Sometimes I swear Bode is a 40-year-old man trapped in a 7-year old’s body. I’ve long heard the term “old soul” but until I met him, I had no frame of reference. He’s just a kid who almost always tries to do the right, responsible thing.
Jamie and I have no idea how he came from our genetics.
Bode is home sick today and and he was lamenting about missing school, he observed, “Sometimes I wish I just had a robot of me so when I’m sick, that robot can go to school and learn for me.” Uhh, sure, Kid.
We recently had parent-teacher conference and he was positively gleeful about it. Remember how I was remiss about his strict teacher no one seems to like? He is thriving under her. She runs a tight ship…every good action is rewarded with “Class DoJo” points and those who misbehave are punished. Bode has become borderline obsessed about earning points and is constantly serving his teacher and fellow classmates. He has the most points of anyone and was even the first in his class to receive a “Star Award” this year. A note from the principal:
Bode has been working very hard in class and is always on task. He loves to learn and it shows! Bode also helps his classmates stay on task and show “task 4.” Way to go, Bode. Thank you!
On the side column of the certificate there are five potential areas for which a kid can receive a star award. He had three checked off for “teamwork,” “academics” and “respect.” Most kids would be thrilled with that but not him. “I didn’t receive it for ‘safety’ or ‘service.’ I’ll have to focus on those for next time.”
Of course he’s not perfect and has so many little quirks that make me laugh. I’ve been going to life-changing-and-butt-kicking Front Range Boot Camp a few mornings a week from 6:30-7:30 a.m. I honestly didn’t know how that time frame would work with their morning routine. I’d usually wake them up at 7 a.m., walk Bode to the bus at 7:50 a.m. and then drive Hadley to school at 8:15 a.m. For years, I’ve been a micro-manager trying to get the kids out the door. “Brush your teeth!” “Make your lunch!” “Your bed still isn’t made!” “If you have spare time, practice the piano.”
But my experiment has worked. I bought them both alarms and they get themselves up and on the rare occasion that they don’t, Jamie is here to do it. By the time I walk in the door at 7:30 a.m., they’re both dressed and have made their own breakfast and are working on packing lunches. They have the Today show on the television (a must for my mornings) and have become accustomed to watching the weather and news while eating breakfast.
Bode takes it one step further. I’ll set his alarm for 6:50 a.m. before he goes to bed and almost always, the kid will sneak over and change it to earlier, citing, “I just like extra time to be prepared.”
Who does that?!
On a recent morning he made me laugh. We were almost ready to walk out the door and he was glued to the Today show. I asked:
“Are you ready for school?
“Not yet, Mom. I’m trying to find out if the Yeti is real.”
Every 40-year-old kid has his weakness.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 