The Cast:Our Older Children
Don’t be surprised if I use these terms interchangeably for this particular child. He seems to transition from one to next in a seamless fashion. Whether from telling a ‘tall’ tail to ‘talking to the hand’ (literally), or starting a conversation with, ‘Watch this…’ to instigating a bear hug that you will not soon recover from, he has kept our family life from becoming boring or run of the mill. While sometimes he can be a bit ‘too much’, (usually for his siblings) he is so genuine in his care for others that he quickly finds a place in your heart.
Years ago, when the ‘you’re not you when you’re hangry’ snickers commercial was airing, he grabbed onto that concept with both hands and ran with it. For months…maybe years really, after that, if he could find a snickers, he would find someone, (usually me) and while snickering, say, ‘Hey, have a snickers. You’re not you when you’re hangry.’ And then double over, straight up laughing over how entertaining he found it to be.
As a middle child, he’s relatively laid back and has often reminded me of a young Jim Carey in personality and even looked a bit like Carey when he was younger. From a young age his face has done a lot of talking for him with his vibrant personality shining through. But that hasn’t stopped him from being quite the talker. The saying, ‘talk the hind leg off a mule’ could have been said with him in mind.
But if you are ever in need of a hug, he’s the first one there, ready and waiting. He is a heartbeat in our chaos, one who reminds us that laughter is essential, that without it we aren’t really even living.
Image created by Mel Seeley in collaboration with Chat GPT
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