she’s easier to handle, but she can climb a tree in a blink of an eye and the other day I watched her shimmy up a basketball pole in a dress!
2. All Girl, with a touch of boy. Grace is our little princess. At two she had more shoes than I did and was able to match head bands (which she named “Alice’s” because of Alice in wonderland) with her dresses. I think before the age of three she strated changing her clothes three times a day and by the age of 3 she only wanted to wear dresses. Yet, don’t let the dresses and Olsen twin face fool you, she can hold her own with her brothers and often was caught wrestling Timmy to the ground. Thank God he was always really gentle with her. She still knows how to hold her own and can yell above the noise to get her way. Yet, she’s my little princess who loves her princess dresses and asks “is my hair a mess” before we take pictures.
3. Silly. If Grace doesn’t grow up to be a princess than I’ve got her career all mapped out for her on Saturday Night Live. Though I don’t approve of their material most times, I can just see Grace doing some silly physical comedy. If she’s not making funny faces, or shaking her “booty” for laughs than she’s saying something she thinks is hilarious. She’s not afraid to talk to strangers though I never know what may come out of her mouth. Today I caught her peeking over the seat to three business men and saying, “Hi, I’m Grace.”
Okay, so it only took me like months to write about my four kids. Now here’s my chance to spread the love. I tag Katherine@Raising Five(because I want to see how long it takes her to write about her five kids), Michael Snyder (because he loves talking and posting pictures of his cute kids and he hasn’t joined my webring yet!), Heather@Graced by Christ, and Mary@ Home-Steeped Hope, and Becc @Mr. Toad and Frog… because she tagged me last with the three point kids’ meme.
