Theo is twelve

We celebrated Theo’s birthday at a conveyor belt sushi place in a Japanese market in Gardena last night, followed by cake at home and the big reveal of the boys’ new mountain bikes, which Bobby seemed a lot more excited about. Getting, and assembling, and getting the accessories and bike rack for these bikes was an endless and exhausting scramble (mostly on the part of the H) and all cost well over $1000 which explains why we haven’t done it until now. Thankfully the H is on a new health kick and wants to start exercising, plus we want the kids to have something else to do in the desert, so now’s the time. I will not be joining them, not yet. I’m afraid of getting hurt and prefer walking, thank you very much. But now that the H has free weekends, it’s the perfect thing for them to head out and bike. I’m thrilled that they’re all getting off screens and getting some fresh air.

I unexpectedly got notice this week that Theo finally made it into the gifted program for next year! Hooray! So that’s years of worry gone in an instant. Honestly, I probably had nothing to worry about - LAUSD has been losing students for years due to declining birth rates, and Theo had 19 points in contrast to the minimum required of 8. But it’s a relief to know he’s settled in to Bobby’s school for next year; he’s already picked his classes and done a tour of the school. I asked the boys if they’d be interested in possibly taking the public bus home next year - it picks up right in front of the school and drops off just a few blocks away from home. They seemed apprehensive but willing. I’m not so sure I want them starting out on public transportation quite yet; the buses in LA are gnarly, since everyone drives - the only people on buses are people who can’t drive for a variety of reasons, some benign, some not so much. But I feel like with a stop right in front of the school that it’ll be mostly students, anyway, and as long as they’re together it should be fine. I feel sort of like when I got them started walking home from school - they might have been a little too young, but they needed to have a little responsibility and freedom. I told them I was never driven to or from school a single day of my life; I always either walked, took a school bus, or public transportation when I started high school (which Bobby will this fall). Anyway. It’s just a thought. 

I feel like, with admission to the gifted magnet finally, that this is Theo’s time to shine. He’s a smart, industrious kid, who always gets glowing reports from his teachers, and I feel like he’s gotten the short end of the stick the last couple of years. I guess being a younger sibling myself, I’m aware of how left behind they get - always getting the hand-me-downs, always having experiences second, never being prioritized. I try not to do that with these kids, but unfortunately a certain amount of prioritizing the older kid just has to happen - everything about their life is a first for you, too, which means you’ll make more mistakes with your first but they’ll also get the focus (and anxiety). Luckily, Theo seems mostly impervious to this dynamic - he’s a completely different personality from Bobby and has always seemed determined to do things his own way and not stand in his brother’s shadow. I know he can rise to the challenge of all honors classes and a tougher work load at school, although I expect a certain learning curve at the beginning of 7th. 

For now, spring is springing everywhere, and I can sense a feeling of winding down. Kids are working on their final projects and performances at school, and everyone is looking toward graduation and spring break. It’s odd to think of leaving elementary school behind for good - certain things like participating as a parent and take home projects are largely behind us now. I probably won’t be getting to know any fellow parents anymore, or spending any time on campus, or getting to know any teachers, or helping with homework. A lot of these things I’m not going to miss - I did them, I’m done with it - but it is strange to think of these things being over FOREVER.