My Grandson
 

My grandson, C, is 13 years old and is staying with us this week. He is a lion. Played flag football from the moment he was old enough and LOVES to drive – the faster the better. He started out a few years ago trying to destroy my golf cart. This year he was on the ATV, tearing up our pasture. I wasn’t real comfortable with him on the ATV – it’s just too dangerous. So I taught him how to drive my ’65 VW (in the pasture). He lost interest in the ATV fast. We spent some time on skills, and in less than an hour he learned how to take off smoothly and even double clutch down into 1st, but still – he wants to go fast and go around corners hard. I don’t blame him, and God forgive me, I taught him how to do a handbrake turn. :eek:
BUT
C had an identical twin brother and they had a special relationship when they were babies. They had a language of their own and talked to each other before they could talk to the rest of us. His twin brother died of brain cancer 6 years ago. I can’t imagine how that must have been for C. C and his twin had identical blue blankets; now when C watches TV or sleeps – pretty much any time he isn’t kicking ass doing something, the has one of the blankets with him. They are obviously pretty ratty after 6 years, but he won’t be without them. He has a brother one year older who is kind of OCD and has other weird behaviors – maybe Aspbergers syndrome – and C intercedes if his behavior get too weird. If C goes to the kitchen for a snack, he brings the same snack to his big brother. They fight and carry on like normal teenagers, but C always seems to have his brother’s back and to the best of his 13 year old ability, always seems to be the adult in the room. I’m not sure how to take the contrast of his bad-ass side and his caring side. I guess it’s good, but based on all the other kids I know, it’s not normal. I wonder what is going on in the young man’s head. I don’t know whether to be happy for him or concerned.
Thanks for listening.

The best thing you can do is support him and make sure to surround him with adults that care about him.

Considered what your grand son has endured it sounds like he's doing well.

Being his grand father... You're very important to him.

No one is one dimensional, not really. Sounds like a kid who is strong enough to be bad-ass and strong enough to be gentle. Very much like my son. If you all can ensure that he knows when it's ok to be bad ass and when it's time to be gentle then it sounds like he has the makings of a fine and decent person.

Sounds pretty rounded to me . (But then I grew up amongst 3 sisters , older and younger .)
Watch for the rebellion when he hits his teens , and you’ve done a good job ;)

Learning how to do a rockford in a 65 VW bug - from your grandpa - before you're old enough for your license. Priceless.

Agree--sounds to me like you are doing exactly the right thing. And if my own were any indication, grandfathers play a critical role. I was recently blessed with a grandson and am looking forward to teaching him to drive--a stick! But I'll probably wait til he's out of diapers.

It sounds to me like C is going to be a very good man that can cover all of a man's bases, ass kicking and caring for his family and fellow man when needed.