Beyond Cereal Bowls

So Jaden turned SIXTEEN today. What? How did that happen? I swear I didn't blink. I swear I didn't turn my head. I swear ON MY HONOR that I have treasured every single moment with him. I don't know how it came to be, but 16 he is and will stay that way for one whole year.

Quite a few blog writings back, I stated the wishes that I have for each of my kids. I wrote:

"My wish for Jaden would be the greatest of all wishes. He has the most time. His path in life hasn't be scarred with the pits and valleys of growing up. I wish for him to take advantage of the opportunities he can't even see yet."

He's had a broken heart now. He has experienced disappointment and sadness. He's seen disloyalty, greed, fear, pain and all the things that come with growing up. Yet, he's funny, kind, generous, smart, and fierce in the face of a storm. And now I'm glad that he has seen the dark and turned it into light.

Jaden has always idolized his siblings. He has blossomed and grown while silently watching and learning from Tyson, Goose, Tanna and Shelby. Nope. Hasn't always been an easy road. I like to say that Jaden has six parents. The other "kids" are so much older than he, that I find myself quite often saying to them, "I'm the parent." Mark believes that Jaden is his easiest teen because if a screw-up happens, Tyson or Goose will take care of him. Oh geesh. Poor kid. The village that raised my youngest all share the same DNA and the last name of Deason.

My younger Jaden was obsessed with spiderman. He had all of the toys, t-shirts, costumes and gear necessary to look the part. If it had spiderman's picture on it? He wanted it. He climbed the wall of our staircase. He shot "webs" from his fingers. He dressed the part and talked the talk.

Maybe spiderman is a super hero that YOU know, but Jaden is a super hero that I know. Nope. No comic books written about him. There isn't a movie showing his lifesaving tactics. You won't find toys, action figures, coloring books, t-shirts, costumes or books blaring his face and screaming his name. He IS a super hero nonetheless.

According to quora.com the three most vital (and indispensable) traits a super hero must possess are: 

1. Extraordinary powers and abilities
2. Courage
3. A strong moral code

That's my boy. His strength and courage is remarkable. His moral code is enviable.  A super hero? Without a doubt.

Jaden saved me. I argued and argued AND ARGUED with my doctor. I was NOT pregnant with my fifth child. I wasn't. I wasn't. I WASN'T. I was. Crap.

I bawled and howled and hollered and stubbornly pouted and on June 15, 2000 my son was born.

Giving birth to Jaden about killed me, you know. After seven blood transfusions, many days and nights in the hospital, two emergency surgeries, one scheduled surgery, tons of worry and fear and swearing and work, my body mended and for the fifth and final time, I slipped into the role of being a mother to an infant.

Jaden taught me to notice the small things again. I remembered the significance of bugs and leaves and butterflies and puddles. I reveled in walks and talks and cartoons and warm blankets. I reaffirmed the value of rice crispy treats, ice cream, popsicles and cheetos. Once again, I could recall nursery rhymes and songs and childhood dances. We did it all and loved each moment immensely  Even better? We have loved each other without boundary. Yep. He saved me.

You won't find a cape in Jaden's closet. There isn't a cool uniform with a logo emblazened across the chest. No spandex or tight-fitting-muscle-showing outfit folded nicely in his dresser drawer. Nope. Looking through the jumbled mess you'll find jeans, plain t-shirts, Nike socks and Vans. A chess set, a television and cereal bowls adorn his room.

Keep looking. You'll find more love than you can handle. You'll find loyalty beyond measure. You'll find a true friend and a simple boy that will save your day. He saved me. He might just be the one to save you.