My almost 8 year old.

In 4 day's, I will be a mother to an 8 year old. Half his life, I've been a single mom. Half his life he has seen me move into a relatives house, then move to one apartment, then to another. In 4 year's he's seen the struggle we've gone through to make ends meet. He's seen me go through one of the craziest times of my life where unfortunately law enforcement was involved. He's been through a lot. And yet, he's still a rad kid! He's naughty at times like all 8 year old boy's. But he's smart. Very smart. For example we had his parent conference a few day's ago. By March he should have averaged a score of 110 for reading comprehension. In November he scored a 134. Same for math. But the kid doesn't know how to apply himself to the work. He half asses everything. He doesn't finish his work. Ever. He's a great tester but when it comes to completing something, his teacher's tell me he always asks for bathroom breaks or to "stretch his legs"! haha! I can totally see him doing that too. So it's like I can't really get mad at him. The kid generally doesn't like school but he's good at it. Just lazy. I wonder where he gets that from? ;-)

I've been getting a lot of advice and help from Monster. He tells me time and time again, "you need to guide him". But I don't know how? I try to put stricter rules on him at home. Like no TV or electronics in the morning before school if he isn't dressed or ready. I make him read at least 3 pages in Spanish at night so he can learn 2 languages. I'm trying to give him good tips for table manners. But he has a debate for everything. Like for instance, if he burps while we are having dinner and I tell him to excuse himself, his debate is "Mom, everyone burps. Want me to hold it in and then my pansa will hurt?"! Or when I make him comb his hair. His reply is always "Mom, I'm already cute. I don't want to look any cuter". Everything is a debate with this kid. My cousin Kathy sent me an article once about how raising a stubborn child is a good thing. they will have a good future, good career's. They will question things and if something doesn't feel right, he ain't gonna do it. But as a mom currently raising such boy, it's hard for me. I loose my patience sometimes. I almost feel like I'm battling a brother or a friend and not my kid. Again, how do I guide him? How do I make him take me serious. I can't beat the shit out of the kid. People get all crazy about that now and day's. Yes he gets a spanking here and there but not even he takes me serious anymore. How do I get him to see me more as a parent and not a friend?

The kid cracks me up. He has a personality on him. He asked me yesterday that when he wakes up for his birthday is his voice going to change?! I told him not just yet and he had a few year's to go. But he said he already had hair on his legs and his armpits stink so why isn't his voice changing HAHA! I can't help but laugh when he says shit like this. He is seriously my favorite person in the whole world. I can't believe he's almost 8. I learn from him everyday. Even though he's going to be 8, he still needs his hugs and cuddles. Like today, he snuck in my room at 6 am. Before I almost kicked him out, I thought to myself "I won't be able to do this a few year's from now", so I let him stay and we cuddled until my alarm went off. I smelled his head and smelled the familiar scent that he has, and I squeezed his little skinny body and he fit perfectly in my arms. Maybe even a year from now I won't be able to do this. Time does really go by fast. Too fast. I look back at old picture's and I can't believe I have this little human that I am 100% responsible for. I live for him and him only.