Jack-man

Little Man. Son. Big Guy. Big Bro. But never Jack.

Figured I needed to post a bit about this little man that lives with us. I have noticed that I blog a lot about Hayley and even more about Eli (mostly because he demands it) but not a bunch on Jackson (he demands very little).

Jackson ... before he was born and after I named him I decided we would call him Jack after he made his presence. It hasn't ever come out of my mouth. Never. He will and always will be the full Jackson.

I think he's the typical middle child. The peacemaker. Calm. Agreeable. Shy. Have to say it wasn't always like that. I delivered him and the doctor held him up to show me ... I have to say I was shocked. This red red little boy with a ton (I mean a TON) of black hair. Then he peed all over me. He cried. And cried. And screamed. And cried. For about the first 9 months of his life. I cried too. Finally I just figured he came to the wrong family. I just knew he hated me. Then .. it all stopped. It's like he opened his eyes for the first time and looked around and liked what he saw. Maybe he assumed this was as good as it gets with this family and was going to embrace it until he loved it?? Anyway, he turned into this quiet (too quiet .. he didn't say his first word until he was 3 years old and then it was in full sentences), observant, peaceful soul.

So Jackson today. He's a good kid. Sometimes I wake in the morning to the sound of the vacuum. He cleans. Without asking. He likes things orderly. Works best on a schedule. His homework is always done. He remembers on his own. If I ask him to do something, I am guaranteed to find it done. If I am harping on Eli to clean up his toys .. Eli knows Jackson will do it for him. Drives me crazy. I will tell Eli I am going to take his toys away if he does not pick them up. Jackson and his soft heart, can't bear to see that happen, starts cleaning away. I make him stop and explain to him that Eli needs to learn. I take the toys away. Eli smiles. Jackson cries. Sensitive.

Of course he has his moments but for the most part, they are rare. Oh unless he is sick. Jackson is no fun when he's sick. It's then that his patience runs thin and then he makes demands on me .. "DO something mom". He has struggled in school for years. Last year we discovered he has dyslexia. Amazing progress has been made since the painful decision came to hold him back in the 2nd grade. His confidence has increased 100 fold which has only brought him success in school.

The last time Sean came home and then left .. Jackson spent the night crying in his bed. Sobbing for his dad. "Who is going to play legos with me mom? Who is going to take me on hikes? Who is going to play monster with me?". Eli on the top bunk gets into the action and starts to cry and that really gets me emotional because Eli isn't like that - UNTIL Eli says "Who is going to buy me toys?".

Jackson balances us. Even though he thought he came to the wrong family .. I'm convinced he is right where he is supposed to be.