Parenting: Lesson 2

This is Sebastian:

See that light around his head?  That's not just the picture, it's his halo and he carries it with him wherever he goes.  Sebastian is my second baby.  He is going to be 11 in July.

If Sebastian had been born first, the two of us would have strolled around, arm in arm together, feeling extremely pleased with ourselves.  Sebastian is a linear thinker.  I can give him a list of assignments or chores, and he will meticulously work through them with attention and diligence.  He has a very strong sense of justice and right and wrong.  He would very much like it if everyone else, particularly his siblings, had such clearly defined ways of doing things as he does.  The upside to this frustration is that he regularly gets to practice the realization that the only person he gets to control is himself and that often in life you will be frustrated with others' shoddy work or poor decision making.  By the time he is an adult, I imagine he will have this concept down cold....he'll be able accept the fact that not all people can live up to his standards in his sleep with the kind of practice he's getting!

Sebastian is a leader.  Last Summer he was the "project manager" on a lemonade/cookie stand.  He sold over $70 worth of product.  After paying for his supplies and giving a fair wage to his "employees" he was able to keep around $25 for himself.  He has leadership and delegation down, but his is also willing to work hard and put in the time to earn money and he will save up towards various goals.

Sebastian is generous and kind-hearted.  Even when he is saving up for something he wants to get for himself, if one of his siblings has a birthday coming up (which, lets face it, is pretty often) it is important to him to get them a present with his own money.  Sometimes we even have to give him a spending limit because if he sees something he thinks his brother or sister will love, he's liable to spend every dime of his hard earned money just to bring one of his siblings that joy.

Sebastian is fun to be around and has a great sense of humor.  Other kids enjoy his company and he makes friends easily.  He jokes around a lot and is fun to talk to.  He and his daddy together can really get going with their "joking" and "playing"...yeah, they kind of drive me crazy sometimes.  He is pretty much the mini-me of his father in almost every way.  I'll let you do the math to determine for yourselves how much good and how much not-so-good that is.

And, I wasn't going to mention this, but if I let Sebastian read this post I don't think he'll ever forgive me if I don't declare firmly to the world that he is completely, utterly and in all other ways obsessed with Sonic the Hedgehog.

I love my sweet sweet Sebastian and I'm so glad he's in my life.