Ten years old for Chase looks like running, playing, imagining, reading, wrestling, later nights, sunrise wake-ups, martial arts, trampoline parks, soccer, piano and SO MUCH FISHING.
I realize we’re likely in a parenting sweet spot with a 10-year-old (you don’t have the constant neediness of a younger child or the raging hormones of a teen) but 10-year-old Chase is a true delight. He’s curious and kind, immensely imaginative, inclusive and empathetic and still every bit of the animal lover he’s been his whole life.
Chase also just plain FUN to be around, as he’s easily excitable about most activities, easy to please (just being outside is all he needs for entertainment) and the absolute best big brother to Rhett and Ryder that we could imagine. He makes every single day better in our family and not a single day goes by that I don’t feel immensely grateful and proud to be his mother.
When I went to Chase’s school to celebrate his summer birthday at the end of third grade, his teacher did something special called a “standing O” where everyone in the class said something kind about Chase as part of his mini celebration. His classmates and teachers called him kind, friendly, funny, inclusive and smart which made me so proud of our oldest guy. One specific thing his teacher said about him stuck out the most to me, however, because she put into words something I love about Chase that I had never really put a pin in before. She said, “I love that you are so well-rounded. When we do our ‘what’s the news’ shares on Mondays, I never know what you are going to say because you’re into so many different things and love so many unique things.” Chase’s pendulum of interests is wonderful for me to witness as a parent, as he’s just as happy reading on his Kindle as he is sprinting on the soccer field. (Fishing tops it all though!)
I am so incredibly proud of the kid Chase is both inside our home and out. Chase’s teachers have always complimented his abilities and listening skills in the classroom but, most importantly to me as his mother, they’ve highlighted his kindness and the way he doesn’t hesitate to include those around him. Chase is the kid who always ends up with a bunch of children he doesn’t know around him at the park because his imagination is on fire and he’s always thinking up the most creative games for anyone who wants to join to play. Rhett said it best when he said, “Chase thinks up the best games,” and his clever imagination has always, always been one of my favorite things about him.
At 10, Chase is more independent than before and friendships are becoming increasingly important. Chase will happily play with just about anyone but has a few very close friends he really adores and feels most comfortable around. He likes school a lot and thrives in a learning environment where he’s surrounded by his peers. At school, Chase especially enjoys math, science and recess.
He is also very into martial arts (he’s a purple belt now) and continues to enjoy his piano lessons even though practicing his assignments and not just the “fun songs” takes some nudging.
Soccer continues to be his favorite sport and this doesn’t surprise us at all because Chase’s athletic sweet spot seems to be running and sprinting his heart out. He’s not interested in soccer beyond our local rec league as he still “wants a lot of home time” and wasn’t crazy about the idea of more than 2 days a week of soccer. (Ryan and I were very much aligned with this choice. Sometimes I’ll randomly feel like we should be doing more in terms of competitive sports just because it seems like the thing everyone is doing these days but when I stop and think about what’s best for our family and our kids, I feel more secure in our decision to stick with lower-commitment rec sports.) Chase is a fast kid with strong endurance and also completed in a children’s triathlon and a number of 5Ks this year, even claiming the top spot in a smaller local race. (Gone are the days when I can keep up with him!)
Chase has a lot of energy and keeping him cooped up inside all day is a recipe for disaster. Outside + Active Chase = The best version of Chase!
Big Brother Chase + Sibling Dynamics
Though his independence is growing, our family is still Chase’s world. His brothers continue to be his favorite playmates and he’ll spend hours with Ryder and Rhett, exploring outside, riding dirt bikes, swimming in the pool or lake, building Legos, creating race tracks and race courses, building epic forts and playing endless imagination games.
I’m convinced a huge part of the reason our kids don’t ever seem to say they’re bored is because of Chase’s imagination and the way he’s been the best example of independent and imaginative open-ended play. Brother playtime begins at sunrise as the boys are all early risers and immediately hit the ground running with each other. I’ll never say having three energetic boys under one roof is easy, but in many ways it’s wonderful because while their personalities are very different, what they enjoy doing and playing is very similar.
Though they’re each others’ go-to playmates, of course our kids DO still fight. Every day. But the vast majority of their brother battles are basic sibling stuff — just little nitpicky things where they’ll get under each other’s skin, wrestle a little too hard and upset each other, turn something fun into something competitive that irks someone else, etc.
I went back and read my blog post from Chase’s 9th birthday and I can feel the frustration in my recap of sibling battles. Those same gripes still live on, but they get easier and less intense every year, especially as each boy gets a little older, a little more mature, and a little less temperamental about small things (well, the things grown ups would call small but feel big when you’re young). At 10 years old, Chase is the oldest and big explosive emotions are much more rare.
Chase is still very much the leader of the brother gang but he doesn’t bulldoze play and take over. The way Chase, Ryder and Rhett play is very collaborative and watching Chase go out of his way to help give “important” roles to Rhett when Rhett wants in on a game the older two are playing is one of the many reasons I feel so grateful for him as the biggest brother.
Random Things to Remember
- Favorite Foods: Ice cream, hot dogs, strawberries, Jonny Pops, pizza, watermelon, donuts, macaroni and cheese, cucumbers, carrots, chocolate chip cookie dough Larabars, waffles, buttered blueberry bagels, green beans, grapes, popcorn
- Favorite Color: Blue
- Favorite Books (to read with us): The Underland Chronicles, The Land of Stories, Percy Jackson
- Favorite Books (to read on his own): Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly, any book with lots of fun facts/trivia, Catwad, Bird & Squirrel, DnDoggos
- Favorite Podcasts: Greeking Out, Stories Podcast, Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian, What if World
- Favorite Songs: He loves electronic dance music the most right now! Basically anything fast with a beat!
- Favorite TV Shows: Grizzly and the Lemmings, Alaska Animal Rescue, All the Sharks, Octonauts, Wild Kratts, Creature Cases
- Favorite Animals: Penguin, birds of prey (especially bald eagles)
- Wake Up Time/Bed Time: Chase typically wakes up around 6:30-7 a.m. and goes to bed around 8:30-9 p.m.
Likes
- His friends and family
- Animals
- Fishing
- Catching and releasing creatures
- Kayaking
- Reading
- Playtime outside
- Riding his bike/dirt bike
- Swimming
- Martial Arts
- Soccer
- Piano
- Imagination games
- School (especially math, science and recess)
- Legos
- Listening to his favorite podcasts
- Urban Air Trampoline Park
- Playdates with friends
- Family movie night
10 Year Old Favorites
- His bike/dirt bike
- Legos
- Kids Kindle
- Shashibo Shape-Shifting Cube
- NightHawk Ride-On Toy
- Snap Circuits
- Kid Kayak
- Chess
- Rocket Launcher (goes sooo high!)
- Kanoodle (great for in the car/travel)
- Electronic Memory Game Cube
- Picasso Tiles (Forever and always a fav and my #1 toy recommendation because they’ve been a hit for YEARS.)
- Watermelon Ball Pool Toy
- Stopwatch (random but this kid lovesss to time things)
- Melty Beads + Melty Bead Pattern Books(for creation inspiration)
- UNO Golf
- Diamond Painting
- Bug Cages, Nets and this Catch-and-Release Aquarium
- Glider Airplanes
- Cars (HotWheels forever and everrr)
- Surprise Inside Bath Bombs
- Razor Scooter
- Wild Republic stuffed animals
- Spot-It!
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