At the request of one of my loyal readers I am dedicating this entire post to Jace Carter. I am VERY lucky that I have a reader to thank for this request because I get shit all the time from the older kids, accusing me of having favorites, and of Jace being one of those favorites.
This favorite child thing is tricky business. I have so many kids and I love them all the same, but I like them all for different reasons. If I am going shopping, hands down, Shaylee and Hadley are my girls. Bronson and Hunter are HELL to take to the mall. If I am in a beach mood, the little kids are ALWAYS ready to go to the beach. The big kids only go when, and if, all their beach specifications are met. Time, length of stay, temperature, and “Only if we can eat at Gallows.” Sometimes, I just want to go and hang out. I don’t want to mess with the boogie boards and walking all the way to Gallows. So, you all understand me here, right? There is a kid for every season.
With Jace, he is kid for all seasons. He is the most lovable child, the sweetest, most thoughtful, happy go lucky, athletic, fun, and charming kid. He is PERFECT. He is also a mama’s boy. Now, Parker is a mama’s boy too, but he is still a mean shit. He pitches fits and throws toys and bangs his head if life isn’t going his way. Jace would have NEVER
Here is a great example, the other day, as I got out of the car, Brandon said to me, “You are beautiful baby.”
To which I replied, “I wish I was because you deserve a beautiful wife.”
Jace happened to be in the front yard shooting hoops when he overheard this conversation. He ran right over and said, “You want to be beautiful? YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!” And he said it with the most sincere seven-year-old heart and with such conviction that I believed him. For a split second I felt GORGEOUS!
He is always telling me how happy he is, and how great of a mom I am. He thanks me for everything. He is enough to melt the heart of anyone and everyone. At swim team, all the coaches LOVE Jace. Every single coach on deck knows him by name, whether he swims in their lane or not, he is loved by all.
Add all of this to the fact that he is the cutest thing EVER and I just can’t help myself. He is the ‘Chosen Child’. I am not sure what to do about it. He knows he has me wrapped around his finger and I guess the rest of the kids know it too. Maybe they should just take some notes and be a little bit more Jace like.
I spent most of yesterday writing this post in the salon while Kate was getting braided up. Shaylee asked what I was writing about. I replied, “Jace.”
She said, “Here let me help you.” and took the laptop, and typed, “Jace Carter is my favorite.”
A moment later, one of the ladies at the salon asked me if I have had to deal with jealously in a family so big. I smiled and pointed to Shaylee and replied, “Only with this one.”
Shaylee went off on a rant about how she knows I like Jace the most and it bugs her that I won’t admit it.
The lady asked Shaylee why she thought he was the favorite and this was her response.
“Because, when my mom had her boob job five years ago, and she was on all sorts of narcotics, she told us all that she loved him the most.”
…and there you have it.
Here’s hoping you all have a little Jace in your life.
PS. According to Hadley, Jace is just a suck up and acts like a shit when I am not around.
Brandon gets knocked over in the middle of the race, but you can still see the finish. YAY JACE!!
First of all, let’s stop and review what I just read…”Brandon said to me, “You are beautiful baby.”” Stop. Girl, do you have any freaking idea how lucky you are? I can’t even imagine.
So can I just smack you for saying…
“”"To which I replied, “I wish I was because you deserve a beautiful wife.””
As for little Jace… such a cute post. The best quote: “There is a kid for every season. ” I love that. And as for him having you wrapped around his finger… let’s just hope it isn’t a finger on THAT hand!!
Wow! First off, I have to comment on Jace and his smooth strokes. He looked like a pro out there. Does he know how good he is?
Jace is a lovebug and what he said was so very sweet. But, you really needed an easy kid, right and Jace is it. You described it well when you said that he was a kid for all seasons. Not every kid is as easy going and versatile.
It really is hard deciding who is the favorite because when you talk about each kid, there is nothing but pure love and pride in them. I can easily say that you favor them all…but Brandon being your number one!
Before I had Paddycake, a older “mom” friend said to me “little boys LOVE their mama’s”. It’s so true! Jace is a sweetheart.
Could you update us about the new house(moving? when?, etc) Also about Bronson-I am praying for him every night, to give up the “devil’s weed.”
Take care & God Bless!
Heather
Aw, so cute. Just watching the coach interact with him before the race …
Fingers wrapped around what???
That child is beautiful.
Kids can’t understand the”favorite child thing” until they have children. When they have babies of their own, they understand that no matter how many (or few)children you have, each and every one is the favorite for a different reason.
Ha, I do giggle after saying The first one to empty the dishwasher/check the mail/toss the clothes from the washer into the dryer will be my Favorite Kid of the Day. Yeah, my kids may need the therapist one day
What a sweetheart…!!! Out of all of your children you deserved at least one who is so easygoing and easily pleased.
