life and hexbugs

For Christmas this year my kids each got a hexbug. A hexbug is a small robotic bug that vibrates and "runs" around bouncing off of everything it comes into contact with. They also received a Hexbug racetrack which they can reconfigure and play with for hours. One day, before school my kids were playing with their hexbugs and racing them around the kitchen table. Suddenly, my oldest son turned his off and put it away and said to his brother, "I don't want to waste the battery....if you keep playing with yours, the battery is going to die and then it won't work. I am saving mine."

I cannot tell you how much this statement is a window into the way my two oldest sons view life. D, my oldest child, is a saver. He gets a toy and puts it away so it will stay nice. A, my second oldest son, gets a toy and plays with it until it breaks. He plays hard and the holes in the knees of all of his pants can testify to that. He is carefree, fun loving and enjoys all the fun moments that life has to offer. This year, we had a surprise birthday party for him when he turned 6. We had some of his cousins and all of his grandparents over and we decorated with balloons and streamers and when he walked in the door, we all jumped out and yelled "Surprise!" It was great. I knew he would love it but I think the part I loved the most was watching him spin around the room later that night, completely oblivious to everything else, with a huge smile on his face singing to his balloon after having entirely too much sugary frosting.

I have a lot to learn from my 6 year old. He fully enjoys life and rarely puts much thought into if others might laugh at him for something. I have to admit I am a little jealous. He doesn't just dip his feet in the lake when we first get to camp every summer, he goes running in with his clothes on. He is definitely not a battery saver but at the end of the day, he has definitely had the most fun.