“All my friends are having a huge playdate today, and they are bringing their Nerf guns and everything!” my son, Liam, excitedly informed me the other day. Oh dear, I thought, here it comes.
I braced myself for the discussion about his feelings regarding not being invited. “Are you disappointed that you weren’t included?” I asked gently.
“Nah, I’m good,” he replied, then launched into an enthusiastic recount of all the fun they would have. It struck me that he genuinely felt happy for them—no jealousy, no sadness, just pure joy at their anticipated adventures. For the millionth time in his 10 years, I pondered, where did you come from?
Raising a child with an old soul is truly a humbling experience. I recall a moment from when he was just 2 years old. We were having lunch, and although I was feeling down, I tried to hide it. He kept gazing at me while I forced a smile. Suddenly, he reached up with his tiny hand and touched my cheek. Looking into my eyes, he conveyed a depth of understanding that left me breathless—it felt as if he was seeing right into my soul, and he was only a toddler.
He exudes such a calm presence. Just this morning, I watched him skip down the driveway to school after a frantic search for homework, socks, snow boots, and snacks—amidst a fair amount of parental chaos. He took it all in stride and cheerfully skipped onto the bus.
“Why is he so happy?” I asked my husband, my hair frizzing from the stress of our morning routine.
“He’s just always happy,” my husband replied, and it’s absolutely true. Though he can be a bit scatterbrained and struggles to keep his room tidy, that boy radiates happiness.
Liam shows remarkable patience with his little sister, Mia, often translating her toddler babble into comprehensible thoughts, even when I can’t decipher her. When they play outside, I’ve witnessed Mia run straight to him for comfort after a tumble, seeking solace in his arms rather than coming to me. He gently pats her hair and reassures her before they dive back into their imaginary quests, proclaiming, “I had a blast being wizards with you today. You’re awesome to hang out with.” My heart just melts. Thanks to him, Mia will grow up expecting kindness from those around her.
Ah, the feelings. There are so many feelings in our household. As he learns about the harsher realities of life, he still reflects on our conversations about animal shelters from two years ago.
Of course, he’s not perfect—he’s a kid after all. He can be bossy, often acting like a third parent, and struggles to find anything in his room. He definitely rolls his eyes at me when I ask him to put his clean clothes away, just like any typical 10-year-old.
Yet, he can look me in the eye and provoke thoughts about existence, life, and the journey of our souls. He reminds me daily of how fortunate we are to have each other. In moments of chaos, he brings a sense of calm, humming tunes off-key while learning new crafts.
I sometimes worry about his old soul. I fear his heart may face heartbreak because he loves deeply and unconditionally. I’m concerned that our fast-paced world might dull his unique spirit, so I encourage him to step away from screens and connect with nature, the squirrels, and the tranquility outside. I worry that with his intense feelings, the world may become too overwhelming for him.
Most of all, I question whether I’m equipped to guide him as his parent. I often feel that my soul is not as wise as his.
Raising an old soul is a multifaceted journey that continues to surprise me. When he was just 3, he told me he searched high and low for a mom with the perfect voice before he was born, and he was thrilled to have found me.
Me too, little one. Me too.
If you’re looking for more insights on parenting and family experiences, check out this excellent resource on home insemination here or explore how to navigate parenting with insights from other parents at Modern Family Blog.