Extraordinary at three.

Every year I make the same new year's resolution to read more. This year, I level set —?I would listen more. I started with Tina Fey's "Bossypants", recommended by a book club of girls I recently reconnected with. Sure, the book isn't new to audio shelves but it was new to my ears. Within minutes of starting the book, the first chapter surfaced a question that has left me pondering for weeks...

How will my seven-year-old son, Will, live up to being considered extraordinary at the young age of three?

Tina Fey explains in the first chapter, how she was slashed in an alley as a kid, and from that day she was treated differently.

"My scar was a miniature form of celebrity. Kids knew who I was because of it. Lots of people like to claim they were there when it happened. Adults were kind to me because of it. Aunts and family friends gave me Easter candy and oversized Hershey kisses long after I was too old for presents. I was made to feel special. What should have shut me down and made me feel less than ended up giving me an inflated sense of self. It wasn't until years later, maybe even until I was writing this audiobook that I realized people weren't making a fuss over me because I was some incredible beauty or genius, they were making a fuss over me to compensate for my being slashed. I accepted all that attention at face value and proceeded through life as if I really was extraordinary. I guess what I am saying is — this has all been a wonderful misunderstanding and I shall keep these Golden Globes, every last one."

Will has faced two unexpected and rare events in his life –?open heart surgery and most recently a stroke. He too has a scar that will encourage questions as he gets older. He's been called a hero, a warrior, strong, and brave since he was three. His younger brother wants to be him. I hope Will, like Tina Fey, will take all the extra candy, gifts, attention, and opportunities as they come and utilize them to his advantage, proceeding through life believing he too, is extraordinary.