things jude likes

What does Jude's future hold...what talents and interests will he pursue as hobbies and as career? What are the one or two things he will be really good at, that we as parents could nurture and pursue with him now? Sometimes I wish there was a special guidebook written for each child, well for my child specifically, so we could ensure that we are helping Jude develop and of course, being Super Parent all the time.


There is not that one book for each child. But as we watch Jude develop, we see what he gravitates toward. First up is trucks and construction toys. He seems to prefer metal diggers and big rigs to the toddler plastic ones.

handy & tasty too

Next up... and new for him, is an interest in toy trains. Kara watched him play with interest at a train table recently. That is the new term for a table with a slightly raised lip, at the right height for kids to set up wooden tracks and play with Thomas the Tank Engine trains...or some other generic train set.

derailed!

Notice I did not say choo choos. Greg pointed out how many moms in our circle of friends refer to the El or the Metra as a choo choo with their children, as in, that's a choo choo in the picture. Greg says "hey they're actually called trains!" We joke about it a lot now.

The other current interest is pianos and keyboards. Once again at Grandma Nancy's house, Jude showed a huge interest in playing the piano. He is small enough that he will stretch his tiny arms up to the keys and pound out a bass line. Then he trots happily around the piano bench, and stretches up to the high soprano keys. Real or toy pianos are fine with him. He squealed as he played with a toy upright piano at a friend's house. He also thought it might be good for climbing, but Meredith's son seemed to object to such a use for his prized toy.

midget maestro

Jude has a family history of music, from parents and grandparents on both sides.

So back to his future...we're not sure what's ahead. Kara heard an interview recently she liked. The parenting expert said 'some parents feel its important to force kids to finish everything they start, to only do a few activities growing up so they learn responsibility.' While that has value, he added that he believes the job of parents is to let kids try as many things as possible when they're young, so they enter Junior High and High School with one skill, one talent, one passion they are good at. He says there is so much peer pressure and criticism doled out by classmates, that he wants his kids to have something to stand on, to turn to, that they know they enjoy and are good at, in addition to their faith.

We look forward to the journey with Mister Jude.

By the way, he's 18 months now. Happy 18 months Baby Jude!