We survived the weekend. We survived the English paper. And the new cell phone should arrive tomorrow.
This has been both one of the longest AND shortest weekends ever. Despite the fact that we had an extra day off thrown in. Between baseball drafts (good for Coach--- looks like he's got a great team to begin building his Little League empire with this season!), baseball practices and that stupid English paper, I don't think I got to do much of what I had originally planned on doing. While in all honesty I can't be entirely certain WHAT it was that I planned on doing, I do believe this wasn't it.
But I'll let you in on a secret. (Because I'm sure it will stay just between us..... you, me and the internet... lol) This weekend didn't totally suck.
Jock and I spent the largest portion of the weekend locked in our den, sitting at the computer, working on his English research project. Coach stayed out in the living room. Bug spent most of the weekend running wild... I mean, playing with friends. But Jock and I, we were mostly in our own little world. A world full of facts --some interesting, some not so interesting-- about Instant Replay. (For instance, did you know that the sport of Rodeo uses the Instant Replay system? No? We didn't either. Jock was appropriately impressed.) Our world consisted of massive amounts of education taking place, generously interspersed with bouts of laughter and pizza rolls. When the final report was printed out, at least one of us felt a great sense of accomplishment. And if it wasn't the true freshman in the house, at least he pretended to feel as great about it as I did!
But I'm going to give the biggest points to his baseball coach for driving the point home just how important his grades are. See, the coach told him when he made the team that even though he was ineligible, he'd take a chance on him because Jock has the talent, drive and leadership ability to take the team where the coach wants to see it go this season. Yet today at the end of practice, when jerseys were handed out, I stood there and watched my boy NOT get one. See, they don't get their uniforms at the start of the season unless they are eligible to play in the first game. There were two boys left standing there, uniform-less, at the end of practice. The other one went home in tears. Literally sobbing. Jock came over to me, explained why he didn't get a uniform, and while he looked crushed.... he also seemed to realize it was a situation entirely of his own making. And he hated it.
Now, just to reassure everyone (ok, maybe its just to reassure me)... his grade actually has come up to a passing grade. But his English teacher didn't submit it on the official "grade change" form in the office so it hasn't been reflected yet to the coaches. I've emailed the teacher explaining the situation, so I feel fairly confident that she'll remedy that so he can get his uniform tomorrow and play in the first game on Wednesday.
But it still sucks that not only does the entire rest of the team know he wasn't eligible, someone else got "his" number because he wasn't able to claim it. I'm not sure, but that might be the worst part in his opinion! Whatever the worst part, he did agree during our conversation on the ride home that it's his fault, and it's his to correct. Which he absolutely intends to do.
So, in case you wondered, I didn't end up with one less child this weekend. I got to spend some surprisingly quality time with my teenager, while teaching him an important lesson. And we ended tonight with him laying in my lap while we watched TV, so it appears that the appreciation for time spent together was a mutual thing.
Though I'm still not sure if there are enough pizza rolls for me to EVER look at another research project again.
13 comments:
You are amazing! He will remember the lessons he learned AND the time he spent with you forever I'm sure.
Kudos to you, Coach and the baseball coach for seeing what is truly important for your kids.
he sounds like my son!! i've spent many weekends holed up with him, writing er helping him to write, his papers! without pizza rolls...but, with an entire bbq chicken pizza!!
but, it's worth it! they are worth it!
Having been a teacher, I'm very proud of him for accepting his role in his grade. I often battled with athletics over grades. And, I'm so proud to say one of my "boys" who did take his grades seriously, had his pick of almost any selective school in the country. He'll be playing football at Columbia next year.
You're a good mommy.
Hallie
AFF, that is a scenario we are totally hoping for! (Well, maybe a different school.....)
Nothing is better for them than learning lessons on their own. Good job.
While that sucks that he had to get called out and that he didn't get his number (that would have KILLED me at his age--34 was mine, all mine, and nobody better touch it), it sounds like the little bit of a mix-up will work out to be a great thing. Learning to accept the responsiblity is like the 20th step towards never doing it again. He skipped right over some of the earlier steps!
You are an awesome Mom!
*sniff* He's growing up, realizing that his mess-ups have consequences.
You deserve some awesome mom awards for the patience and love.
You definitely worked your magic this weekend. You could just have easily said, "screw it, it's your problem". But you didn't. You stuck it out. And Jock sees those qualities in you. You have created one fine teenager Sports Mama!
An important lesson indeed!
Although it sucks that he doesn't get 'his' number now, at least he is acutely aware that it is because of his own actions.
Not getting his uniform and losing his number to someone else is one of the most valuable lessons that he can learn. Kudos to the coach! I'm willing to bet that Jock will go the next 3 years of high school and 4 years of college keeping his eye on his grades.
You know, I'm trying so hard to remember when things are really crummy that eventually it ends up being something good. Thanks for another reminder.
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