Growing up is hard to do. Even harder when you know what you are missing. AJ is now at an age when the things that younger children get to do look fun. But he also feels like he should be more adult. Art projects are beneath him, unless he’s helping someone younger. Cartoons are beneath him unless he is watching it with someone younger. Having that very young person around give him the license to do things that he perceives as being too young for him. Halloween is no different.
AJ as Captain Hook when he was three.
We are close friends with a family that has four children in it. The second youngest child has adopted us as his second family. Ryder is 5, well almost 5. He’s hyper and rambunctious and everything AJ always wanted in a brother. He’s a little like AJ was at that age. Having Ryder around allows AJ to do things that he normally wouldn’t, like watch cartoons or color.
AJ wants to take Ryder trick or treating. It is his way of doing the fun things he wants to do, while still retaining his adult like composure. I’ve tried to tell him that once he gets to college, all that goes away. Many of the students that go to school with me don’t just watch cartoons they debate them. They also play Pokemon religiously and debate the finer arts of being a Pokemon trainer. But since AJ is in high school, he is under the social pressures that teenagers place on themselves. Trick or treating with Ryder solves two problems for him a) he gets to get free candy and b) no one will make fun of him if they see him. They will think he’s taking his little brother out.
Until AJ is out of the awkward high school years, he will sadly have to live with the social pressures of high school. We all did. But I guess it is a good thing that he has Ryder to help him do those things that are seen as too young for him. We all need someone to help us stay young.
To everyone reading, I challenge you to go out and do the thing that makes you happy regardless of what society says. For me this means I will listen to Christmas music, loudly and boldly…before Thanksgiving!
Adeventures in Parenting 