I don't think I've made a blog post specifically about my son. I have made reference to him on my posts I'm sure and I know I have left comments where I talked about him. He keeps his own blog on ActiveRain and if you haven't read any of it, check it out........he's a talented and gifted writer. I have resisted writing about him on my blog because he gets irritated if I step on his toes. For a 13 month old he can be a little feisty.
However, I wanted to share with you my perspective of our walk in downtown Seattle the other night. We had gone out to dinner with the ActiveRain crew to say goodbye to Jorgen. Jorgen is our lead developer on the Localism project and lives in Lawrence Kansas. We had him in town for a week and he was flying home the next day so we were having dinner to see him off. As 13 month olds often do, my son was getting a little restless in his high chair so i swooped him up and we headed outside to stretch it out a little bit.
He's been walking for about 3 months now but still acts like a drunken sailor on occassion. So when we got outside, we are standing on 3rd and Union in downtown Seattle. It's about 9:00pm (way past his bedtime) and I set the little guy down. Right away he takes off down the block. It's the normal hustle and bustle of a downtown street at 9:00pm on a monday evening. There are people walking by themselves, lost in their iPods, there are groups of people walking and laughing and chatting. There is the occasional shady character passing asking for change.........
The thing that struck me as odd is that my son had the exact same reactions to the people on the streets as I was having internally. He wasn't looking at me (so my body language or facial expression wasn't influencing him), he was focused down the street on wherever he thought he was headed. But each time we would pass a group of people, if I was thinking internally that the person looked a little shady, my son would stop, turn to find me, and hug my leg with a look of "you got my back, right dad?"
If the group of people we were passing was a group of three women (or anyone with a chatting and laughing, he would just walk right in front of them and flash a big huge grin, caring less if they planned on stopping or tromping right over the top of him. Of course, in every instance, the people would stop and engage him and he was happy as a clam. (it borders on disgusting......he is such a little attention fiend in public)
How the heck does a 13 month old little boy have the intuition to know what he should and shouldn't be concerned about?
Jon is convinced he is going to grow up to work with the FBI or the CIA.........at the very least, maybe he'll follow in Grandpa's footsteps and become a Seattle Police Officer.
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Cute, cute, cute! I do believe that people give off "vibes" both good and bad. I read or saw that even little babies can "read" people's faces and they respond: happy with happy, sad with sad. Maybe it's a survival mechanism?
Guess he is just like his dad. Walking all ready? my how time flys.. early too, if he has been walking for 3 months.
Bob--Sounds like that guy is going to keep you very busy! Kids are so much fun at that age...Enjoy it as it goes by waaaay too quickly. I think kids have a better intuition than some adults. Cute picture!
Bob,
I've always wondered what a child is thinking before they communicate in a language WE understand...you know they comprehend more than we give them credit for, and are excellent body language communicators as you suggest...it's just that WE don't understand their verbal 'words'...great epiphanies however...!!! Thanks, Fran
Kelan Rocks!
What a little cutie pie. I KNOW kids can sense things... they know who really likes them, who is faking it intuitively. Same as my dogs...they know too.
He is just too, too cute. children at his age have an amazing sense of knowing the depth of ones soul. I raised 4 kids and it always amazed me how they reacted to different people. Cherish every single moment you have with him because time truly flies.
Our Grand son is 15 months old and sounds similar he stops and looks at people until they look back then the grin and on to the next group.
Bob- what a cutie pie! Melting everyone with his smile:) Treasure every moment! They go by fast.
Bob don't every short change kids, they just seem to have that instinct about people and they are usually right on the money.
Children are very intuitive, and are so so smart. I thik it's all about energy. People have an energy about them, and others (especially children) can feel that energy.
Those are fun days! ; )
Bob- that is why Isabelle has such an affection for him...she knows when she sees a good thing!
Isn't that amazing! I have learned to trust my children's instincts as kids seem to be good judges of character. It also seems that the younger they are, the better they are at it. I think it is something that we lose a bit as we get older because we read into things more and kids don't have all of the levels to deal with- they are just pure and innocent and don't care what others think. My 2 year old daughter doesn't really like one of our neighbors and I have started really paying attention to him. I can't put a finger on it, but she senses something about him when he is around and I have started to pick up on it as well. That said, he will never be left alone with either of my kids!
I think many animals have the same ability as kids. Again, they are not worried about impressions and are just innocent observers.
Bob- Even young ones have certain instinct about people they encounter. Enjoy this stage because he will be grown up in no time.
Hi Bob, I'm thrilled you had time for dinner and to be with your son. My middle daughter is 21 and living in downtown Seattle this summer working for Black Rock. She heads home next week and I can't wait to see her. She spent 7 months in Tacoma last year as an intern and loves Washington. When she comes there to live after college (because I know she will); I hope to meet you when I visit. You have been so instrumental in AR and have always been so kind to me.
As for your son, in a word....cherish. The time goes so quickly and while it is great to finally watch them fly, it is amazing how fast that time went. They are in your arms, on the bus, walking across a stage to get a diploma in a nano second it seems.
Kelan is not only cute (very cute!), but also a genius; his blog is better than some I've seen :)
We learn so much from kids! Sounds like this child is very special -- enjoy every moment... they grow up fast!
Bob, your stories of your son are always fun to read. They are fun to see a young father grow and learn along with his son. I bet you had no idea how much learning and growing as a person you would do after becoming a father! Parenthood is amazing! Now about that police thing - umm - I am so proud of my son that is a WA police officer but as a parent I worry every day he is on duty!!
Bob, they are so intuitive and he is a handsome little one! What you don't realize is that he is now pretty much the boss! Just don't ever tell him. Looks like you're having fun!
Later in the rain~Deb
It's survival of the fittest, filtered through millenia.
I just read a couple of Kelan's blogs. That's amazing. He types better than half the adults who are blogging around here! ;)
Wow is he getting big....and walking downtown how cool is that :) Of course little ones have a much better instinct than many adults.......they haven't heard all the BS yet, and judge by instinct.
Bob.. Enjoy the time with your son as much as possible. It goes by so fast. My youngest is 9 years old now, and I'd give anything to have a few moments back when he was that age.