Liam, age 3 1/2
Or is he? True to form, upon waking this morning, my little fire ball argued that he was not yet four years old. Apparently, in order to graduate to the next age, one must blow out the candles on their birthday cake. Candles on a birthday breakfast will not count. No, turning four will happen when, and only when, the candles on a birthday cake served at your birthday party are blown. My Liam has such a strong passion about this that I am now wondering if it is true (So, can I delay 38 by not allowing a cake or party? Or, better, I am I still 36 since my birthday cake was not served on my actual birthday? ) But, that is Liam, a passionate and spirited debater. This little tree's roots run deep in the soil of conviction.
Oooo, I can still feel weight, smell and sweetness when I see this picture
I have delighted in watching the intricacies of this little spirit unfold over the past four years. With a little bit of experience in my parenting change purse (notice I did not use the words knowledge or skill), I see how a connection with a child grows with time. No, I don't love Liam any more then the day he was born. I do, in some ways love him more richly. I now have a much stronger sense of who he is and how we as mother in child are together. If I would have guessed who my child would become at his birth, I would have imagined a very different person.
A tiny cherub wearing the Schroeder family baptismal gown
For one, I imagined that Liam would have been a little more mellow. Maybe that was just a pipe dream, but that is what I saw when I looked ahead. I would have probably pictured a more typical 3rd child. One who goes along for the ride and is a little more clingy and needy then the older children. While he is the biggest lover of my three and maybe a little more clingy he is so different from what I imagined. When Liam stood at the fork in the road of survival he chose to WALK the path, he would NOT be taken along for the RIDE. Rather, he would survive by letting his needs, thoughts, ideas, loves and hates known. Every minute of every day, this soul demands to be heard. Not just heard but listened to. Should you chose not to give Liam your full attention, you may find him gently (or firmly) demanding it. He has been know to put his arm around your shoulder and place his hand on your cheek turning your face to his. Fierce blue eyes like lasers, just try to look away. Try not to smile.
Master communicator by four, I now see that this soul is destined to take the lead of others. Yes, I do see that most preschoolers are bossy and struggle for power. No, I have never encountered one that is more convincing. I have met few people who were as persistent and convincing as this little boy. "No" doesn't faze him, it is just a delay on the journey to "yes". This child can get anyone to do anything.
Hiking at Mt Rainier on Daddy's back
The day after his birth, I chose Liam's name. I was aware that the name means "protector". I thought that was odd and struggled to find a poetic way to make that fit who he was. I thought, perhaps, he would grow to be an environmentalist. No, he is what his name infers. He simply protects people. Liam will defend his brother and sister to the death. Even when they have just been miserable to him. I can't scold Jack for hitting or being rude to Liam without Liam coming to Jack's rescue (a loud commanding verbal rescue). He protects his sister, the dogs or his parents just the same.
Liam age 1 1/2
Protective of his eggs on his 1st hunt
Third Birthday Short Stack
Never a Wallflower always a Sunflower
Above all the things I adore about this person is his ability to make you smile and his energy and freedom in love. For the child who says it so often with such sincerity,
I LOVE YOU!
