Thanks!
I love him and his siblings as though they were my own children! In a way, they ARE.
As an old-school cook, I started out just like HE did. Only thing was that I wasn't showered with gifts like that on my 11th birthday like he was. But as time went by, I, also, developed a passion for food & cooking.
And over the years, I've had many jobs working as a cook. I even went through a culinary arts training program, holding to finally get back into a job at least as a prep cook, but it wasn't to be. I ended up with a lousy job working in the dishroom!!!
I don't want my grand nephew to have to end up getting some demeaning job!! Of course, you have to crawl before you can walk, but I want him to be able to climb the corporate ladder, rise above all and become a fine cook or a chef!! Whichever one that he chooses to do!
I explained to him that first, he must stay in school & finish it - that's #1, then go from there.
Thanks, QSis, you're right!
He knows about things in moderation though. I can't seem to stress that to him enough. He already weighs over 100lbs!! Good gosh!! The average child his age should weigh no more than about 75 to 80lbs. When he was 3 or 4, he was skinny!
And with his weight comes strength. This kid is incredibly strong!! Even stronger when he gets raging mad!! He's the strength of ten!! I've seen him mad many times last summer, it's not pretty< & my biggest fear is that he might hurt someone enough to put them in the hospital!!!
But hopefully, he'll outgrow that anger and become better. He'll have to when he gets older, if he wants to win credentials as a cook and make it in the job market. But for right now, he's enjoying his present enthusiasm as a cook at home.
While there for the week of Thanksgiving, his mom told me that she was thinking about letting him go through a culinary arts training program next summer for a week, but it would cost a whopping $1000 just for that one week!!! I told her that it's outrageously nuts to pay that just for one week!!
I found a website that offers culinary training for free as long as he wants it, and sent her the link for it! She's going to look into it for him.
This kid is my heart!! He bares a very strong resemblance to his dear late granddad (One of my brothers)! His parents know that I spoil him and awful lot, and THAT is why!! I miss my dear brother so much, and several years ago when I saw him for the first time since he was a baby, I was floored that HE LOOKS LIKE MY LATE BROTHER!! He began to realize it as well. Almost like seeing my brother as a little boy all over again!! I'm even told that he looks just like me!!! Never thought about that!! But I realized that he DOES look like me!!
In any case, I'm there for him whenever he needs me!! I want him to succeed in his desire to become a cook or a chef, and I support him all the way!!