As if May on the farm and in the life of a big family couldn’t get any busier, we added our fourth child, our only boy, Jackson Richard, on this day 13 years ago.
I woke up early that morning of the 19th knowing that it was going to be the day. I should have known Jack would be easygoing and never in a hurry because I was able to get Anna on the first-grade bus, get myself ready, giving Joe enough time to do chores. We then made our way to town for Josie’s preschool drop off, meeting my mom in the parking lot to get almost 2-year-old Amelia care for the day. We headed to town for a regularly scheduled doctor’s appointment. By the fourth kid, I had a good relationship with my OB/GYN by that time, and he and I agreed that today was in fact the day, so we headed to the hospital.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Did I mention this was May 19th, possibly one of the busiest times in a farmer’s schedule? While I enjoyed just lying there, having ice water brought to me and taking slow walks, Joe was anxious to get this show on the road, I believe even leaving for some sustenance from Culver’s to get him through and pass the time.
Jack arrived in a very uncomplicated manner at 9:05 that night.
Our boy.
We pegged him our little farmer, as all farm families do with their sons, but I didn’t expect how much more he’d become when I held my little guy for the first time. Like all of our kids, we have watched Jack grow into who we hoped for and who he truly is. From the sound-effect tractor and car driver toddler to the Batman cape-wearing preschooler to the facts-telling kindergartener (ask me sometime about the nonfiction book kick he was on night after night after night at bedtime!), Jack has always had a well-rounded set of interests. Art, elaborate storytelling, sports, fishing, hunting, cows, bull riding, drift cars, airplanes, you name it, Jack wants to try it and might be one of the best at it (note the Webel confidence!).
The juxtaposition of his easygoing attitude with his eagerness to learn something new makes Jack in our family fun and never dull. He’s always up for something new he thinks he might want to try, to share his knowledge and to maybe ask for time on YouTube to research it. He’s still figuring out the world around him, but as we wade into his teenage years, we can’t wait to see what he grows into each step of the way.
This morning as he came downstairs all gangly teenage arms and legs excited about Spikeball, a room re-do and Pit Vipers he negotiated one of his sister’s friends down with cash and a side of a McDouble meal, I couldn’t help but think back to that little chubby boy who never left the house without a Batman cape and baseball cap. That little man who wanted to be a big helper, but also wanted his mommy to snuggle with him at the end of the day, most likely reading a riveting non-fiction picture book about spiders or semis or frogs.
I love thinking about Baby Jack as I see who he is becoming because that little dude is still there. I see him in his reactions that have never changed as his slew of sisters direct every move he makes and he just takes it. I see it in the way he jokes with his friends. I see it in simple acts of kindness like helping my dad navigate bleachers or holding the door for someone at a ballgame (and the 50 other people behind him as we try to hurry home! Ha!).
Four teenagers in the house will not be easy. A LOT is going on, both in personality management and scheduling. Thankfully, we have our Jack to keep the pace in check.
Dear Jack,
I know you roll your eyes at me when I try to hug you tightly, when I tell you stories about the funny things you did when you were little but know that even though you’re in the middle, you’ll always be my little boy.
You’re growing up right before my eyes, even meeting them now that you’re so tall! I’m excited to see who you’ll keep growing into because I know that the man you’re becoming will always have that kind-heartedness that we have seen since you were very tiny. Keep that when the crowd around you starts to shift into the snarly phase. Keep being kind. Keep being funny. Keep being YOU.
We love you dearly, Jackson Richard.
Love,
Mom