Another Eighth Birthday

Max turned eight on Friday, we celebrated by welcoming a few wild animals to stay in our house. Now, alone these creatures are just regular boys but my God you put them together? They become giant sticks of dynamite.

Dynamite that makes farting sounds.

Our birthday celebrations have become a lot less elaborate since my kids were babies. I should do something about it, but....enh. Maybe next year.

There's a lot to love about Max at 8 years old. He's still lacks a lot of self conciousness, so he'll walk home from the bus doing something called The Funky Walk (it involves arm waves and head bopping) and he'll still hug me in front of all his friends.

Back at the old house the two kids would walk to school in the morning. When we were preparing the kids for the upcoming move, Maddie said, "I'm going to miss walking to school with Max in the morning. I like to tell him about my problems."

And every morning, I'd watch them walk down the block, Max looking down at his shoes while Maddie jabbered away. Most likely about how crappy their parents are because they are making her play violin because she signed up for it and she has to finish out the year. What a couple of assholes, am I right Max?

I asked Max, "Do you like walking to school with Maddie?"
"Yeah, I like hearing about her problems."

When we moved the kids stopped walking to school together, and I was a little sad about that. I liked how they had that time together. Recently I decided it was time for the kids to ride the bus to school and they're getting that little bit of time together again.

Maddie met a 4th grade girl on the bus who apparently likes to take walks through graveyards. Sounds to me like this little girl is working on her Personal Brand at a really young age. Maddie came home after the first bus ride begging Max to sit with her so this other "weird" little girl wouldn't anymore.

The next day they came home and Max couldn't stop talking about the "weird" little girl. He sat with her on the way home and Maddie was incredulous. "How can you sit with her!?"

"I like her. She's different and I like listening to her stories. I like people who tell good stories."

I love the guy he's becoming.

Now, if he could learn to tie his shoes before college, I wouldn't feel like a total failure at the parenting gig.

Welcome to 8, Mackie Man!

Comments

[kris]

my son is 9...he can tie his shoes...so he says but somehow i still end up doing it 90% of the time.... i think loafers may be in his future... god, do they still even call them that?

[Nichole]

He sounds like an awesome guy.

[shina hart]

Adorable. Happy Birthday Max!

[HouseofJules]

Aww, so sweet! I wish I had gotten along w/ my older sis when we were kids. Sidenote: Whoever frosted that cake did an excellent job. I never get frosting that smooth and even!

[Jennifer]

What a great tale about your kids. Very sweet. Max sounds like a caring, sensitive, accepting kid -- kids we need more of in this world. (I hear way too much about the mean kids.) Good job, mom!

@HouseofJules: I'm in total agreement with the awesome smoothness of the frosting.

[Cat]

"Personal brand"--excellent word choice!

[April]

Your kids are so cute. Well done! I love that picture of Max, too.

[Sara]

Great post -- love the picture! He's serious about learning about the wide array of stink available.
8 is my favorite number and it looks good on the cake. Did Logan design and decorate?

[mythoughtsonthat]

My boy is almost 9 and cannot tie his shoes. I could probably teach him in a minute, but....well, maybe another day.

[cjh]

Add me to the list of folks who thinks the cake looks awesome. Your kids are fantastic. Great post.

[Amy]

They both sound like sweet, sensitive, and caring kids - kudos!

[Phil]

That picture of the boys looking at the book looks like something Norman Rockwell would paint. What a great picture that really captures their imagination. I can't tell if the best part is Max's eyes looking at his friend, or if it's the other boys sneaking a look from the other side. Good stuff.

[thesandwichlife]

I LOVE that picture of the boys. My guys are 7 and 9 and I also love thinking about the men they will become. My 7 year old took me out for a drink on Saturday. It was the best date I've had in eons....maybe ever....

[Barb]

What a great photo. Pretty much says it all. Stink-o-pedia! My son (at 8) would have loved that. Maybe (at 20) he still would.

[wookie]

As a parent of some of the weird kids*, I would like to thank your son for being happy to hear a good story.

*My four year old girl is obsessed with spiders, skeletons and Ruby Gloom. Her older sister, at 5, held a "meditation" on the playground to contact her best friends dearly departed dog, Buddy. They sat in a circle, held hands, and talked to Buddy in the spirit world.

Apparently letting children watch the new Scooby Doo can really add a different dimension to their imaginative play.

[ShredderFeeder]

8 seems like so long ago with my oldest, who just turned 13, and is just around the corner for #2.

Great pic of all the boys crowded behind the book, that's so very eight.... ;-)

[kate]

Aaww, that's a great post, Melissa. I love the image of the two of them walking to school, sharing problems.

The cake (and candles!) are awesome.

Also? I can get through another day now that I know that I am not the only parent tying my 8 year old's shoes.

[Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com]

He sounds like a great listener =) What a wonderful skill! I wish I'd figured that out sometime around his age!

Happy birthday, Max!

[alisha]

I have an 8 year old and a 9 year old and neither one of them can tie their shoes. I've taught them both about three different times but I always end up buying them velcro shoes so they forget again. I'm sure either one of them could do it if it were a life or death situation and that's all that really matters, right?

[alli]

So glad to hear other parents' kids are having a hard time tying shoelaces - I don't feel so alone. Melissa - you and Logan seem to be doing a fantastic job with this thing called parenting. Your kids are loving, fun, GOOD people. Be proud of that!

P.S. I echo the sentiments on the frosting...my son's 10th bday was on the 19th - I totally cheated and bought the cake!

[Amy]

Hey! I was with you when you made that cool cake plate!!!! Justin just finally sat down to learn to tie his shoes this year. He's NINE. Velcro has destroyed that life skill!! Happy Birthday to Max!!!!

[Hayley]

Max sounds a lot like my baby brother. He'd always befriend the "weird" kids, despite what his "cooler" friends thought. I hope my boys are like that. So even if he can't tie his shoes... he's making up for it!

[carolyn]

Fret not!! My now 13 year old son supposedly could tie his own shoes at 8 years of age, but like another commenter mentioned, I ended up tying them a majority of the time. I wondered at the time if velcro shoes were available in adult sizes. However, somewhere along the way, he started tying them by himself. And so, I feel certain that Max will too, one day. Don't worry...

[Vanessa]

Happy birthday, Max! I love the image of Maddie telling him about her problems. We all should have the problems of a 10-year-old.

Also, at least Max has the excuse of not knowing how to tie his shoes. My daughter is 10 and has been able to tie her shoes since kindergarten, but she's so incredibly pokey in the morning that I often end up putting then on and tying them for her just so we can *leave* already. I know I shouldn't enable her in this sloth (she usually sits there reading a book while I'm crouched down making bows in her laces) but I do anyway. I suck.

[AliOhio]

This post and the photos are great. So nice to read about other sibling relationships. My little guy (3) really looks up to his big sis (6) now so it will be interesting to see how that grows. Also want to say I am addicted to your blog lately and love Did They Eat it? features too! Thanks!

[Tina]

"I like people who tell good stories."
and
"I like to tell him my problems."

Your kids are so sweet and intelligent and thoughtful. I love hearing stories about them. Clearly, you have taught them so much more than shoe-tying.

[Deb - Mom of 3 Girls]

Happy birthday to Max! Abby's is coming up next week too - I can't believe they're eight already!! :)