Puzzle Pieces.

I want to be the kind of parent that recognizes my child's strengths and giftings and calls them out of him by challenging and encouraging him in them. I feel like my parents did a really good job at that for me. Without oppressive pressure, without strings attatched, without any weird throw-backs for me and my ego, I want to help my son recognize and explore the things that excite him or that come naturally to him.

If he is good at catching balls or militant about cleaning up after himself or just plain FUNNY, I want him to know that I see that and acknowledge those things as important. I believe these little things are precious glimpses into these kid's personalities and inner-workings. The sooner I can recognize these things, the better. I think that's a huge part of the sacrifice of having children: even if I personally don't enjoy stacking blocks all day every day, or if playing 'make believe' with cars isn't quite as thrilling to me as it is to my son, I'm still willing to make time to do that if it means Ezra can feel more confident in himself and the things that really excite him.

I've noticed that Ezra is brave yet careful. He's sociable and very particular. He is set in his ways and things usually work out better when I just go with his method instead of forcing him to do things the way I think he should. He is silly and expressive and has a really good memory. He's a bit of a clean freak. He has a really long attention span and is very independent. He's a show-off and a goof ball. He plays a mean game of ring-around-the-rosy.

Gone (I hope) are the days of sons living mirror-image lives of their fathers; or parents pressuring their children into high paying jobs while claiming it's for their children's "security"... Agg! "Security" is often the reason people never see their dreams come true! I'm hoping this next generation of kids will feel less pressure to fit into molds and more freedom to live outside the box. I think raising kids that way is good for everyone, because if someone is doing what they feel they've been made to do, then they are going to do it well and bring excellence into their field. Doctors. Artists. Journalists. Deep Sea Divers. Everyone playing the part they were meant for.

I want to help Ezra find his part in this life. I know he's helping me find mine.