Charles Turns 12

This pic was taken in the summer of 08.

Yep, it's still birthday season at my house. January, February, and March together have five birthdays clustered in them. My oldest has his in August and this next could be in August too.

Right in the middle of it all is Charles, my second child. Odd as it sounds, Charles spoiled his parents as a baby and a toddler. While we watched other parents catch holy hell from their kids we were somewhat beside ourselves at how pleasant and charming our son was. My first son was also very easy to keep. We'd hear other parents go on and on about how tough it was to raise a child so we started wondering if it was simply the parenting, or some spiritual rift, some other environmental duress, or if it just was the child's character. To this day I still believe it isn't just the child's born-in attitude. I think a lot of it stems from anxiety kids get from mom going to work when the baby is 6 weeks old. I can't really say much more other than we have been blessed to have Charles.

I have watched him at a very young age do things you'd expect only from adults. For instance, he will step in where he sees peers about to fight or act ridiculous and talk sense to them. I remember Charles being in play areas with strange kids and being so friendly. Even when the other kids first contact with him was mean and aggressive he would find ways to calm them and make friends, if it was possible. I guess you call it diplomacy and at that he is a natural.

It breaks my heart to watch him get older. I remember when he turned 6 we had his birthday party at the local community center. At his request we had a dance party complete with a disco ball and boom/wack music. We turned down the lights, turned on the black lights and got out there with Charles and a bunch of his little friends and tore it up. The only down side was my whole family mostly just sitting there watching....ugh. He was so in to it. He wore a bright white long sleeve that glowed in the black lights and stayed towards the back making moves I'd never seen before or since. It was such a success we did it the next year with even more friends. By the time he turned eight he was too cool or mature or something. We have tried every year since then to do that again but he just won't agree to it. I will get him though. He has a couple little brothers that are all about dancing and he will be at their birthday/dance parties.

I will certainly have a lot more stories about this guy to share in the future. He is something else. He is a gift, a blessing, and a value added entity where ever he can be found.

-Dad