Something About Raj

This is Anders.

photo by Blue Lily Photography

He likes sour gummies, his jeans lined with fleece, break dancing, Sean Kingston, soccer, lemon sorbet, Fetch With Ruff Ruffman, his blankie, race cars, Phineas and Ferb and his favorite color is green. He cried when Flight Time and Big Easy didn't win the Amazing Race. Do not ask him to eat "just one more bite of chicken" when he has decided he is done. Trust me, you will regret it. He has a wicked sense of humor. On April Fool's Day he rallied all the kindergartners to switch classrooms and line up at the wrong door. He was the only one that actually went through with it.

He is the smallest kid in his kindergarten class, girls included. People are often fooled by his small stature. They expect him to be timid, babyish. Those are two words I would never use to describe my son. He may be small, but he's mighty. Anders possesses a confidence that stops me in my tracks sometimes.

photo by Blue Lily Photography

I often wonder if my view of my kids is skewed because, well, I'm there mom and they are my babies. How can I possibly see them as anything but amazing when looking at them through the lens of unconditional, all encompassing mother love. But there is just something special about Anders. It's hard not be charmed by him.

Today Anders is six years old.

In three short months he will be in first grade. He'll get out of school at 2:45pm along with all the big kids. No longer will I pick him up and 1:15, come home and share a carton of lemon sorbet while we flip through cook books discussing what to make for dinner.

It's hard for me to get my mind around my youngest child turning six. It's so cliche... a mom lamenting her her baby growing up. But that doesn't lesson the sting. Six seems so big kid.

Happy Birthday Anders. I am going to squash you like crazy today (that's an inside joke). It really is too bad you didn't enjoy your birthday party.

photo by me