Just Like Starting Over: Turning 6

April 9th was the big day. My son turned 6.

My husband and I woke him up by singing the Mexican happy birthday song “Las Mananitas” and he grinned from ear to ear as we kissed him.

As a mom, I remembered the moment I first set eyes on him, how I pushed for 2 hours to get him out and cried unconsolably when I saw him. He was our first born, our son, and a miracle child in a way - -born healthy even though our family had a strain of genetic disorder running around in it, the same genetic disorder that took the life of my brother.

At 6, your child is still clearly your baby. He may whimper when you forget to read him a story or cling to your skirt when it’s mommy’s night out. He cries for you when he skins his elbow on the cement after falling off his dirt bike.

But six to a child is a BIG step. A child-sized step. Not toddler-sized or preschooler-sized advance. And that in itself is a big deal.
But some things change. Or should change.

Like being more responsible, for one. I don’t want him to grow up to be the type of teenager or 20-something male I see sometimes, leaving a trail of underwear and candy wrappers in their path, lying around waiting for mommy or the girlifriend to do everything for him.

So the growing up starts here.

After we woke him up that birthday morning, I passed by Benji's room, and I took a double take. I noticed that the bed was made.

“I made my bed. I’m 6 now,” he announced.

That night, when he was getting ready for bed he beamed, “I don’t need to wear overnights anymore. I’m 6!”

Ten minutes later he put on his bed wetting barrier, too close for his or our comfort. I’m sure he will still wet himself overnight for a few months longer. The doctors say kids can bed wet till around 6 or 7. We will have to look into alternatives to help him.

And sure enough, the next day he got frustrated because he couldn’t get the corners of the Batman covers on his bed to lay right and shouted “I can’t do it!!!” with all his might.

But at least he has the intention to try, and the recognition that he is growing older.

Certain things have already been shaped and are not going to change dramatically -- his silliness, bouts of anger, back talk (I hope that is a passing phase!), frustration tolerance, or lack thereof. The fact that he can only sit still for 30 to 60 seconds while eating at a table before being distracted by something around him (hopefully this too shall pass).

But as with any birthday, there is the hope, however, remote, of starting over. And that is what makes all the difference -- to him and to us, his parents.