What's S'Happening with the Stockwells: Sweet Six

Ah, six...I believe this is my most favorite age yet. We are most certainly in that sweet sweet spot between babyhood and tweendom, where Ethan has become his own person, with abilities and independence and self-control, but where Mom and Dad are still the centers of his little universe. And oh how I cherish this six-year old son of mine. Throughout his six years in our lives, Ethan has of course grown and developed, but so much of his character has remained unchanged. He is one-of-a-kind, as all kids are, and here is what I think is so special about my guy:

Ethan exhibits (and always has) patience beyond his years. No other almost six-year old I know would sit through his mom's hair appointment (2+ hours) one day and then his mom's nail appointment (1+ hour) the very next day, without nary a complaint. He is (usually) happy to tag along on whatever errands I need to do, especially if they are described as special outings with just Mommy.
...which brings me to the next thing I love about Ethan - his love of planning. With two boys, I never expected I'd have a partner in decorating and party planning and shopping...but I do! Ethan loves chatting with me about whatever event is coming up, planning the food and decorations, shopping for supplies, and even picking out his outfit. On the Wednesday before his friend party, he asked me to wash his Spiderman shirt because he couldn't imagine wearing anything else to his superhero party. While getting him to set the table on a daily basis is sometimes a challenge, setting the dining room table with linens and silver and candles is probably one of his most favorite activities.
Ethan has always been our little helper. From the time he could crawl, he wanted to be involved in whatever the adults were doing, even if it was hard work. And while I know that the tides will turn and we'll have to beg him to clean his room someday, I am happy to report that he is still Mr. Helpful. He shovels snow, does the dishes, folds and puts away his laundry, cooks, cleans, helps Daddy in the garden, and loves a good organizational project. And while his help is not always on my schedule or exactly to my standards, I will say it is actually, truly helpful at this point.
Perhaps what surprises Ben and me most about Ethan is his creativity and artistic nature. Somehow these two Type A, analytical geeks created a left-brained lover of all things creative. Sure, Ethan's got his Type A traits too (more on that later), but he is so much more creative than either of his parents. Whenever we have a spare moment, he'll drag out his art supplies and a blank piece of paper and just create. He loves making books (which will be easier with the new stapler he got for his birthday) about dinosaurs and Angry Birds and pirates and his family. One of my favorite parts of the week is when Ethan comes home from school on Fridays and shares his folder of work with me. We sit down and look at it all, but he is always proudest of his artwork. And as a completely biased critic, I am usually quite impressed!
But what I love most about Ethan is his kind and gentle soul. He is a truly compassionate child, with not an enemy on this earth (he gets that from his dad, trust me). I am fortunate to be able to volunteer in his class this year, and have gotten to know some of the dynamics of the classroom. Even in kindergarten, there are cliques and popular kids, but Ethan does not involve himself with any of that. When he made his list for birthday invitations, I was thrilled with the kids he had chosen to invite - they weren't just the louder, extroverted, magnetic boys, but also the eccentric tomboy and the quiet boy who often seems lonely in class. I hope that as Ethan continues to navigate his school years, he keeps this sense of kindness and empathy and friendship and stays true to his own choices.

So what's not to love about Ethan? Well, of course, I love every piece of him, but he is most definitely my drama king. I somehow thought we would avoid drama by having two of the male gender, but no, Ethan loves him some drama. Our boy is beyond sensitive (a good thing, right?) and feels his emotions in a big way. So that all leads to some ups and downs that make me fear for the time when hormones kick in and add to his moodiness. Ethan is also a worrier. He bolts out of bed every morning worried. Worried that he will miss the bus, worried about what to wear, worried about how much to eat for breakfast. I too am a worrier, and am trying my hardest to give him the confidence and flexibility and security to overcome this curse.

But mostly, Ethan is just pure joy. At six, he is into "big conversations". It all started with a car ride with Daddy, and a discussion about our family tree. Since then, every time we get in the car, Ethan asks what we can talk about, whether it be evolution or homonyms or politics or what happens when we die. But at six, Ethan is also still into sitting on my lap for a story, and being read to when he can really start reading to himself. He is well-rounded, and has moved beyond the obsessions of the toddler years to enjoying a broad variety of interests. Apart from his art and book-making, Ethan loves playing outside (especially in the snow), riding his bike, doing puzzles, building with Legos or Lincoln Logs, racing cars around the house, being chased by his brother, playing games, and reading chapter books. He loves being around others but also loves a healthy dose of alone time. He adores his brother beyond belief and enjoys playing the good guy by encouraging Adam to do his dirty work. He considers himself all grown up, now choosing a solo shower over bathtime and loving the special nights he gets to stay up with the adults after his little brother has gone to bed. He loves kindergarten but also relishes his time at home with his family. And we relish him. Every ounce of our lovable, smart, emotional, thoughtful, kind Ethan. I cannot believe you are already six, my sweet boy, and yet you seem wise beyond your years. Thank you for making me a Mommy six years ago today, and for gracing our family with your unique and brilliant light ever since.

And more on Ethan at 6 (with last year's answers in parentheses):

Ethan, Age 6
Weight: 49 lbs (45 lbs)
Height: 47 inches (45 inches)
1. What is your favorite color? Blue (Black)
2. What is your favorite toy? The garbage truck and the crane (Bear)
3. What is your favorite fruit? Raspberries (Watermelon)
4. What is your favorite TV show? Curious George (Fireman Sam)
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Blueberry or cranberry bagel (Grilled cheese)
6. What is your favorite outfit? T-Rex shirt with navy sweatpants [Editor's note - any "non-dressy pants", aka pants with elastic waistbands] (My Superman costume)
7. What is your favorite game? Ten-zei (I Spy Eagle Eye)
8. What is your favorite snack? Squeezy yogurt and popcorn (Crackers and cheese)
9. What is your favorite animal? Elephant (Giraffe)
10. What is your favorite song? I don't have a favorite song. (Lomax. But if there was a Spiderman song, I would like that one. Or a Batman song or a Superman song.)
11. What is your favorite book? The Circus Ship (The Magic Treehouse books)
12. Who is your best friend? Dylan Tolli (Emmett)
13. What is your favorite cereal? Shredded Spoonfuls (Muesli)
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride bikes (Ride bikes)
15. What is your favorite drink? Milk and water (Milk)
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas, no wait, my birthday (Christmas and Halloween and Valentine's Day)
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Birdie and Clipper (Bunny and Ducky)
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Granola (Muesli)
19. What would you like to have for a special birthday dinner? Tacos (Macaroni and cheese)
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A construction worker (A construction worker)