Happy Birthday, Bird!

They said the time swoops in a mad dash. I didn’t believe them. I was mired in the muck of motherhood. Diaper pails, baby wails, parenting flails. 

The milestones were a flurry of excitement in the early days. There were simple yet stunning achievements, and we cooed at every turn. As the years carry on we coo less and cringe more. Such are the trappings of the tween years. The first time the baby teeters in his first steps morphs into the first time the boy walks to school alone. The pudgy crawling baby who suddenly stands up turns to the boy who stands taller than you. And then there’s the shift from playdates to dates. 

When Bird was a little boy he had an imaginary friend named Jimmy. Jimmy from South Carolina. Sometimes Bird would use toy tools to “fix” his toy ride-on train to go visit Jimmy. We still joke about Jimmy. Now Bird is in middle school and has friends who are real to him and imaginary to us because we don’t know them. 

Such milestones carry on, each stone on the path of parenthood pops up less frequently but looms larger. Trying to grasp those memories and hold on is like trying to hold a stream of light in your fingertips.

Bird turns 11 today. He started middle school a few days ago. In kindergarten he got an award for “Most Likely to Be a Politician.” In first grade his award was “Voracious Vocabulary.” In later years he won awards for math, social studies, and honor roll. His brain has always been circuited to be a few clicks ahead. Humor me a moment.

When Bird was three he was being naughty and difficult. I threatened to take away his favorite toy, a Nerf basketball, if he carried on with his poor behavior. The kid went upstairs, got the basketball, handed it to me, and said, “Here you go, Mommy. You might as well have it then.” And scene.

The turning tides are going to be fierce with this one. Bird has felt life fiercely since he was born. He is driven and settles for nothing less than perfect, for better or worse. He’s hard on himself and won’t celebrate his own accomplishments. He doesn’t like when I brag on him. Bird is the child who is painfully like me. Our constitution is remarkably similar; we roll our eyes at the same things, we have high expectations of others, we have nary a thread of patience. There are good qualities we share too, but remember what I said about bragging. Aw hell, I’m his mom, and today’s his birthday. 

Here’s a glimpse at my Bird.

1. Bird is a voracious reader. His nose has always been in a book. Always. This is why he runs late. All. The. Time.
2. He plays piano beautifully but prefers guitar so he can play every Green Day song.
3. He is tender hearted deep down but doesn’t want you to know that. His poker face is his armor.
4. Sports drive this child’s competitive spirit. When he’s not reading, he’s dribbling, swatting at, tossing, or chasing a ball.
5. The boy’s palate is more mature than most adults’. He’s chosen 18 Seaboard for his birthday dinner and is willing to sport a collared shirt and bow tie for it (Deal is grouchy about this but will play along for a shot at good dessert.).
6. He’s a witty kid who can appreciate word play. I adore him for this.
7. Bird’s math mind is borderline Rain Man. I cannot relate to this at all. I will have him manage my business accounts one of these days.
8. At a young age he realized the book is always better than the movie.
9. Bird is tidy. He doesn’t always make his bed (See #1), but his room is often the neatest part of the house.
10. Bird carries the confidence of a grown man. I don’t know where he gets this, but it’s decidedly not from me. (Note: Never confuse extroversion with confidence.)
11. I always tell Bird that once he learns how to make a mean homemade red sauce, he’s going to be a golden package – smart, athletic, creative, musically gifted, and handsome. Naturally, he rolls his eyes at this.

This is 11.