Marc had a tech conference in Orlando last week so the boy and I tagged along. New sites, sounds and smells and tastes! We figured it would be great “bunny brain food”.

A happy occurence is that our former hydrophobe grew more comfortable in the water. By the end of the trip, he was actually swimming. Real swimming! As in underwater and without floaties or goggles even! The other cool thing? Due to some ill-behaved critters at the hotel pool, Seth learned a valuable life lesson. And he actually “grew a pair”.

When a slightly older boy knocked our gentle-natured son over then snatched his water gun, Seth stood dumbfounded. When the boy started squirting Seth in the eyes, he cried. I intervened at that point with stern words for this child along with some finger wagging thrown in for good measure. (The child blankly stared at me while his mother gave me the stink eye. I was so pissed and full of PMS I was almost hoping she’d say something to me. I was ready to let her have it! And that’s really rare for me.)

At lunch, Marc and I had a little talk with Seth about how to handle that situation on his own. And the next time something like that happened, Seth politely asked the (much older) child to stop his antics. When the kid didn’t, Seth made eye contact, raised his voice and steadily replied, “I said, STOP IT.” The surprised kid obliged. I was floored. YEAY SETH! He held his own against a kid (at least) three years older.

Until that moment, I had no idea he could reproduce that “You WILL do as I say” tone — a trait he’s inherited from his father and paternal grandfather. The tone is not mean, angry or aggressive but unmistakable and obviously commanding. This tone (used only when both men feel forced) has served Marc and his dad well in their careers and parenting journeys. So I’m eager to see if, when and how Seth will use this little gem in the future. (He better not think he can use that with his mama!)

I’m proud of Seth yet envious. I spent many childhood years being teased and tormented. I was an easy mark for bullies because I was taught to just roll over — to ALLOW people to treat me that way. As an adult, I don’t hesitate to stand up for my child, friends or family. But I still haven’t really learned to “grow a pair” for myself — at least not in a productive way. But I’m so happy Seth has. He’s still in the beginning of his life journey. And that assertiveness is a life skill that will serve him well.