When I first started this blog — almost six years ago — my son With-a-Why was small enough to sit on my lap. Now when he stands next to me, he can look over the top of my head. He’s got the same long, lanky build that his father and brothers have. Like his older brothers, he wears his hair long, pulling it back with a bandana when he plays Ultimate.
In many ways, he’s always been very adult for his age. He started playing chess before kindergarten. He plays amazing classical piano; he’s a motivated and self-disciplined musician. He plays on a Snowstorm City League Ultimate team with college students and grown men. He’s always hung out with his older brothers’ friends.
Yet, still, With-a-Why is very much the baby of the family. He does fewer chores than any of my other kids – heck, he does fewer chores than half of our extra kids. He and my husband read comic books together at night. He’s still sweet and affectionate, even though he’s so much taller than me now. He’s still painfully shy with anyone outside the family, since he’s lived his whole life inside a safe bubble of extended family and extra kids and a piano teacher who is practically family. I have no doubt he will, like his siblings, outgrow the shyness someday, but he hasn't had to yet.
In September, he begins tenth grade. When I looked at him through a camera lens last weekend, I was shocked to see that he’s turned into a young man. Another child growing up, striding off into the world to figure out who he is going to be.
