Meet My Teenage Son!

Jarrod turns 15 next month and can I just admit that I'm having issues with this?! How can my son be 15 years old???

I remember his 10,000 questions a minute, inquiring about EVERY SINGLE thing in his world... now replaced with a quiet reserve and shyness.

I remember his pudgy face and body... now replaced by his slim, fit, 5'8" frame.

I remember his confusion at even the slightest hint of sarcasm... now replaced by a twinkle in his eye and a smirk on his face, letting me know he's about to let loose with some smart-ass comment to make me laugh.

I remember his insistance at keeping his hair off his face, ears and neck. Hey it's cheap, quick and easy for mom to shave a buzz cut! Well, one can tell from the photos that he's over the buzz cut (for now--summer is a comin').

Jarrod's passion is the martial art form, Aikido. He's been a practitioner for just about 4 years (he started when he was 11). He just tested for 5th kyu in May and is even more dedicated to improving. He attends 5 classes, 5 days a week at the dojo with a variety of senseis, both male and female.

Watching Jarrod grow from a small, timid, and I'll admit lazy child attending the youth Aikido class once a week to the much bigger, confident, determined, serious teenage practitioner he's become has been amazing to say the least.

The 3 black belts that have worked the closest with him mentioned to me, after his test last month, that they've truly enjoyed seeing Jarrod grow (both inside and out) especially in the past year and they are all excited to see his continued growth and improvement in the near future.

So, that's my oldest kid, in a nutshell and my feelings on him turning 15 next month. He'll be driving soon and bidding farewell to homeschooling, which is all he's ever known, and going to public school in the fall, albeit an alt ed program. I too am looking forward to seeing his growth in the coming year but not without a small sadness in my heart that my little inquisitive boy is growing up way too fast!