Hayden

Sometimes I forget to stop and dwell on things when I need to. Like my kids. I enjoy them and have fun with them but there are times when I just need to stop and really think about who they are. And when I do that, I need to write it down so I don’t forget it! So tonight I am going to tell you a little bit about Hayden, who happens to be starting 2^nd grade tomorrow.

Hayden is in some ways hard to describe. Some days I think I have him figured out and other days he surprises me. He has a temper at times and doesn’t like to be picked on or teased. He can be very silly but usually only when he wants to be. Other times he is very serious and gets mad if you joke with him and act silly. He doesn’t like to be wrong and will argue even if he knows he is not right (I might or might not have been like that as a child or maybe as an adult). Hayden is very sensitive but hides it most of the time. He takes things very literally so some things need a little extra explaining. Most days he is very polite and helpful, other days not so much. He brings lot of joy to our family and we love him so much!!

Hayden does his fair share of fighting with Hayley but he really does enjoy playing with her. Hayley is very silly and picks at people, which always makes him mad. He is working on learning how to handle her and he is doing a great job (most days). When they do play together they are very sweet and it is so neat to watch them. They act like animals or pretend they have a restaurant. It is quite humorous what they come up with.

I am pretty sure that Hayden has a special place in his heart for Alex, even if he doesn’t understand it yet. He is so sweet to Alex and gets excited when Alex does new things. Hayden will usually share his toys and play with him just to help me out. But there are times when Alex makes Hayden lose his temper as well, like when he takes a toy from him, throws something and hits Hayden in the head or messes up his monster trucks, hot wheels cars or legos. Brotherly love!!

I am still amazed at how well Hayden is able to draw. He has loved to draw since he was about three or four. He doesn’t do it quite as much as he used to but when he does it is usually very detailed and I am always impressed. He also knows more about the computer than his Pepaw (but that might not be saying much)! He is like Cory in that he can do something once or twice and remember it from then on.

He will still hold my hand, sometimes even when I don’t ask him to and he has promised to always give my hugs even when he is a teenager. I plan on holding him to that! He is the best cuddler and likes to sleep (I think he gets that from me).

As I have watched Hayden grow from my little baby to a big kid, I have learned so much about him. As he starts this new school year, my prayer is that Cory and I will continue to learn things about him and be able to guide him in a way that is pleasing to God. In a way that he can learn to make a difference for God and others.

Being a parent is a lot of responsibility. I have said before that I don’t think I was prepared for all that it takes to raise a child. When Cory and I got married I thought about having a baby…..not about having a 2^nd grader! Hopefully with God’s grace we will be able to raise Hayden (& Hayley and Alex, too) in the way he should go. I plan on taking more time to sit back and dwell on my sweet boy more often and enjoy everything about him while I do.

I love you Hayden and I am so proud of you!

Updated:

Hayden was VERY excited to go to school today!! He woke up in a good mood and I asked him if he knew what day it was. He said, "First day of 2nd grade."