Yet another one of my babies is turning 18. Today is Shea’s birthday, “Happy birthday, Shea!” So far, all of our children have moved out during the month of their eighteenth birthday. Shea has been talking about moving out for a few months. I suppose I should be happy that we have managed to equip our children for independent living by the time they turn 18, but I’m not. I am not ready for him to go, and neither are his little brothers.

Oh sure, he has his moments. Like when he decides to beat one of his brothers to a pulp. When I open up his bedroom door and the floor is level with his bed because of all the clothes and junk.

For the most part though, he is a great kid and a great big brother. A few months ago, he applied for a maintenance job at the local zoo and got it. He has been working an average of 50 hours a week ever since then and this month he is eligible for full benefits and paid days off.

Still he has managed to get out of bed almost every Sunday morning on his own to attend church. He still enjoys youth group on Wednesday night and transports his younger brothers there as well. One of his brothers has a weekly lawn job that includes mowing and raking on the weekends. Shea has still been taking him every week. Last year he took his little brothers to every one of their weekly floor hockey practices from October until March.

As you can tell, Shea is a really big help to me. Having an extra driver in a home with eight active children can be invaluable. It saves me from having to load up all of the children and cart them around for hours. Not to mention he is funny, Shea has a great sense of humor and can always make me smile.

Last week, he unexpectedly brought Lyn home an MP3 player for her birthday. He said the talking watch and talking clock I gave her were not something cool that a 14 year old would want. Therefore, he bought her something that he would have wanted when he was 14. That really made her smile. See why I don’t want him to leave.


Can You Influence Who Older Adopted Children Will Become?
”
Taking Adopted Children to Cultural Events”
Boys Will be Boys, Bonding Time Among Brothers

Photo Credit: Julia Fuller 2007