Where Did The Time Go?

It’s funny how kids personalities change and develop over the years.

This post by Mimi Smartypants reminded me of a time in #3 son’s childhood that I had totally forgotten about.

From the time he could watch TV or videos, or understand being read to, he ALWAYS identified with the bad guy. Always.

We had at least three Darth Vadar Birthday parties, and I know he was Darth Vadar at Halloween at least four times. (Do you have any idea how hard it is to get black icing stains out of a table cloth?)

He always wanted to wear black. If we played a game, he wanted the black token, if there was a choice that involved color, black was it.

If a new film came out, he would come home raving about the villain.

I can’t really say when that phased out. I wish I had access to our pictures from back then. (lost in the divorce) I would say at about 8 or 9 it just kind of faded away.

Today he doesn’t show any predisposition towards bad guys. His favorite color is burnt orange, (Hook ‘Em Horns), and he thinks Goth kids are gross.

Go figure?

It’s funny how I didn’t remember all of that until I read that post. Sometimes daily life just gets in the way of things, and all of the sudden they've grown up.

There is a very clear memory I have of him during that phase. I was in the living room running lines with Dorinda for The Glass Menagerie, which would mean he was a few weeks shy of his fourth birthday. It is a formal living room, so it is a bit separated from the rest of the house. Every few minutes he would walk back and forth in front of the door, in full Darth Vader regalia. Light saber, cape, and of course, the Darth Vader voice changing mask.

Good times.

He will be 14 this April, he has never made less than "A" in his life, and will be shooting baskets when I get home from work.

Somedays, the glass is half full.