And That's Why We Go to School and Learn This Stuff

All through high school English, and college English for that matter, the emphasis in writing is to be specific, use active voice, and don't assume your reader understands exactly what you mean if you are not specific. It's one of the tricks of reading the Bible ... which person does "HE" truly refer to through eighty verses of pronouns? Well, among the many lessons I keep relearning as a parent is the one about being specific and not assuming my listeners (ages 9 - 15) will understand what I am saying (or hearing it in the first place, but that is a different discussion).

My baby turned nine years old today. And true to his birth date, he has a great big heart, full of enthusiasm and generosity. Liam is a blessing in our family. Last night we invited my parents over to enjoy dinner and dessert with us to celebrate Liam's birthday a day early. Liam was almost uncontainable all day, wondering when exactly they would arrive, if they would be bringing a bag of Cheetos like they did last time (children have looooong memories. It was two years ago he got a bag of Cheetos from them). We managed to put him off the present-opening until after dinner, when we needed to allow some settling time before eating dessert. He started with his present from his grandparents. As he opened the bag he delightedly exclaimed, "Cheetos!!!" and hugged them -- gently. He found a bookstore gift card next and opened that quickly, thanked his grandparents without really looking up, and was ready to move on to his next present.

In an effort to remind him of his manners, I said, "Liam! Say 'thank you' to them!" Liam squirmed around in his chair to look at his presents and said, "Thank you!" in a very clear, loud voice to the Cheetos and gift card. Nooooooo!!! In the middle of everyone's laughter, I said, "Liam, no, not your presents. Look at your GRANDPARENTS and say 'thank you'!"

He giggled and looked first at my mother and thanked her and then at my dad and thanked him. And he made a point of making eye contact with each person who gave him a gift after that.

I love Liam. He has a great sense of humor. Happy Birthday, honey.