Lucas is six years old today. On any given day, he can be my biggest challenge or my greatest blessing, or both mere minutes apart.
He’s almost done with kindergarten, which I’m sure he’d tell you can’t end soon enough. He HATES schoolwork…like, throws a mini-tantrum at least half the mornings when he’s reminded there’s schoolwork to be done. And, to be fair, I’m still trying to figure out how he learns best, which means he’s had to do a lot of learning in ways that don’t come easily for him. BUT, he started the school year not even really knowing the alphabet or numbers (due to lack of interest and motivation on both my part and his), and can now read enough to figure out most words, and though his math progress is slow, progress IS being made, and he is still far beyond where he started.
In other areas, though, he is exceptional. He regularly surprises me with his listening comprehension and verbal communication skills. He loves drawing, and his ability to memorize facts is impressive. He can follow LEGO instructions for sets that should be too complicated for him, and can come up with his own detailed and functional creations. As always, he is constantly trying to keep up with his older siblings, so his strength and coordination continue to improve at an accelerated pace.
The thing I find most remarkable about Lucas, though, is the way he observes and cares for people. In spite of a particular selfish bent that might be magnified because he is the “baby”, he is very concerned with the well-being of those around him. He is a protector of his sisters, he reminds his brothers of things when he thinks they might have forgotten, he prays for me if I’m hurt and hugs me if I’m sad. He randomly writes notes telling me, Tim, or his siblings that he loves us, and he likes nothing better than to make someone laugh.
He has a lot of preferences, from not liking to wear pants that touch the floor at all, to preferring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches over almost any other food. He likes to do tricks on his bike, and play stratego, and eat candy, and climb on everything, and sing like a heavy metal rocker. Lucas is full of personality and energy and passion. Still a force to be reckoned with in so many ways, but he brings joy to my heart even so. He is a treasure and blessing to our home, and I am thankful beyond words for this six year old kid.