Today Max had a Star Assembly where he got an award. This afternoon, he’s got a Poetry Café event. Going to school twice in one day wasn’t what the Hub and I wanted to do, but it means so much to Max, we don’t think twice.

The Hub traveled for a long time, so he missed many of Max’s events. Even though Max never vocalized disappointment, I know he felt it. Now when Papa shows up, I can see him beaming with pride.

It got me thinking about how the littlest things affect our kids. Like when we moved several times in a year. Max was a mess. He reverted, and it was hard to help him feel stable once we moved here. Throwing him in a French immersion program didn’t help with that. Now he’s well-adjusted and doing fine.

We have to think about how our actions as adults affect our kids. The ripple effect can sometimes go months or years beyond its source.

Photo credit: kgreggain

Max has always been Mama’s boy. I don’t mean it in a negative way; he’s just always preferred my company, and we’re more alike. But lately I’ve felt him slipping away. I knew it would come, but couldn’t prepare.

For my husband, it’s great. Max is more physical now, which means they wrestle and fight a lot while I look on over the book I’m reading. I don’t resent them spending more time together; I’m glad of it. I just feel a little…well, empty.

And in place of snuggling up with me, he’s arguing with me. The Hub and I recognize that it’s a power struggle, but it’s one I’m not interested in engaging. Today I took away his iPhone in an effort to show him that arguing relentlessly has consequences. He seemed to get it.

I feel like we’re already embarking on teendom, and I’m not ready. After all, he’s only 7!

Max just finished soccer season (thank GOD!). We want him to choose something else. He’s ambivalent. Not into martial arts right now. Doesn’t want to do basketball. He’s a homebody and would rather do nothing, but we’re of the mindset that we should nudge him to at least try something.

What about you? Do you force encourage your kids to participate in a sport or activity? What if they’re not interested in anything?

When I was little, I would have loved to taken classes, but my parents weren’t the type. I don’t want to push him, but I do want him to expand his world.