Here’s some big news….kids turn into exactly what they are going to turn into. Now, I don’t have my degree in psychology and clinical sociology but I’m going to tell you some stories and give you some examples. Then you can draw your own conclusions. When we say, “Oh, he’ll grow out of that,” we might be wrong.
First…I’ll use my own son. Jack is 25 now and doing really well in Nashville. He always saved his money, counted and organized it. In the past five years he’s traveled all over the world(Turkey, France Egypt, England, Hawaii and lots more) cause he knows how to save his money and spend it on stuff he really wants.
When he was a very little boy and Mary loved the Spice Girls…. Jack loved one Spice Girl. All the other little boys were crushing on Baby Spice or Posh but Scary Spice was his woman, at seven. A few years later He loved loved Gwen Stefani from No Doubt. Jack’s dating habits, as he’s traveled the world have absolutely leaned toward Scary Spice and Gwyn.
He still loves strong, exotic women. (Kenzie Greg reminds me of Gwyn in so many ways.)
Mary was always hot tempered, dramatic and giving to a fault. One day, when she was eleven, she was waiting for me downtown. While I parked my car she gave her coat to an old street lady. She loved working at the Master’s Table and was constantly trying to save somebody. Today she works at the Clinton Foundation (saving the world) and she’s starting a non-profit to make birthday cakes for kids in homeless shelters.
One of Jack best friends grades 4th-10th was a very handsome blonde boy who loved Frank Sinatra and playing in the band. I mean he was obsessed with band. He’s now a geeky band director in South Florida.
The hot blond girl in 8th grade who wanted to make out with all the boys all the time (I overheard them complaining that she kissed so hard their lips got sore) she had several beautiful babies before she was 23.
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A young man who spent a lot of time with us, was quiet and wonderful and loved being in the woods, is studying to be a game warden in college.
And finally, there were two different kids who bullied Mary relentlessness, for years (3rd grade-10th). One girl, one boy. They were brutal, abusive and obviously very angry about their lives. Both have come out as gay and are now happy in committed relationships. Mary is actually friends with the guy now but when she was in 4th grade he tormented her so terribly, called her such vile names, she finally broke down and said, “My daddy has a 9mm and he’s gonna come shoot you if you don’t stop saying that to me.”
Guess who got suspended from school for threatening another student?
Kids are gonna be what they’re gonna be but sometimes there are clues early on. We can only hope to shape them into caring and tolerant folks who make the world a better place. As the old adage goes, “It’s better to build a boy than mend a man.”
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Amen. That’s all that needs to be said!
they is what they is