Wherez the hugz?

December is one big holiday season for Jordan. Not only did it snow for his birthday, but less than a week before Christmas, we had the second big storm of the season, dumping three feet or more of snow at the house.

The best gift of all from Jordan's point of view might be the visit of his cousin Jenna and Aunt Vickie and Uncle Jerry from Ohio. That's Jenna and Jordan getting ready for some heavy-duty inner tube riding and sledding yesterday. With well over a foot of snow packed down, temperatures in the 40s, and bright sun, it was a perfect day for it.

Watching the two of them talk and laugh, play and argue, I was struck with how marvelous it is to have them at this age. They're getting to the point where they can straighten out many of their own problems, but they're still dependent on moms and dads for hugs and consolation, not to mention reminding when to quiet down and take another bite of potatoes. In five years--twice their age now--such times will become much less. And in three times their ages now--only ten years--it's possible that they'll disdain any contact with parental units.

Of course, the parents of these two lively humans will be doing everything possible to make sure that such won't be the case. It's a delicate dance, trying to make sure you give the child the ability and confidence to make decisions, while at the same time letting it be known that you're there in case of emergency, or even for nothing. Maybe just a hug.

Nunchaka Belly is 5

My little Nunchaka Belly turned five today. Much more a tweener than a toddler, he had his first birthday party yesterday with other children involved. It snowed like crazy for most of the morning, but a nice, gentle affair, with three or four inches accumulating. Still, driving was at best an adventure. Coupled with the busyness of the season, most of his classmates couldn't make it, but one did, along with two soccer mates, including the coach's family of three girls and boy. That alone would have made a decent-sized party.

If you've ever been in the position of trying to plan your child's first real birthday party, you know what I mean by being anxious that it will go off all right. Especially after having seen a couple of other kids' successful parties, Jordan was rearing for his to be good, too. And he had no doubts that it would be. I was another matter.

As he and I shoveled the driveway so those who could come wouldn't drive off into the yard--not that that would have matter a great deal--I hoped against hope that the snow would stop and a few folks would come. I should have had my son's confidence.

Next, what do you do with kids at a birthday party? If you have it planned as a function, someone moves everybody around from point to point. If you have kids over to your home, you plan things to do, like Twister, Hot Potato, etc. Or, you put the kids in charge and let them do what they want.

It's good to have a plan, of course, but plans are for grown-ups. Kids need only an open space, some string, and a few sticks. Okay, Jordan has more than that to play with, but it was amusing to watch each child find something new to him or her and take off with it.

Jordan was a pretty good gentleman about the whole thing, helping out where needed, at least until it turned out he was the only one without a radio-controlled vehicle to play with. Then he did ask for a turn with a toy.

He opened his presents before we were ready, and it was all we could do to keep him out of the cake. Probably should have let him have at the cake, come to think of it. What would it have hurt?

Only when he farted and pulled off his pants to check his underwear in the middle of the crowd, only to find he didn't have any underwear on did I get a little embarrassed. But that's Jordan. My free spirit of a son, in whom I am exceedingly proud.