Child Profiles
Jonathan, born 1996
When it comes to SpongeBob SquarePants, Arizona has a resident expert. His name is Jonathan and he is ten years old.
Jonathan knows that SpongeBob has a best friend. “Patrick. A starfish,” he says. “And he lives with Gary, but (Patrick is) his friend who lives next to him.” So who is Gary? “A snail,” Jonathan giggles, explaining that Gary is SpongeBob’s pet.
Jonathan notes that SpongeBob has a job. “He cooks crabby patties in the Crusty Crab (restaurant).” Bright eyed and giggling, Jonathan scans the faces of the adults around him who seem a bit confused. “It's a hamburger,” Jonathan offers, giving a more understandable explanation of what a crabby patty actually is. Sadly, the adults still seem lost.
Jonathan just shakes his head and shoots his million-dollar smile to the out-of-touch adults who know nothing about SpongeBob SquarePants. His giggle fills the air as the grown-ups try to decipher what they have just been told.
Then Jonathan tells them about Sandy. She is a squirrel. And, yes, she lives under the sea. He says that Sandy has a glass bubble that fits over her head. When she goes home, she can take the helmet off because, “her house is like a little thing that's full of air. No water in there!” Jonathan looks around, knowing that the adults are pretty hopeless when it comes to understanding cool cartoons.
Jonathan has a captivating personality and a stunning smile to match. He is a friendly, fun-loving youngster with a creative mind.
Like most boys his age, Jonathan loves playing with toys and watching cartoons on the television. During quiet times at home, Jonathan enjoys curling up with a good book. He shares that his favorite book is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
After school, Jonathan says he almost never has difficulty finding things to do. “I draw and play my ping pong game.” And, believe it or not, Jonathan can draw SpongeBob SquarePants and his starfish friend, Patrick. He happily sketched them for the people quizzing him about wacky ins and outs the show. Jonathan’s face lit up when he picked up the paper and showed off his precision pencil sketch of his favorite undersea creatures. “I like to draw SpongeBob and pictures like that,” he says looking proudly at the drawing.
Jonathan is an energetic youngster who likes getting playing outside. He says that soccer is his favorite sport and, like many kids his age, he loves going to PE class at school.
There are no crabby patties on the menu at Jonathan’s house. They just wouldn’t be hot enough for him! Spicy foods are tops with Jonathan. He lists his very favorites with ease: “jalapeño pizza, barbeque wings - the spicy ones, jalapeños, chorizo (and) bean and cheese burritos.” When it comes to dinner, the hotter, the better, Jonathan notes.
In addition to SpongeBob SquarePants, Jonathan enjoys watching cartoon heroes on an afternoon show called Teen Titans. “(It’s) about these superheroes that save the world - the good guys. I only know six because there are a lot of superheroes: Robin, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Terra,” he says, looking up in thought as he lists the characters.
What Jonathan could use more than anything is a real superhero… or a group of heroes, otherwise known as a permanent adoptive family. Jonathan needs an experienced, skilled family that is understanding of his special needs. He can be emotionally fragile and will require a family able to give him a strong, unconditional commitment from the very start. It is important that they be able to provide him plenty of time and attention, along with positive, nurturing supervision. His ideal family will have two parents and no younger children in the home. His new family must able to support him academically, advocating strongly on his behalf and giving him very hands-on assistance with his schoolwork to help him meet his academic potential.
Like his aquatic hero, Jonathan has a bright and jovial spirit. He is bubbly and curious about the world around him. With the right family, he will certainly blossom into a wonderful young man.
To learn more about Jonathan, or for more information on adoption and foster care opportunities, please call AASK at (602) 254-2275.
