Today we have a brand new five-year old in the house. Our Shilo has been a part of the family for half a decade. This boy is a little bit of an enigma to me. Sometimes I feel like I know him very well; other times he seems so mysterious to me. At times, I think he is just as baffled about himself. I decided to sit down and have an interview with my little fellow.

Question: What do you like about yourself?

Answer: I like when I obey Poppa and Mama. I’m good at doing puzzles.

Question: What is the best story?

Answer: Curious George books. I like how he does funny and curious stuff- like how he tried to clean up the juice he spilled but he couldn’t.

Question: Is there something you want to do better when you are 5?

Answer: Read!

Question: If you could only do one thing all day, what would it be?

Answer: Open my birthday stocking.

Question: Tell me about your family.

Answer: I like doing special things with my family like open presents, do puzzles with them, play games.

The entire time I was conducting the interview he was climbing the side of his bunk bed and jumping sideways onto a mattress on the floor. His sister was whispering her answers to the questions into my ear. But his responses were heartfelt and I enjoyed that focused time with him.

When I look at him, I see a little boy who really wants to do the right thing but whose body just gravitates to the thrill of disobedience. I see a little boy who truly values pampering his mama with flowers and foot rubs but sometimes just needs to destroy something. When I see Shilo, I see a little boy who wants to know how everything works but sometimes forgets that not everything is meant to be taken apart. I see a little boy who knows how to gently cuddle his newborn brother but sometimes forgets his own strength when he is playing rough with his other siblings. When I look at this brand new five-year old boy, I see a miraculously complex human being who is helping me grow in wisdom, patience and love.

Shilo reminds me of the reality of the human experience. Both sides of him are equally real and throughout his day he needs a mama who loves and praises and forgives him consistently: just like I need that from Christ as I live out my own human experience.

I am so very thankful to be the mama of this fantastic boy.