Today I am part of a blog hop for Youth Tube! Youth Tube is a site for kids to “share their art, videos, stories, reviews, songs, feature books and a whole lot more.” Youth Tube’s goal is to encourage “early literacy and children’s creativity.” Dr. Niamh Clune and the team at On the Plum Tree created Youth Tube as a safe place for kids to show their creative work and I think creative kids are AWESOME 
As part of this blog hop I have to write about the theme of the hop. Here’s what it says about it at On the Plum Tree – “The theme of the Blog-Hop is, Self as Child. What did you think of yourself as a child? Write something on any theme related to this. Perhaps you would like to express something on the subject of the inner child, or a relationship with a child that makes you reflect on your own childhood.”
I know, I know, you’re all saying “Erik you ARE a kid! How do you write about your inner child?!?” OK maybe you didn’t say that, but I did. I had an idea to write about my “inner adult,” but I’m really not sure what that means. Then I had an idea to write about what I think about growing up and what I will be like.
Here is the poem I wrote -
Who will I be?
By Erik
Every day, I wonder
Who I will be in a decade or two,
From a little ten-year old,
To a… something. What? Who?
An inventor?
If so, will I make a big difference or small changes?
How about an author?
If so, will I write children’s books or about politics?
I see myself as a father,
Taking care of two.
Will this small dream be real one day?
Or will I take a different route?
Now I think of Ninjas and Super Heroes,
But will I still think the same as an adult?
Or will I be so serious,
I will have no time for jokes and fun? – NAH!
There is one way to find an answer,
To all of these important questions and dreams,
And that simple solution is to…
Wait and see.
Please check out the Youth Tube site and tell every kid you know about it! My sister and I sent in drawings showing how we see ourselves for the site’s first project called ”Self.” The pictures are up on the site now. I like how Josie sees herself as a garden fairy princess 
Here are the next dates and places for the hop!
Friday: May 18th http://aprilthomasbooks.wordpress.com April Thomas
Sat. 19th -www.jontybabe.blogspot.com Jonty-Babe
Sun: 20th: http://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/ Darlene Foster
Mon 21st – http://steepedinbooks.blogspot.com Georgia Saunders
Wed: 23rd May: http://tomdharris.wordpress.com/ Tom Harris
Finally, I’d like to say “Thank you” to Patricia Tilton of Children’s Books Heal for telling me about Dr. Clune and Youth tube and Dr. Clune and everyone at Youth Tube for letting me be part of this!
Wonderful poem Erik!
Thank you Ms. Johnson!
Loved your poem Erik! Very well thought out. Now off to check out Josie’s drawing.
Thank you Ms. Tulloch! I hope you like Jojo’s pic.!
Lovely, thoughtful poem, Erik. It can be really tough to share something so personal. Well done.
Thank you Mrs. Isenhoff! I am glad you like it!
Hi Erik, I am visiting for the Self as Child blog hop in promotion of Youth Tube. From what I see around here, you DO have an inner adult, and an enchanting inner child. Very nice work.
Thank you! Please stop by again!
Erik, I’m sure that anything and everything you chose to do will be great!
You are very lucky to have such great parents,to help you achive all your dreams and goals. You have a bright future.
Thank you, Uncle?, for the very, very, very, very, very, nice compliments!
Erik – I love this poem! Well done. Thanks for letting us know about youth tube too.
Thank you Ms. Ard! I’m glad you like it!
Erik, what a wonderful autobiographical poem. One of my favorite projects as a 12-year-old was writing and drawing an autobiography. It was a semester-long assignment. In fact, I just asked my mom if she could dig it out. I know I said I wanted to be a detective when I grew up. As a nonfiction writer, I feel like that’s part of what I do.
Thank you Ms. Larson! I would love to see it! You can call yourself “Kirsten Larson: Nonfiction Dectective Writer (N.D.W.)”!
Erik what a very creative and clever idea for a poem. I am so happy that you are pariticipating in Youth Tube, because it is a great place for kids to share their creative work as an artist, writer, poet. And Josie too! Hope you encourage your friends to get involved.
Thank you Ms. Tilton! It is a great opportunity for kids to express their creativity! I will spread the word!
Nice poem Erik! I’ll be sure to check out Youth Tube, although I can’t draw to save my life, I’ll enter a piece of writing.
Thank you Kara! I can’t draw THAT well, but if I had as long as possible to draw (without need sleep, and eat/drink), I would make a masterpiece (in like a year). I can’t wait to read the writing you put in!
Hello from the Plum Tree Blog Hop. Wonderful post Erik. Thank You so much for your brilliant participation. And I hope lots more kids share their art with us as you and Josie have done.
Hello from the This Kid Reviews Books Blog! Thank you Dr. Clune! Thank YOU for letting me participate! I will spread the word!
I like your poem
Thank you Jojo your picture is great!
Creative kids ARE awesome! And that’s a good poem.
Congrats on getting a RAOK shoutout this week!
Thank you Ms. Forster! They are very, very, very awesome! Please come again!
I love the poem, Erik! And don’t worry, you can still like ninjas and super heroes when you grow up… I do!
Wonderful poem! You never have to stop growing up. Your inner adult can be many things. I’ve been a civil engineer, piano teacher, writer, full time mom, and many more things. I think you can be all the things in your poem (although perhaps not always at the same time.) You have a bright future in any case. You are awesome!
Thanks Ms. Holt! You’ve been a lot of cool things! I’m glad you like my poem
I read your very well phrased poem to my 9 3/4 year old -he was impressed but agrees you should keep your sense of humor and continue liking ninjas -because they are awesome! I really like this link and I will try to get my son to post something! Thanks Erik.
I hope your son does post on Youth Tube! Let me know if he does
Great poem Erik! Glad you are participating in this blog hop.
Thank you Ms. Foster! I really liked your Youth Tube post too!
Glad to see you’re part of the blog hop. I’m slowly visiting everyone. Great job, and I so admire your enthusiasm. May it be with you always.
Thank you for visiting my blog (said with enthusiasm
) and please come again!