The world according to Ant:

This post’s sole purpose it to be marked in the annals of our family’s history. You know, so I can bring it up in front of prom dates.

Sometimes it’s no fun to live with a second grader and an eighth grader. Like, when they’re fighting over the Wii controllers or who got the bigger brownie (and yes, they do still fight like toddlers who can’t share a toy. I did not expect that, by any means). Or when they decide to fight with light sabers, and knock your pictures off the wall.

And then, sometimes, it’s a blast. You get to see your teenager confront interesting topics like music, religion, and the larger, esoteric questions—all while doing his damndest to maintain that brooding exterior.


Your seven year old is also beginning to really focus on the array of his world. Famous child psychologists (Erikson, Piaget) had many names for this time, but there are two main things—empathy and order (rules) that drive this crowd.

Ant has also begun to fully develop sarcasm. In our family, this is a rite of passage.

Ant has developed two ways, in the past couple weeks, to give his authentic voice and response to the world around him:

The “Wahhh-wahhh”
Think Debbie Downer from the SNL skit meets the inflection of Charlie Brown’s teacher-voice.
Multiple meanings are assigned to this statement: 1) that sucks, 2) get over it/yourself already, 3) whatever, 4) and sorry.

The second is the fist bump—and yes, you must literally say, “fist bump” while performing the act.
Multiple meanings are also in play with this one: 1) yeah, I did some awesome, 2) or I did something awesome without you asking, 3) or that was awesome, 4) or my brother just got in trouble and I didn’t.

I don’t know how long these will stick around, but I hope they stick around for another week, so that his beloved teacher gets to see it. I know she’s going to love it!