Happy Birthday Jagger

My son, Jagger turns 5 today.

This is a big deal. The big F-I-V-E ... er. Well. Five.

It's wonderful to watch the the behaviour of a 4 year old the days before he turns 5. He seems to bewitch himself. An inward ritual starts taking place and he rises above the self doubt. He no longer accepts the teasing and usual playground banter that might dent the ego. He chooses to look at the situation through another lens. The lens of someone older than he already is. The lens of someone who is now 5. And not 4. It's a powerful thing - as far as I can see. Because each time he mentioned the fact that is was his birthday in '3 more sleeps' a bright smile lit up his face and nothing else could possibly bring him down. To the extent that the rest of the world around him decided to join him.

Jagger turned 5 before his birthday.

The day began with the tradition Bryce ritual. Chocolate cake for breakfast for the sugar rush. This time it was a home-made Dinosaur cake. The best there is. The present; twin blue clam-shells and 3 bags of sand for a magnificent sand pit was carefully placed in the centre of the lounge as the weather decided to completely ignore the importance of a 5 year old birthday with a sand pit present. And Jagger woke up last ... still vehemently fighting off the last of the whopping cough gremlins. He blew the candles like a champ and relished all the attention.

But I still marvel at how he changed weeks before today.

And somehow, somewhere, i think there's a lesson for us all in there. Be yourself before waiting for the world to tell you that you're arrived.