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What its like to be a boy in the 5th Grade

March 30, 2009 at 11:36 am, by Rich Kirkpatrick

ethan_5th_grade

We just went to my son’s open house for his class. Being a 5th grader, my son has it made. He is not sure of that now, but he will one day look back on this last year of elementary education with fondness–at least I hope so. What is it like for him?

  • Video games!
  • Pancakes with chocolate chips for breakfast each day from his mom.
  • Braces now on his upper teeth are a new annoyance.
  • Bionicles are still OK, still pretty cool and so are board games.
  • Did I mention video games?
  • Boomerang is heaven to watch, Star Wars Clone Wars and Disney’s Channel TV shows, too.
  • He is outgrowing is shoes before they are worn out at a faster pace these days.
  • We still call each other “best bubs”
  • He loves hanging out with his friend Lucas.
  • Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy…are you kidding me?
  • School is boring now…really boring.
  • Math is his favorite and science. “Dad, I can be an inventor…”
  • More video games!
  • He dreams, imagines and plays still!

I hope the last thing does not change. To be old enough to think with some complexity and young enough to dream is a blessing. When we become men sometimes the dreaming is stuffed and mocked out of us. May it never be for my son. Someday that imagination might invent something to help all of us or at the very least entertain us!

I am not entirely sure, to be honest, what its really like to be a 5th grader. All I know is that I am gonna miss my son not being one in the near future.

Categories Family, Stories | Tags: 5th grade, boys, elementary school, growing up, parenting

  • http://www.rickscheibner.net Rick

    He sure looks proud! I’ll bet he put a lot of work into that project. Funny, my boys and I call each other ‘bub’. “Hey bub.” “Hey bub.” Those are connections you never lose with your son.

    This is a great post, thanks for sharing it with us!

  • http://john@johncarlsonmusic.com John Carlson

    Very cool post! Our Shailee is in 5th grade also! Very into Math, Science, video games, her iMac, Garage Band, Japanese Anime, making “AMVs” in iMovie (Anime Music Videos) etc. etc. Sounds like they’d have fun together! Maybe they need to meet in say 5 years? Oddly enough she’s never liked pancakes however. What’s wrong with the kid?

  • http://richkirkpatrick.com Rich Kirkpatrick

    John..matchmaking? hmmm :) I bet they would have fun together for sure!

  • Fedrik

    My son is also studying in 5th grade. He is taking math and science tuition classes from http://www.etutorworld.net/. They specialize in individualized math and science tutoring for students from grades 5 through 12. Their sessions are one-on-one, and tutors are highly qualified and experienced. It also seems cost-effective. I’ve been recommending this program to some of my students and their feedback has been very good.

  • http://jimdrake.blogspot.com jim Drake

    We need to connect our sons… both are in the 5th grade… and both entering JH next year. I bet they would have a lot in common!

    Daniel loves school–but he loves sports more. I’m hoping his eyes won’t be misdirected in JH when he can play competitive sports.

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