Saturday 13 August 2011

Saturday Blog

Today is my son's 25th birthday.  Where does the time go?  I remember holdling him when he was a newborn, full of hope, full of promise. 

One year old and full of wonder and full of laughter.

Two year old and was busy keeping me busy.

Three year old and so innocent, so trusting.

Four year old and so giving. I remember his giving his teddy bear to a foster child we had welcomed into our room.  His joy at drawing the solar system, all the planets well aligned, all the moons named properly.

Five year old and had stopped drawing the solar system - a bit sad when our foster child had to be moved out of the province because his father was now out of jail.  A sadness overcame him.

Six years old - altho he made a lot of friends in school, we saw signs of his being bullied.  Enrolled him in Tai Kwon Do.  Kept him busy in the summer with baseball, in the winter with basketball. 

Seven years old - signs of bullying coming across more and more.  Talks to his teachers did not seem to help.  He was open to learning and friends would come to our home every day after school. 

Eight years old and in grade 3.  In the scouting movement.  How fast time seemed to fly, as he applied himself to his school work and seemed to enjoy more and more the company of his friends.  His birthdays were always filled with fun and games.

Nine years old.  Typical kid - full of spirit and fun. Friends gathered for birthday party, altho now instead of the regular games, we went bowling (or was that the year we took him to Magic Mountain).

Ten years old. A bit more  reclusive.  Bullying was starting to wear on him.  He did not seem to enjoy school quite as much, but had numerous friends - playing computer games became a regular thing.

Eleven years old.  Birthday was active - magic cards introduced to his group of friends.  McDonald's his birthday celebration.

Twelve years old.  Won science fair that year for his school.  Went to Fredericton for provincial fair.  Friends were so important to him.  Grade 7..  Still bullied... Son went to  school reluctantly, but each year held promises of the future.

Thirteen years old. The teen years. Grade 8 prom - took a girl to the end of the year dance.  Birthdays now consisted of a few close friends, playing magic the gathering.  He was looking forward to starting high school (grade 9)  

Fourteen years old.  High school and the torture really began.  Those who had bullied him in his school.  How we tried to encourage him.

Fifteen years old.  High school getting tougher on him.   He still had his regular friends, but he started hating going to school.  More quiet birthday parties - only close friends.

Sixteen years old.  Started grade 11 - starting handing out with some not so savory characters.  Life as we knew it was about to change.

Seventeen years old.  Dropped out of school. Into drugs and alcohol.  Do not really remember much of his birthday that year, altho I am sure we must have celebrated it.  We tried to keep it together. His only 'good friend' tried to convince him to stay in school.  That did not work out.

Eighteen years old. More drugs. More rules in our home. Where had our son gone?

Nineteen years old. Birthday celebrated in the psych ward. 

Twenty years old.  Birthday celebrated again in the psych ward, altho he had a girlfriend who stuck by him thru think and thin.

Twenty-one years old. Birthday celebrated in psych ward again. 

Twenty-two years old.  Birthday celebrated at home - quiet time with just family.

Twenty-three years old. Grateful to have him home and be able to celebrate his birthday with family.

Twenty-four years old.  At home - birthday celebrated with girlfriend - took them to movies.

Twenty-five years old. Today.  Friends invited, but not sure how many will come to his birthday.  He is social, has his good friends back, but they are busy with their own lives - work, play.  His girlfriend is coming over this afternoon.  We will be having a BBQ.

...to be continued...........

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