All those cliché things hold true...time flies, you are getting so big, I am so proud of the boy you are becoming...
I don't mean to dismiss cliché, for cliché exists for all the truth it holds. But as I sit here and reflect on the eight years we have had with Zachary, my focus is on so much more. Eight years of Zach means I have seen him grow through so many stages and from so many different angles. He comes across as a shy and negative little boy. But to know him is to love his shy and contemplative sides. When he is shy, his eyes cast down and a little smirk comes across his face. He wants to remain invisible but you can't help but notice him and fall in love with him. When he decides to be contemplative, he can come across as negative. But his quick analysis of each situation is to determine what could go wrong and therefore always have a solution. You can't help but appreciate his ability to plan ahead. Both of these come from the emotion he feels so deeply, which causes him to either LOVE or HATE everything. But again, he is so much more than just a shy, contemplative little boy.
How much more? As his mom, I see where he has been and who he has become...In the beginning, he was in need of touch. He loved to be held and needed to be touched to fall asleep. He still loves to hold your hand or sit on your lap, but as he grows he wants this only on his terms. We learned that this need stems from his extreme sensitivity to stimulus. All of his senses are on high alert all of the time. So he can get overwhelmed with too much touch or too much noise. He also is a VERY picky eater because his sense of taste is so strong. He dresses himself in very specific clothes because he needs them to be soft and not irritating. And he can smell you a million miles away! As he grows, he learns to deal with his heightened senses. And we have even seen a sense of humor emerge where he can poke a little fun at his sensitivities, but again...only on his terms!
In the beginning he loved animals, especially his stuffed Ted. Although Ted is still around, Zach has replaced his love for the stuffed to a love for all creatures creepy and crawling. Not that he necessarily likes to take care of them, but his dream would be to surround himself with all manner of creatures big and small. There is something so soothing about the unconditional love you get from an animal. Zach thrives on this love. The kind and loving side of Zach peaks when he is with an animal. Of course it also means I have no chance to kill the creepiest and crawliest of the creatures and instead they live among us.
Once he became a big brother, we saw his nurturing side. He just loved this little baby sister we brought home for him. He was always holding her and comforting her. He made sure she had toys at all times. He read stories to her. He made her laugh. He kept her company until she could move around. And to this day he still loves to help his little sister, most especially when she wants no help at all! He also loves to take care of his friends. He is the first one to offer all that his has to a friend. As soon as he could write, he would send countless letters to his buddies. If a friend needed a toy or a book or some pennies, he would oblige. He puts a lot of value in his friendships and offers up all that he has to the ones he trusts enough to call friend. Not that he doesn't have times where his deep emotion and sensitivity don't get in the way of being a good friend. These traits make him hurt deeply whenever someone says an unkind word or excludes him from play. And when he hurts deeply, he tends to use his words to strike back (and maybe a foot or fist too).
Once Colin was old enough to have electronic games, Zach became the world's best problem solver. Zach would wait until Colin went to school and he would begin playing Colin's Leapster. Zach figured out how pass a level in an afternoon that Colin had been stuck on for months. It was really was amazing to watch. He doesn't give up and rarely gets frustrated. And to be honest, his stills are impressive. If there is a problem to solve (electronic game or on paper) Zach is the one to solve it. This problem solving ability served him well in school this year. But even more than that is an ability to go into a situation, sit back and assess what is going on and then figure out the best way to approach the situation to get the desired results. He used this very successfully at school this year. He was awarded good grades because his writing and math skills were excellent. He won an award in handwriting because he applied himself at the right time. On the flip side, he can also figure out when it is not to his advantage to try hard. Most of those times happen at home where his older brother, younger sister or perfectionistic mother will step in for him.
Which brings me to the final observation for Zach for now...the kid is smart. In school and in life the kid is smart. He is analytical but also creative. He writes a great story and draws a fantastic picture, but he can solve just about any math problem his teachers have too. He can figure out how to turn a shoe box into a home for his latest creature. He knows how to beat Bowser and how many Pokemon are needed for the next level. He is competitive with his smarts and will not let anyone else get ahead of him in anything!
Watching him in the next 8 years as he goes from elementary student to high school student will be fun. Will all of these sides serve him well? Will my shy and contemplative young boy continue to thrive and grow into a young man that makes my heart swell with pride? Will he continue to love animals and video games and lego sets? How will his passions change?
I know today I enjoyed his complete joy as he was the center of attention for the afternoon. So, Happy Birthday Zach! These 8 years have gone so fast...you are getting so big...and I am so very proud of the young man you are growing up to be!
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