Wolf or Sheep Dog

                                          

           

           

  After all the presents were opened on Christmas morning, the kids went to work to put each of their new belongings into their rooms. Arlo received plenty of nerf toys, guns and even a sword. He also was given a picture of him and his little brother. When I walked into his room to grab him some clothes I immediatly noticed his dresser. If you look closely you can see that he layed out all his weapons onto his dresser. What I noticed most is that he placed his picture of him and Nash directly in the middle of his arsenal. It was almost like he subconsciously was protecting it by placing all these weapons around what he considered the most precious. 

 Arlo was very proud of his toy set up on his "desk", that's what he calls his dresser. He showed it to Nate and my Dad. They noticed the selection of weapons but I noticed the picture. I couldn't help but take a picture of it. 

 

 Nate was playing with one of the new nerf guns and was pretending like he was going to shoot Nash with it, and Arlo had a melt down. Yelling at Nate not to shoot his brother. Nate pointed the gun at Nash and said "Who should I shoot then, you or Nash?" (note: Nate would never actually shoot a baby) he was curious to see what Arlo would say. Arlo came right up to stand next to Nash, who was sitting in his highchair and looked right at Nate and said "Me". 

 The bottom picture I snapped on the same day, while picking up I found Arlo curled up on the floor of Cece's room. There was plenty of toys to be played with and games to open but here is where my Boy was laying. What isn't in the picture is that his sister is sitting at her desk, at his feet and coloring. He was simply watching her. I grabbed Nate to come look, because I catch Arlo doing this all the time. He watches over her. Now I feel the need to make note that Arlo and Cece have their moments when fights break out and tears are shed but they get more upset if I tell them they can't play together. 

 Have you ever heard the analogy of "Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdog"? The first time I had heard it was while watching "American Sniper". I later looked up it's orgins and it was documented by LTC Dave Grossman in his book in regards to a conversation he had with a Vietnam vetern. You can place almost any person in one of these three groups. Of course I believe that some people have certain aspects of each within themselves. 

 Our Arlo is most definitely a sheepdog when it comes to Cecelia or Nash. However, I have told Nathan on multiple occasions that he has a lot of characteristics of a wolf. I believe that many people, including Arlo, walk a fine line between sheepdog and wolf. Arlo will hurt at any cost if it comes to protecting Cece or Nash. Unfortunatly, violence is always his first course of action in almost any situation and if someone gets hurt in the process, little empathy is shown. I think this is when parents play a pivotal role in shaping these natural instincts, especially amongst boys. To show, explain and set an example for them to understand how to nurture those natural instincts into doing good. 

 For instance, Arlo is not a snuggler. He does not do cuddling or holding hands, it's just not something that comes natural for him. I always resepct this because physical space, should always be respected and if you don't show them respect for their own space, what's to say they wont show it to someone else when they grow up. 

 

 However, Arlo also refused to say "I love you". It wasn't because of lack of hearing it from Nate or I because he acknowledged it in his own way but we use to have to tickle it out of him. We never quit or gave up on him and now the darn kid tells everyone he loves them. People are sometimes taken back from his outburst of love but to Nate and I, we know that this is the easiest way for him to show his love. 

 I think if there is a boy similar to Arlo out there who maybe doesn't have the greatest of parents, his out look on life or the way he handles situations as he grows will be much more violent and much less sympathetic. This is where I think some cross that line between sheepdog to wolf. Of course I also think there are certain individuals that are put on this earth with the soul intention of hurting others. It sounds cruel but unfortunatley if you read just a small section of any major news publication, you will see how certain people, no matter how great their up bringing were just born into the dark. 

 And if there is one thing I know about Arlo is that from the day he was born he has been nothing but light, ninja kicks to the shins and all.