Nolan

I captured a few snapshots of Nolan doing  his homework. I love it that he loves to do his homework now.  Last year when he was learning how to read and struggling.  He hated to do any homework but Math.  It was hard for me to keep him focused because  he didn’t want to do it.  He told me how he didn’t like school and that he knew he wasn’t as good at reading as the other kids in his class were. I told him it didn’t matter,  but it broke my heart to see his confidence level go down throughout first grade.  I didn’t know what to do.  We had him tested and he did not have ADD or ADHD. The tests came back negative.

In the end, I came to the conclusion that he’s just different than my older two children. The funny thing about Nolan is he is actually extremely intelligent. He like to see how things work and will spend hours and hours building his time machine and playing in make believe land. In the dead winter he wants to invite his friends over to play outside so they can build things in the backyard.

He has an amazing imagination.  I love it. I love that he loves it.  I want him to be like this forever, I know that one day some child will tell him he “silly” for thinking that way and he will be peer-pressured into going with what the other kids say is the normal.  I actually have prayed and told Heavenly Father that I hope that day never comes for my little Nolan. He is kind, caring, and loves his family. He truly cares for others. He has a huge heart and an amazing memory.

It’s been years since we went camping with my sister Stephanie’s family and he still talks about the “Lightening McQueen” club he made with Aubrey and Nathan.  He tells me all the time “Mom, when they come camping next time, we are going to do such and such different..”  The kid has a memory like nobody else. (thank goodness he doesn’t take after me, )

I have told Daniel many times before, I hope one thing I can teach my children is the ability to care for others. I think this is extremely important! People need to listen to others, care for their feelings.   I am so grateful that my parents taught me how important it is to care about others and to be kind to others.  I think it was more by example than actually teaching that.  When you grow up and that’s what you know then it’s much easier to be that way in your adult life.

I hope that when my children have grown up and are out on their own, they are able to care for others, be a listening ear to those in need, and serve when are where they are needed without ever saying  “what’s in it for me? or “what am I going to get out of it?”

Nolan is an amazing little boy and I know without a shadow of doubt he will grow up to be an amazing man. Dream big little boy, dream big…

I love you Nolan!!

Nolan doing his homework and explaining it to Lucas