An Interview with Ben

Ben, we would be grateful if you would answer a few questions for us. Is now a good time?

I'm trying to get this lid on this container. Give me just a minute. (Pause.) Okay.

Do you have any favorite toys?

I like to play with my trucks, trains, and my new golf set. I am a big Seahawks fan and so I've been playing with my football in preparation for watching the playoffs. You might have heard that I'm a budding musician. I practice drums for more than an hour a day. Mom likes to tell me that what I'm beating on is not a drum and I need to move somewhere else, but I can hear the music.

Are you getting along with Mom these days?

Sometimes Mom fails to recognize that I'm a grown up boy who should make my own decisions. She doesn't like some of the stuff that I do and so we've had a few disagreements lately. And Dad always takes her side. I HATE that.

What does she say?

She says that it is her job to help me grow into a strong trustworthy man who loves Jesus, just like Dad. And that I'm making her job difficult right now. I have heard her talking to her friends and they ask, "How old is he now?" All I can hear is..."Oh, yes, that can be a difficult age."

Ben, have you noticed anything unusual about today?

Well, Mom let me watch a WHOLE Clifford movie in her bed this morning. I love to watch movies in bed but usually Mom says she is worried I will grow up to be a couch potato. Oh, but first, Mom had to tell me this weird story about being in her tummy and then coming out and Daddy and Grammy being there and lots of doctors who had to put tubes down me because I had a hard time being born. Mom has quite an imagination!

Anything else?

Grammy and Grandpa called first thing this morning and said, "Happy Birthday!" And then I got some of the coolest e-cards. I saw one with a frog and one with an airplane. I really liked them.

Any big plans for tonight?

Oooh, I hadn't thought of that yet. How will I surprise Dad tonight? Hmm.... I need to go find a good hiding place to jump out of. Bye.