Simply Extra-ordinary

I should have written this last month, on the 11th day of April to be exact for this is a story of how we proved that our son is a very extra-ordinary boy.

Aside from the kindness that he shows towards his sisters, we often hear praises from his teacher that he is indeed someone "exceptionnel" as they say in French. Not because he's on top of his class. But he emits a positive energy that no one can explain. He thinks maturely and easy to handle for a would be 5 years old boy. He appreciates nature and find peace and happiness in long morning or afternoon walks or just watching the clouds pass by. He'll appreciate and thank you for the smallest thing that you did for him and often expresses how much he loves you. He has this great sense of humor that I think he got from his father. Although, we often receives praises because of him, for us it's but nothing out of extra-ordinary. Just like any 5 years old boy.

As his birthday approaches, he expresses his desire to invite his friends just like his classemates who already celebrated their birthdays by inviting friends to come over for an afternoon party.

Every birthdays of our kids, we make it into a point that we'll take a day off or two to be with them and to prepare something special for them but this time, my husband can't get a day off. As you all know I have 3 kids. (11, will be 5 at that time and the youngest is 1). Our extended family is living either in US or Philippines, so I wouldn't get any help from them meaning it will be difficult for me to organize a party for our son. So both my husband and I decided that we will celebrate it as a family, without any friends or classmates and early in the morning before my husband goes to work. But the thing is how to break the news to our son? I know he would be disappointed and in our minds, it will break his heart.

So one dinner time, weeks before his birthday, we explained to him that his papa will be working on the day of his birthday and that it will be difficult for me to organize by myself because I'll be taking care of his small sister too.

We're waiting for it: for cries of sadness, for sobs and questions if endless "why's" or tantrums just like any 5 years old boy. But what we heard proved to us that "yes, our son is an extra-ordinary boy after all." What came out if his lips is the most heart warming phrase that i wouldn't imagine hearing from a boy like him.

"Je comprends, Maman. T'inquiet." (I understand, Mama. Don't worry.) it brought tears to my eyes upon hearing those words.

I will just quote Sandrine, a lady who's taking care of our son before in the gardery when he was 2, she said, "If we have 20 Vance (the name of our son) in this gardery, there would be no problem for us. Our work would be much easier."

Maybe, we didn't notice before but now we are aware that our son is really extra-ordinary.

So how did his birthday turns out? It was simple. When he woke up, before my husband leave for work, we surprised him with a song and his home bake chocolate birthday cake made by yours truly. He was already grateful for that. And in the late afternoon, we just dined out in a fast food restaurant.

In the evening, when I put him to bed, he told me, "Merci Maman. Mon anniversaire, c'etait super grace à toi. Je t'aime" (Thank you, Mama. My birthday was super because of you. I love you)

It was nothing compared to how we celebrate his sister's birthday but the appreciation on his part was so great that I told him that I wished I could have done more for him. But he wouldn't ask for more. He is indeed, "Vraiment exceptionnel." What else can I say. Continue to be that way...