The things I am learning about my son…

If you would have told me that this year was going to be a good year for Matthew, I wouldn’t have believed you. I really wouldn’t have. We started the school year off very rocky. Honestly, we’re not out of the woods yet, and I’m still miffed with the school, but I’ll get over that.

(But seriously, why don’t they think kids should learn times tables and put the times table on each of their desks? It’s not like I carry one around with me… no! I memorized them, and now I can multiply 7×9 most days and know that the answer is 63.)

I digress.

Matthew is having an exceptional year. He’s branching out. His confidence is growing. He’s becoming quite the young man.

Every day I am amazed at his growth.

Case in point.

A few weeks ago, he brings home a piece of paper, shoves it in front of my face, and asks that I sign it immediately. I have gotten in the habit of asking him what I am signing so that he pays attention, otherwise, I’d be signing a permission form for him to partake in some after school drinking binge… he sees signature line and wants me to sign it, without knowing what exactly he’s signing up for. (He’s still a little on the gullible side…which is okay.)

His face lights up and he says, “It’s a permission for for me to audition for All County Choir.”

I stared at him. I’m all for encouraging my children to try new things, but I know that this could lead to disappointment.

I make him explain to me why he wants to audition. This audition takes the best 5th grade singers from each elementary school and puts them together for a grand performance at one of the highschools in March. It’s a big deal.

His answer? “Singing and acting kinda go hand in hand. I just want to try something new.”

Again, all for the trying new things and branching out, however, as I’m signing this form that could potentially lead him into discouragement from not being picked, I say to him, “You do realize that there is a chance that you will not make the All County Choir, right?”

He nods.

“And if you don’t, you’re not going to mope around here, right?”

He nods.

“If you don’t get picked, you’re going to chalk it up to trying something new, and being proud of yourself for trying, and move on, right?”

I’m such a horrible mother, aren’t I?

Again, he nods… and then adds, “Why are you so concerned about this mom?”

“I think it’s great that you want to do this, Matthew, but I don’t want a repeat of the SCA elections.”

Then I get the look. The look of “Mom you are off your rocker, are you retarded for thinking that, could you please just hurry up and sign the stupid paper so that I can put it in my book bag, get my homework done, and go do what I want to do.” Surely you know the look of which I speak.

And then he tells me… “Mom. All County Choir is based on skill not popularity. I was mad that I didn’t make the ballot because I know that I could do a good job and I wasn’t given the chance. This is the chance. If I don’t make it, I’ll be fine, but I have to try.”

Yes, he’s 11.

So I signed the form. I heard nothing until the Friday before I departed for my trip.

In he walks with an envelope with his name on it. He’s got a smirk on his face. He lays it on my desk and says, there are a few papers that you need to sign in there before you leave.

I open the envelope and the first page says, “Congratulations! You have been selected for the All County Choir.”

I looked at Matthew and exclaimed, “That’s wonderful honey! I didn’t even know you could sing.”

And that’s the honest to God’s truth, because last year I looked at him while watching American Idol and said, “Honey, you have many talents but singing is not one of them.” When he asked why I said that, I simply told him that I didn’t want him auditioning on the basis that his mother told him he was a good singer.

When I think about it, I’ve never really HEARD Matthew sing… other than in his goofy, I’m trying to be funny singing.

And then…

about the same time, he entered the Young Writers Competition. Up until this year, the child hated to write… anything… including his name on the top of the paper. But he wanted to enter. So he wrote a story. It was a page long. He made it into a children’s book.

This is the entire book.

Once upon a time there was a knight named sir Kung-fu. He is supposed to be king in May, back then it was called October. One day he was asked to go on a mission.

The king said, “To be king you first have to go on a hard mission. The mission has tons of obstacles as ogres, giants, and more. Do you accept?”

“I accept!” said the knight.

“You will start at the crack of dawn. Here is the map of the trip.” said the king.

The next day he started on the mission with a horse, five pages, and a sack of food. They have traveled very far, so they are tired. Suddenly they come to a dividing of paths.

The knight said, “Group A, go to the left. Group B, go to the right. We will send smoke singles if we find the castle.” So he goes to the left. Latter that day, he runs into a giant. He gives a hard effort , but the giant smashes him like a pancake.

THE END

You read it here first, remember that when he’s the next John Grisham.

Because the school picked two winners… Matthew was one of them, and it was submitted to the next level. (And yes, there were more than two entries. Which is still mind blowing to me.)

Now, couple these two things with the first A/B report card he’s ever had, his sports growth, his spiritual growth, and the other little things that I’ve seen him accomplish over the last few months, I’m blown away.

My baby is growing up.

And while I know that he still needs me, he’s starting to branch out and be his own person.

And that’s just too cool.

And I’m a proud mama!

Until next time…

Heather