these days...

Remember how I told you that the girls went school shopping on their own? And how I was kind of glad about that? But also a tad bit worried that I might regret not "being there"?

Well.

They left at 10 AM yesterday morning and didn't return home until 7 PM!!

I was pretty much thanking my lucky stars that I wasn't "there" because emotionally I couldn't be "there" with shopping for nine hours. Plus, they had a fabulous time. They loved it. And they did it together.

It's a win/win. And how often does a true win/win really occur? Not so often according to me.

I spent the day with PJ. Around 3 the sprinkler guys sliced clean through my Uverse line (2nd time in about 2 weeks), so we spent the rest of the day and evening without phone, tv, or Internet. You might think I would be a basket case, but it actually wasn't so bad. This is in part because we spent alot of our time doing this:

This guy has football practice every evening from 6-8. Sometimes Sterling goes with him, but since he is down a man at work I'm on practice duty lately. This involves sitting outside (very, very hot) and watching/playing on my phone. At the end of the two hours my clothing is almost totally wet. It's part fun and part utter hell. It's an interesting blend.

But I will suffer through many hells for this:

I think the helmet is squishing his face. But don't worry. I originally bought the less expensive Academy helmet. But that wasn't a good fit, so I went to the REAL football place and had him professionally fitted and bought the REAL and EXPENSIVE football helmet. So if it is squishing his face, then it's supposed to do that.

I'm new to this football thing, but I can already tell you that it brings out a strangeness in adults that seems particular to the sport. For one thing, parents sit around updating each other on how much their kid weighs. Like this, "OMG, my son gained 14 pounds over the summer. We are so excited for this season. He's up to 124 pounds." And then someone else chimes in something similar. And then I think people start fibbing. Before long there is a 300 pound 5th grader in the group and everyone is thrilled beyond belief.

Me? I just keep my mouth shut because Parker is 65 pounds dripping wet. And then I start to worry over his bones and their safety. And then I start watching practice a bit more carefully. Let's just say this: He's not playing the line.

I have to say that I've never really been a part of the sport-parent camraderie. And somehow academic-parent camraderie isn't the same. I think this is in part because in sports parents sincerely want their kid's teammates to perform well. This spells success for the team. It's my experience that no one wants to sit on their lawn chair and listen to me tell them about my kids' standardized test scores or the latest adventures at the state academic meet. And believe me, I've tried. It's just not the same.

So, for now, it's just me, my lawn chair, three buckets of sweat, and this cute, scrawny kid. I'm workin' it.

Comments

[Big Momma]

He is precious!

[Aunt Mary]

I'm sure you did the right thing about the helmet. It's always a mistake to put a $10,000 head into a $5 helmet.