Temptations Common to a Boy. Our 5-year old son, Eli, entered a new phase of childhood. Once we were in high demand during play-time. But now his new neighborhood friends have replaced us. He cannot get enough time with them. I vaguely remember boyhood memories and how fast the summer days slipped by. Now it's Eli's friends who are constantly on his mind and tongue. The situation was exacerbated this week when he outgrew the need for training wheels on his bike. His friends and he treat our quiet neighborhood like a large park. Every inch of ground is now a bike trail. The problem is that his new found freedom and increased independence is a challenge in self-control that he often fails. There are scuffmarks across our front yard from dragging him inside for a meal or schoolwork. I'm excited to see him blossom into a full-fledged (and muddy) boy, but to quote the best line from the Spiderman movie, "with power comes responsibility".