My little man is sooooooooooo sensitive :^(

[GreenPartyVoter]

This is one of those bittersweet moments.. He is just about to turn 8, but sometimes he seems so much older.

We were doing our tuck-in routine and I made up a math problem for him to do. "If a farmer has some orange trees and it takes 162 oranges to make a gallon of juice, how many oranges do we need to make 5 gallons?" We worked through the problem and then he got all quiet and then he did something very unusual for him, he just burst open and told me what he was thinking. He said he felt sad because he was thinking about an old man trying to squeeze all those oranges and he felt like he would burst because he couldn't help the man and there were so many people in the world and problems he can't fix and it just makes him feel like a computer that's making a Ehhh! Ehh! error sound.

My heart squeezed a bit because I hurt that he felt that way but I was also pleased that he was thinking about other people. I pointed out that he does do things to help like give to the offering at church that supports two kids we are sponsoring, and he donated two large boxes of his old books to his sister school in Mississippi. But he was still sad that he can't help everyone, so I told him that I feel the same way too and that for me it helps to pray. I do believe in positive thoughts and karma making a difference in some way, but I mostly do it because I find it helps me to give away that stress and regain some perspective (I also like to bury my problems in a box or float them off on a balloon. Well, not literally but you know what I mean :) ), and I think too it helps to make a mental list like that of things you would like to fix.. and things that you are grateful for. Again, good for perspective. We sometimes fuss about our little trailer, but thinking about how many people in the world would think it was a paradise always sobers us up.

Anyway, I guess I posted this in part because I am proud of my thoughtful guy and in part because I am sad because my baby's innocence is fading faster than _I_ was ready for it to go. :)

[Shine]

1. What a sweet post. and Yes, I can totally relate.

It's bittersweet to see how they grow and change....

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Yeah, and we're just never ready for it, are we? *l* *hugs*

[bertha katzenengel]

2. Oh, my.

Goodness.

If there's a God, GPV, it's in your soul. :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Thanks, bertha *hugs* I believe 'god' is all of our souls intricately

linked via the ethos of life. :)

[ET Awful]

5. Groom that kid to run for president!

:P

And ease his mind by telling him that it doesn't take anywhere near 162 oranges to make a gallon :P

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. *lol* he asked me if it really takes that many and I said I had no idea

but probably not. (Maybe they are Mandarin oranges? :P)

I dunno that he could be prez.. his personality isn't suited to it. But he could be the guy doing the work behind the prez, I think. He loves to organize and classify things so he'd be pretty good at helping keeping the prez sorted out. :) Me, I am kinda hoping both my guys go into science believe it or not. I periodically ask them to invent the matter replicators from Star Trek so that everyone can have enough food. (Huh... no wonder the poor kid thinks he has to save the world. I've sorta asked him to do it. :( )

[ET Awful]

12. No son, I'm not trying to give you too much responsibility, but if you

could save the planet on your way to school this morning, I'd really appreciate it.

Oh, and bring back one of those gallons of orange juice on your way home.

:P

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Make sure it's pulp-free! *l*

[hickman1937]

6. He's found his compassion young.

My heart goes out to him. That kind of open heart hurts. I'm glad he has you to guide him. My best wishes to you both.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. He comes from a long line of sensitive people. I hope I can guide

him better than I guide myself, otherwise I will teach him how to be really good at overeating.

[Hotler]

9. Through the eyes of a child. The whole world could

learn from that perspective.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Yeah, it sure could.

[Hotler]

11. Your little man is at the age that a

mini-bike would be in order. Yamaha make a nifty little 80cc with electric start thats perfect for learning. I want to ride I want to ride...

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. *lol* Still trying to master a 2 wheeler without the training wheels