When the boys were young, I often would just write about them without adding photos. Just an update on their lives. I haven't done that in a long, long while. I don't know why I stopped because there is certainly a lot of things to write about them.
Lately, there's been almost a full revolution of life with covid and boys. It's taken a for-granted ordinary life and upended it. School, vacations, time with friends and family - pretty much everything has changed, diminished in some way. At first perhaps it was a bit novel and exciting, and the gift of time was just amazing. And now eleven months later it's no longer fun or new. It's borderline boring and crazy making.
So how has it affected our boys or our life with boys?
Well Kuba turned into a teenager this covid year, and Anders will turn sweet 16 in a few weeks. Both are milestone birthdays. Celebrated in small ways compared to years past.
Kuba continues to go to school only 2 days per week, with 3 remote days at home. Honestly - it's far from inspiring. He does it, but without much enthusiasm for learning. He has been doing Very Merry all year and his excitement for drama and theater might be even larger than before. I just started teaching his class in school and his group is equally unenthused about school. On the days he is home - he is pretty much on his own, as Anna works and Anders usually works from her office. I think he's spending WAY too much time on technology playing games. He has also gotten super into Pokemon. Both collecting cards as well as playing Pokemon battles. I believe I have played 40 games with him since we started keeping track. Also, Anna and Anders have played a ton of games with him too. s We have probably had more than 100 Pokemon battles in the past three months. Add to that the hundreds we played prior to our "keeping track" score sheet and you'd think I'd be good at the game by now. Nope, I still lose 2 to 1 every time I play him.
Anders has been doing school all year through a program called Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative. He learns online - pretty much on his own, and honestly he's been remarkable. We accidentally signed him up for way too many courses Semester 1, 6 classes in all, plus Swedish, Jewelry Making and rowing. The kid was flat out with work. It was a monumental effort on his part and he did REALLY WELL!!! So well in fact, that I sort of want to just boast about it all the time. He is so driven and skilled at learning. I am beyond impressed. He is now in his second semester and has less classes, rowing is over but now he is on the Nordic Ski team. Happy about it for sure. His social life is pretty much limited to his ski practices and his time playing games on line, or his time with his one neighborhood friend.
Things I notice about them:
1. They are in for fun whenever it rears it's head.
2. They are kind boys.
3. They are tall...very tall now.
4. They mostly don't like vegetables - still - though sometimes will eat raw carrots, salad and the occasional edamame.
5. Anders LOVES playing video games - a ton. Especially a game called ARK, he also plays Minecraft, and TABS. YouTube is a favorite to watch. Often video games are his main contact with friends who live out of the neighborhood.
6. Anders is doing a mentorship program through the Generator Maker Center - not sure about all of the details but he and a few other friends have a mentor and are doing some maker stuff. They are making a wooden version of Catan, and learning about woodworking and laser cutting too.
7. Kuba's biggest joy comes from Very Merry Theater group and Pokémon. He loves Very Merry more than words can say.
8. Kuba keeps his passion for Pokémon private.
9. Both boys do like playing D&D with their cousin in NH.
10. Neither like to share their thoughts and feelings a lot, but Kuba is passionate when he does - EXPLOSIVE Anger, EXHUBERANT JOY. It's like pulling taffy to get things out of Anders.
11. They are in charge of dinner dishes now and mainly do a good job.
12. They are nice kids...still.
13. They continue to grow. Anders is probably 6' by now and Kuba is not far behind him. Kuba is about to hit is growth spurt.
14. We all love dinner together and the boys are more interested than ever in what is being served.
15. Anders shared that he'd rather have a good meal than a clean house.
16. They love the dog and cat....a lot.
17. They don't visit Grandma in the back very much unless they are asked. When they do, they are loving.
18. Instruments have NOT been a part of Covid learning. Anders is not doing violin this year and Kuba is barely practicing Cello. In fact, it's sort of a waste of money to rent it.
19. Anna and I continue to adore them to the extreme. Even though we sometimes get annoyed with them.
20. They like to spend a lot of time on the couch, especially this winter, under blankets while looking at screens! UGH! Screens!
