What is Fifteen?

Fifteen is awesome.

Fifteen is exciting.  You get to taste the independence of adulthood and yet still laugh and carry on like a child.

Fifteen is a hero.  Your sister wants to learn from you.  Your cousin watches all your YouTube videos - not because he's interested in what they're about but just because they're yours.  Your little cousin laughs when you get on the floor and roll around because that's what he does.  You have a much-younger not-so-secret admirer that used to follow you around all day long and even now, after moving away, completely lights up when she sees you.

Fifteen is engaging.  When you talk to adults, they engage you as an equal, one of them.  Your voice is more than just words strung into sentences.  Your voice is interesting, intelligent and powerful.

Fifteen is hard work.  The chores get harder.  The list gets longer.  There is real homework.

Fifteen is complicated.

Fifteen is delicious.  Your chicken tetrazzini, your pancakes, and your fudge.  Oh, the fudge!

Fifteen is carefree.  The days are long.  And you can spend them on a scooter in all the local hotspots with your buddies without worrying about your mom checking on you every hour.

Fifteen is unfair.  The rules are too strict.  The computer time is too short.  The dishwasher always needs to be emptied.  Someone else should have to empty the garbage.  Other kids have TV's in their rooms.  "It's all just stupid."

Fifteen is big brother.  One minute you're throwing a lunch bag at your sister and the next you're calling her "Muffin".  That about says it all.

Fifteen is building things.  Boxes, cd racks, bicycles, and scooters just for starters....

Fifteen is hungry.  You can pile your plate full of salad, steak, mac and cheese or tacos for dinner.  And then need a snack in an hour.

Fifteen is heartbreaking.

Fifteen is musical.  One of my favourites things is to hear you downstairs playing your drums or your guitar.  I know that playing in front of people is not your favourite thing to do but you will always have this audience of one.

Fifteen is nervy.  You help yourself to the snacks and pop that were classified as treats when you were a "kid".

Fifteen is creative.  You can build doohickeys and whatchamacallits on Minecraft and an assortment of other websites.  You can teach your sister how to make music on Garageband.  You can create your own tutorials on YouTube and find subscribers for your channel.

Fifteen is respectful.

Fifteen is active.  Watching you bounce around the house, throwing yourself prat-fall-like on the floor, and trying to avoid Tucker when he comes to join in the fight/fun has convinced me that you will never, ever be able to sit still.

Fifteen is loyal.

Fifteen is intelligent.  You know stuff.  And you love to let us know what that stuff is.

Fifteen is persistent.  When you put your mind to something, you end up focusing until you've accomplished what you set out to do.  Especially if that something is trying to change my mind.

Fifteen is sweaty.  Is one shower a day ever enough when you never stop moving?

Fifteen is funny.  Yes, as you say, you're becoming your father.  And, boy, do you make me laugh!

Fifteen is kind.

Fifteen is protective.  When your sister needs you, you're there.  You help her stay out of trouble and, although you sometimes try to convince us otherwise, you totally love her.

Fifteen is conflicted.  The decisions.  The challenges.  The choices.  So very conflicted.

Fifteen is big.  The yells are bigger.  The feet are bigger.  The door slams are bigger.  The moods are bigger.  The smiles are bigger.  The hugs are bigger.

Fifteen is a beautiful soul.

Happy birthday to my boy.