He is quite an athlete, he blitzed that race…well done Jace…!!!
Oh my gosh! He’s rocking that backstroke!! As a former swimmer for my high school team, I *KNOW* that Jace has got the stuff!! Oh Sandi—I’m so happy you’ve gotten him involved in competitive swimming while he’s this young! That means by the time he’s in High School, he’s going to be setting records left & right (and certainly it’ll get him a cushy scholarship to the best schools too!) Yay!! I was rooting him on in that brief video — it certainly brightened my evening
-Olivia
(PS. I can’t wait to hear Jace’s birthday story — and I just LOVE his name too!)
Instead of negating Brandon’s comment, just say “Thank you.”
Jeff told me long ago that when he compliments me, it’s because he means it…and when I am constantly shooting down what he says and telling him he’s wrong, it’s not fair.
So I just learned to hold my tongue and say Thank You. Eventually it became second nature to say thank you instead of “no, you’re wrong!”
Brandon wouldn’t fill you full of shit…he thinks your beautiful (he’s not the only one!) so try not to knock him down when he tells you so!
Not that you asked for my advice or anything
AND another PS
You ARE gorgeous!! (we all know it — and that sweet child Jace isn’t going to lie to you!!)
The beach pic? Future blackmail
Every child is a favorite… but like someone else said, they can’t understand that until they have kids of their own.
But with that smile, and those comments? The rest of them better start workin their butts off to get closer to the top of the favorites list!!!
Wow! What a swimmer! Congratulations Jake!
Jace is SUCH a great swimmer for his age! I swam competitively for years, taught lessons, coached, etc and that kid has natural talent. Keep him swimming!
Oh and PS, you’re a gorgeous mom!
It’s ok to have favorites
My favorite is whoever’s not crying at the moment! Right now, they’re all my favorite because they’re all asleep!
Oh he’s adorable! What a doll baby! And my goodness can he swim or what?!?!!!
You’re so right about the “kid for every season”, and my Harry sounds so much like Jace its unreal.
I adore all three of my children equally, but sometimes it is easier to “like” Harry, because he is far and away one of the most gentle generous children you’ll ever meet.
I get it!
Jace is an incredible swimmer. What a talented little guy. x
He sounds like a great kid… And he’s adorable too.
THANK YOU SANDI! I coached little league, youth basketball and soccer from the time my boys were kindergartners to about age 13 and there were always kids like Jace that i wanted to just load up in my truck after practice or games and take home with me. Can you believe their parents wouldn’t let me have them? Those little T-ballers who stole my heart have grown into fine outstanding young men and women now. I still see alot of them occasionally and always think how remarkable it is that the positive personality traits i saw then have been carried into adulthood. Also, as an ex little boy myself, as well as having raising 2 of them, i can TOTALLY relate to double fisted wienie holding! Food and toys should always be close at hand. As for the “favorites” thing, read Ree Drummond’s (thepioneerwoman.com) post from July 1st titled, “Symbiosis.” LOVE THE VIDEO!! Finally, from all the comments, i believe Jace has quite the little fan club going! BIG GRINS, steve
It just amazes me everyday what fun things you can blog about. But, I think the thing that keeps bringing me back is seeing how LOVED all of your kids look every single time you post pictures!!! You and Brandon must be the most incredible parents and people!! It is a pleasure to read your blog.
P.S. Go Jace!! Great job!
I too have a “Jace.” AND you know what I tell the other kids??? Why don’t you try the sweetness, the kindness, the “what can I do for you mom,” the always offering to help….then you will be my favorite too…lol….He is full of love Sandi, very sweet!
I don’t know how I missed this post. I struggled with this with only 3 children. I love them all equally, but differently. Everyone is different! Even your kids! They are all individuals so of course you will have different feelings about them even if you love them all so much. I love how you put it- a child for every season. And I love the second picture so much… CRUNCHY HOT DOG! Ah that brings back such memories. We would go to the beach when I was a young adult with nothing but a couple of towels, and charcoal, hot dogs, buns, mustard, and a 12 pack of the cheapest beer available. It was the original $20 vacation (this is counting the gas, back then.) The sand would always blow on the wieners when we cooked them, so we joked that they were crunchy hot dogs.
Gosh, there is a lot of love in this comment (maybe cuz there is a lot of love in the post).
Tell Shay that I also know he IS the favorite & it is ok….she may have one to someday. Just go with it….don’t get jealous
Shar was the favorite in my family. We all knew it, especially her! It never changed.
I know the constant clapping throughout the race had to be you!