Recorded in history

Some things are worth repeating.  Here are a few from Zachary's 6th grade year...

1.  We had been discussing gender specific compliments.  On the first day of school, he told all of his teachers they were either handsome or beautiful.  I think he scored a few points, because most mentioned it to me, and all thought they were alone in the compliment.

2.  Zachary was running late and exclaimed he had to brush his teeth or else he would have dragon breath.  I found out later Mrs. Caraway had mentioned something about this in English class. 

3.  In October, I needed to tell Zachary something while he was in his room with the door closed.  When I opened it, he said, "You are not respecting my boundaries."

4.  As Zachary finished his homework one afternoon he said, "I am done with my homework...thank you very much!"  Kind of out of character for him, but cute!

5.  In December, Zack was asked to conduct a song during the Christmas performance at the Houston Symphony.  When he got back in the seats with us, he asked if the musicians would be sending him thank you letters since he had conducted them.  I think the series of thoughts transpired after he wrote a thank you note when he had met one of the musicians on a previous occasion.  Smart cookie, if you ask me, but we did not get any thank you notes.

6.  At Christmas, Zachary was developing his list.  He wanted an English Horn (still does) and said if it is on the list, then he should get it.  I told him it was too expensive for one person to buy.  So he wrote "Fifty $100 bills".  Clever!

 7.  He has been very interested in the birth of babies.  One day he asked if a baby came out of the mother's mouth.  I simply said no, and left it at that.  Then a few months later, he said, "When my wife has a baby, I'm going to watch it come out."

8.  At piano lessons, Zachary very seriously told his teacher that he had watched a movie in History and quality was terrible.  She started laughing because it was totally off topic.  He quickly retorted, "It's not funny!" and he was very serious.  We laughed harder.

9. We were discussing having conversations with his wife one day and being able to explain games to his kids.  He said, “I will just have an autistic wife and then not have to worry about talking.”  At that point, I realized I had been outsmarted and dropped the conversation.

10.  Zack "What’s that thing called a man has, a T-bird…a thunderbird?"  Me:  "You mean a goatee?"  Zack:  "Yes."  Me: (snicker)

11.  Zack was leaving school and saw Coach Ritt, so he rolled down the window and said, “one day I’m going to marry your daughter.”  This was in reference to Megan, his love interest.  Her dad works at the school.

12.  Zack to me:  "Mom, don’t record anymore of the school musicals.  I think I might mess up if you do!"

13.  Over the summer, Zachary had a few baby teeth pulled.  When he woke, he sang the Alleluia chorus, and then drifted back off.  When he was finally able to sit up, and we stood to go, he told me he was walking like he was drunk.  I asked him how he knew what a drunk person looked like, and he said, "well, then I am walking like a toddler."

14.  When Zachary breaks rules, he has to do some kind of chore around the house.  He was cleaning tile, and I could hear him saying, “She is crazy.  Just wait till I get done.  I’ve had enough!”  I thought I heard a parrot repeating me.

15.  We listened to some Dr. Dobson CDs this summer on adolescence and the things that start happening at this age.  These are a few of the comments we've heard since then.  One of the times at his dental appointment when he woke from the sedation, he was speaking with a very low, manly voice.  I inquired.  He said "My voice changed after surgery.  I've hit puberty."  Another comment, and he was very serious and concerned about this. He said, "Mom, I'm worried my penis is going to be too long."  I contained my laughter and told him that really was not a worry he needed to have.  He also told me that he figured I didn't need a big bra when I was young since I am so small.  Aahhh, the innocence of an Aspe.  And finally, he lifted his arms and asked me if I could see any hair growing in his pit area.  He was certain their was hair growth.  

And these are the most popular statements we heard in 6th grade.  We are definitely moving in the direction of adolescence.

Everybody needs their alone time

Not sure what was going on in Zachary's mind, but this is where I found him when John and I were looking in the flooring department at Lowe's.

Guess we all have our own ways of getting away from the masses.

Off to church camp

I can actually say "church camp" now without feeling like I'm going to vomit.  I think I was waaaay more anxious then Zachary.  Two wonderful male counselors attended, and just six boys from our church.  It was a nice small group for the first time, along with several other churches to make it a great opportunity to meet others and socialize.  And only Thursday through Sunday made it not too long from home. 

I only received one phone call on Saturday afternoon where he was bothered by several things and the counselors weren't sure what to say at this point.  A little prayer and discussion, and he was back on track.  He says he had a great time and wants to go again next year.  The counselors said the boys interacted very well with him.

Love Struck

Zachary has had previous attractions to girls, but that seems to go back to 2nd grade.  This year in the Spring, he proclaimed his love for Megan.  She has been in all of his classes since 2nd grade, so I'm not sure what stuck this time.  She is a very cute girl, but poor Zachary hasn't mastered being "cool" around the girls.  Sometimes he's been known to say "hi" to Megan until she responds back.  Well, often, she doesn't respond because she just saw him 5 minutes ago in the previous class.  And actually the other day, I think peer pressure got the best of her, and she joined in the teasing with a few of her classmates.  I expect it was to take the pressure off of her.

Since then, we've had many discussions about teasing and "loving" a person.  After one in-depth conversation that led to crying, and then anger with a few "I hate her" comments, I really thought he would let it rest for the summer.  Not so much.  Some days I think I have actually gotten through to Zachary, only to find him saying he loves her again.  I've even tried directing his attention to other girls on swim team or at church.  It hasn't worked so far.  He even has her picture on his iTouch screen.  He was cleaver enough to get a group shot and trim it down.

Here is a prayer request card he filled out in church earlier this summer.  I had to make sure he didn't drop it in the prayer box.

Megan and my only hope came last week, after we left volunteering in the four year old classroom.  We were volunteering as was another tween.  Her name was Grace.  When we left the class, on the way to church, he said he loved her...and Megan.  School starts in two weeks.  I still have time to try and change his mind.