My Little Boy

The Story behind the Song, “My Little Boy”

This is a song that is so dear to my heart that I put it first in line on the album. Growing up in a family of 7 children I have to say that I never felt like my parents were “over loaded” with the responsibility of all those kids. I really thought that being a Dad would be an easy job because my Dad and Mom were so good at it. Even when we had to move…AND we moved a lot! Dad always made the trials fun and my Mom was always the emotional “rock” of the family. I was a blessed little child with an amazing family that above all things, loved each other.

I always had what I needed and truthfully my Mom and Dad are saints just for putting up with me. My Father in particular was and is a very sensitive and emotional guy. He is the real story behind the title.

Growing up as an “Osmond” in Utah was challenging to say the least for me. Most of my brothers and sisters and most of my cousins have expressed the frustration of constantly answering questions about “how is Donny and Marie?” or “how are you related?” etc. As a kid that gets old, but the truth is…I am really proud to be an Osmond. This family is kind and very supportive of each other. We are like any other family with the trials and the successes that come. The real difference for me was that we always stayed together and watched over each other.

My Father is the oldest of the singing Osmond Family. This family has been in the eye of the world for the past 50 years. His name is George Virl Osmond Jr. after my Grandpa George. He goes by Virl and being his “little boy” my middle name is Virl also. Virl is the Father that I hope to be. He is kind and caring. I remember as a very small boy my father would pick me up and hold me and then look in my eyes and say, “You will always be my little boy! Don’t you forget that I love you the most.” He would then kiss me on the forehead and then put me down and find another of his seven children and repeat the same thing.

As I got older the message stayed the same. “You’re my little boy, and I love you son…” would come out of nowhere when my friends were over. He would come into the room say hi to my friends and then he would give me a hug and just talk to me for a moment. At the time I thought he was just trying to embarrass me, but I now know that he was just getting it through my thick skull that he was there for me even if my friends weren’t. I have learned that sometimes friends are only temporary, and that family is forever.

It is an amazing thing to have a Dad and Mom like that. My Mother deserves just as much credit for the great childhood I had. No matter what the problem or celebration I always know that I belonged to someone that loved me. There was not a day that I can remember when I was living at home that I wasn’t told and shown how much I was loved.

I have seen in other homes and situations where the love wasn’t there and in some cases abuse has taken place. Knowing what I have had makes me grateful and also passionate to spread a message of hope for those that didn’t have this kind of upbringing. We’re all just “big kids” even as adults. And well, even big kids can feel alone and hurt. I hope to inspire anyone that will listen to my music to know that I believe there is a Father that is constant and loves us right now…even if that love didn’t come from home.

Having children of my own now is a real wake up call. I never knew that love could be this intense and that the “worry” could be this intense either. I have 4 kids at the moment and I love being a Dad. My three daughters (Alexis, Paige and Jocelyn) and my one son Landon, are the greatest accomplishment of my life. I have to say that there isn’t a day that I let go by that I don’t pick my children up, hug them, kiss them, and look them in the eye and say, “I love you.”

When I was writing this song I remembered my Mother saying, “Some day children of your own will fill your home and then you’ll understand how I feel about you.” Mom, you were right. My Dad still calls me all the time to remind me that I’ll always be his Little Boy, and the truth is Mom and Dad…I love that. I am so proud to be your son. Thank you for your incredible example to me of what a parent should be. Also, thanks for not grounding me for 5 years when Aaron and I almost burned the house down. Of course, you and I both know it was Aaron and not me, but we’ll go there another day.

Love,

Your little boy,

Jared