To our sweet boy on his birthday - loving thoughts from his Grandma. 

Silas has an insightfully funny personality who is quick to read the emotions of others as well as express his own, at times with gleeful abandon, and other times with a controlled reserve.   I love his happy, silly dance moves, his feet stepping lightly at such a quick light brings my energy level up x10!  And I cherish the quiet moments when he wants me climb up on his bunk bed to read Shel Silverstein and talk about poems before bed.  

A brain like a sponge, he absorbs every tidbit of new information and locks it in like a steel trap.  He is a baby elephant, retaining even complex ideas.  He knows the rules of chess and is a brave player, making bold moves.  He craves learning and creating.  His parents began nurturing his ability to learn at a very early age, checking out EVERY book at the public library and reading nightly.  In any given week I could walk into his bedroom and find baskets of new books to explore. This boy has a vocabulary better than some adults!   These days he prefers to create scenarios on Mindcraft over reading, but his parents keep a sharp lookout for using too much screen time.  And Legos…. Silas knows Legos!  Use caution when entering his room as the floor is covered with creativity. During the Presidential election last year, he and I had a timed contest to see who could build the best White House. He won.   He has a monthly subscription to KiwiCrate, which is a STEM kit.  We have such a good time putting them together, and I am always impressed at how he follows each step of the project carefully.  I pray he never looses interest in learning.  

Starting school during a global pandemic has been fraught with emotions and challenges.  Silas has the advantage of his young age and not having had much experience in a school environment but still he felt the stress of remote learning.  Before classes started in the fall we were playing poolside when he told me with grown worry in his little voice, “I can’t do what my mom and dad do’”.  They have both worked remotely for quite some time.  I did not know what he meant, however as the conversation went on and his tears emerged, I realized he was very worried about using a computer.  His parents eased his mind with their patience and their availability to be nearby while he gained his confidence.  I have often said that I would like to be a fly on a wall in my children/grandchildren classroom; remote learning gave me an occasional glimpse of him interacting with his teacher. He has done well at remote learning for Kindergarten and is good listener and quick learner.  I overheard the Letter-Of-The-Day while he was at class/laptop at my house.  The letter was ‘U’ and Silas said “Ukulele, its like a guitar, only smaller.  I have one”.  When his teacher said she hopes he will play for her one day, a shy, worried smile lit across his face.  The simple things like that make me smile.  In January 2021, school was open for in-person and he was so happy to be back, making new friends.  He is definitely a social guy who loves to laugh, make up jokes and play.   He is learning soccer; it is sad to see the littles on the field wearing their masks, covering up their cuteness, however they do not seem to mind and treat it as business as usual.  He has also started Boy Scouts recently. 
 
I am very proud of how Silas looks out for his little sister, and as Hadley is growing and becoming insistently verbal (that girl just has to be heard), I see that he sometimes HAS to tune her out, but somehow she is always in big brothers radar.  I know the two of them will always have a tight bond.  She watches her big brother’s every move, and she is going to be as curious about things as he is.  

Silas is a joy to be around.  He is seldom cranky but when he is, it is always brief.  If he is upset with someone or something he quickly curbs his attitude.  Truthfully, I have never seen him have a tantrum, even when he was younger.  It is remarkable.  The only times I have seen him upset is if he feels his older cousins are making fun of him or ignoring him. He wants so much to be a part of their teenage conversations/actions.  It breaks my heart to see his little feelings hurt, but I get how Dylan and Devin need their space too.  It is all a part of learning to cope, and I know they all love one another; the age differences will one day work themselves out.   

I foresee a future of Silas continuing to make us all proud, bringing all our lives laughter and wonderment with his inquisitive spirit and happy personality.  

Love, Love!

Grandma

May 3, 2021