Garron is farsighted in one eye, and has gotten glasses to correct the problem. Apparently being able to see closely with just one eye leads to him using only one eye when reading or using the computer, and can develop lazy eye if not remedied.


I was Garron's age when I first got glasses, and I remember being mortified. I got teased a lot, and took to taking detours through the neighborhood for a while to avoid being seen. Granted, my glasses were ugly.

Garron's response has been quite the opposite. He's excited, has been complimented at school, and has been told by more than a few friends that they want glasses, too. This has me thinking a bit about the changed attitudes of kids on social subjects. In my interaction with kids, and especially teenagers, I have the impression that cliques and general "coolness" are not what they used to be. Remember every 80's movie about kids was about the plight of the outcast? Sixteen Candles. Lucas. Breakfast Club. Karate Kid. Goonies! All about the conflict of coolness with uncoolness. And it wasn't far off from the truth, either. I remember when certain groups of kids didn't dare talk to kids of other groups.

Nowadays, being a geek is pretty cool. Being a bully is not. Did things really change? Is it easier to be a teenager now than it used to be? Is it easier to wear glasses as a kid than it used to be? Or is my son just confident enough to know he's cool, and exude charisma in ways I never could?

Congratulations Garron!