Gaël is 8 (and has been for a month now).

So I'm late writing this one. January came and went a little quick. This is usually where I would write some form of apology and explanation about how busy life has gotten. You know, the whole song-and-dance about the new apartment/job (again), girlfriend moving across the country and then moving in, and blah blah blah. Let's just skip that - life happens - and it's always busy. Not just for me, for all of us. Find me and let's swap stories.

The important thing is my son is a year older. And he's good. Not only doing good, he is good. He loves many of the same things he did last year, video games, pizza/hamburgers, jokes and pranks, but his world is getting larger. He's playing basketball. He's reading more. And he's always thinking and feeling.

This has been the year of learning to deal with certain social struggles at school. Older kids are not always nice and the desire to fit in is strong. I feel for him and I feel connected to my parents as they helped me navigate it at a comparable age. I'm so grateful for all the people in his life that are rooting for him, helping him.

I want to finish with a quote Shelby shared with me that I want to share with you:

"Nothing you will become will disappoint me; I have no preconception that I'd like to see you be or do. I have no desire to foresee you, only to discover you. You cannot disappoint me - Mary Haskell"

And with that I have my resolution for the new year. A focus on my son.

See you next month,

Cowabunga dude,

DJ