The Scooter

Yesterday was the start of the third week of my 7th grade son playing on the middle school football team.  This is HUGE because my son has never played on an organized football team before - ever.  Knowing he has always had an interest in the sport, I nudged him up to the "Athletics" table at his school's open house a few weeks ago and picked up some paperwork.  He was horrified and said, "No way!  I can't be on the football team!"  BUT...he thought about it for two days and then decided to GO FOR IT!!  I couldn't have been more proud of him!  And not because I want to have a football player for a kid, but because he chose to challenge himself.  To enter unknown territory.  To be the kid who didn't know how to play football among many kids who did.  He chose to be intimidated by something he's never done before.

Dear Will,
     I couldn't be prouder of you.  Well, until tonight, that is...

So flash back to tonight at 5:15, when I picked up my son at the school after practice.  He was holding a shiny, purple football jersey that had just been given to him by the coaches.  But...G.R.U.M.P. was written all over his face when he got in the car.  This actually isn't so unusual for him at this age, but I suspected it was for a good reason.  I knew without him even telling me that he wasn't picked to play in tomorrow's first football game.  He knew this would probably be the case since he's never played before, but it was still disappointing.  All through dinner I could tell he was sad...feeling defeated...a little low on self confidence.  But he didn't scream, cry or throw things (he never does).  He just sat...quiet...no words...and slowly ate his dinner.  Times like this really pull at a mom's heart strings, you know?

After dinner, I retired to the front porch to enjoy another gorgeous (and warm) Colorado evening.  You can imagine my surprise when I eventually saw this:

What was going on?  Why was my grumpy son sitting on a stack of books while riding his scooter?  I began to laugh out loud!  His big, 13-year-old body looked ridiculous riding down the street on this makeshift ride!  BUT...he had a smile on his face.  And I did, too.  As it turns out, the "books" weren't books at all, but small pieces of stacked wood...and they were trying to topple all over the place.

A design that needed some improvement.  But I didn't have to tell him that!  Before I knew it he had disappeared to find himself some duct tape.  Of course!  Duct tape fixes everything!

After a quick design modification, he was back on that scooter again!  His smile continued to get bigger and bigger.  He didn't even mind my photography antics (this WAS the perfect opportunity to practice in TV mode!!)  Another moment for me to be proud of!  Will turned a lemon-of-a-day into, well, a comfortable scooter ride. 

Dear Will,

     Enjoy your ride into the sunset.  You deserve it!  And if you always turn your disappointments into something constructive (and maybe even fun) you will have so much happiness and success in your life! I love you!